NPS Enrols 430 Prison Inmates for Degree Programmes

The Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) has disclosed that 430 inmates are presently undergoing various degree programmes in a Nigerian university.

The Controller-General of Prisons, Jaafaru Ahmed disclosed this while addressing the members of press after a facility tour of the Prisons’ farm centre in Dukpa.

“Apart from adult literacy programme, a number of prisoners passed through secondary education in the prison and passed their SSCE exam with 5 credits and above including Maths and English.

“About 430 are presently undergoing various degree programmes with the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in 8 Prisons Special Study Centre spread across the country.

“Many have graduated, the latest being a female prisoner in Port Harcourt Prison who bagged a first class in Bachelor of Arts (BA) Educational Administration from the African College of Christian Education and Seminary (Affiliate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria), Port Harcourt Prison Study Centre,” he disclosed.

The Prisons boss who was represented at the event by the spokesman of the Service, Francis Enobore, also said two inmates after completing their master degree programmes in Maximum prison Lagos, have secured admission for doctorate degree but has been put on hold due to dearth of supervisors.

He advised the society not to rejection ex-convicts, noting that such an attitude had remained a bane in ex-convicts’ reintegration into the society.

Mr. Ja’afaru Ahmed also disclosed that last year was a very challenging one for the Service, stressing that the prisons were becoming harder to manage as a result of overcrowding of pre-trial detainees.

He noted that managing this category of inmates had always been fraught with risks and myriad of problems even with the deployment of large toll of the Services’ human and material resources.

He lamented that some state task forces arrest minor offenders like street hawkers and send them to the prison without a corresponding mechanism for further care and support.

“We are of the opinion that the 2015 Administration of Criminal Justice Act should be domesticated and implemented in states so that alternative to custodial punishment can be used.”

Ja’afaru however, said the federal government has been supportive in the provision of logistics which had improved the management of prisons in the country.

“Recently, large quantity of assorted drugs were procured and distributed to prison hospitals and clinics for quick medical attention when the need arises, thus addressing the incessant health challenges faced by prisoners,” he said.

By PRNigeria

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