NCoS to partner agencies to implement non custodial measures
Ibironke Ariyo
The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has enjoined all staff of the Non Custodial Directorate to ensure high level partnership with other stakeholders to effectively implement the non custodial measures.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports President Muhammadu Buhari had on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2019, assented to the bill changing the name of the Nigerian Prison Service (NPS) to Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) , which birthed the Custodial Service and Non Custodial Service.
The Non-custodial service entails suspended sentences, community service, fines, curfews, parole orders, binding over among others.
Mr John Mrabure, Acting Controller General, NCoS, made the call during a one day stakeholders consultative workshop on effective implementation of non custodial measures on Thursday in Abuja.
A statement by the NCoS, FCT Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Chukwuedo Humphrey, quoted Mrabure as saying the workshop was aimed at enlightening all stake in the criminal justice system and the society in general on the need to be supportive of one another.
The Acting C-G NCoS, who was represented by the Deputy Controller General, Non Custodial Directorate, Mr Tunde Ladipo, said that non-custodial sentence was an effective means of prison decongestion in Nigeria.
He added that this would also give access to Justice Initiatives, the Presidential Committee on Prison Reforms, Prison Decongestion Unit, Legal Aid Council, and the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy.
“The foregoing will positively enhance administration of criminal justice in Nigeria, ” he added.
Mrabure further encouraged all participants to stop seeing themselves as rivals, but as a family with the same agenda, as this would go along way in ensuring full implementation of the Non Custodial measures.
The Executive Director, PRAWA, Dr Uju Agomoh explained that President Muhammadu Buhari had empowered the NCoS to be in charge of non custodial measures, saying all hands must be on deck to ensure its success.
“All stakeholders should be approached and their strengths be effectively utilised, ” she said.
The workshop was organised by Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) and would be carried out in all the states of the Federation.
The workshop was attended by stakeholders in the Criminal Justice System, including NOA, NDLEA, FRSC, National Human Rights Commission, traditional rulers and religious leaders among many others. (NAN)
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