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The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has vowed to eliminate corruption in correctional centres and shift their focus from punishment to rehabilitation.
Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja during the second public hearing on alleged corruption and misconduct within the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Tunji-Ojo reaffirmed the government's commitment to transforming the system into a model for rehabilitation and reintegration.
He emphasized that the correctional service must move away from a culture of abuse and neglect, stressing that correctional officers should serve as agents of rehabilitation, restoration, and reform—not condemnation.
"When condemnation replaces correction, the system has failed. We must change our approach and prioritize rehabilitation, empowerment, and reintegration," he stated.
According to him, a government’s efficiency is measured by how it treats the most vulnerable members of society, including incarcerated individuals.
"It is our shared sense of responsibility, responsiveness, and empathy that defines us as Nigerians. When we remove empathy, we lose the essence of who we are supposed to be.
"The weakest in society are those whose freedom has been legally taken away, and they deserve to be treated with dignity," he added.
Tunji-Ojo reiterated that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is committed to adequately funding the correctional service and equipping officers with the necessary training to address inmates' complex needs.
He underscored the importance of a holistic rehabilitation approach, including access to education, vocational training, and mental health services.
"Our correctional centres must be safe, humane, and focused on true rehabilitation. We cannot renew a system that is fundamentally broken.
"This reform process will face resistance because some individuals benefit from the current system, but my duty is to ensure that those benefiting from corruption are permanently uncomfortable," he asserted.
The minister urged the investigative committee to thoroughly examine cases of corruption, abuse, and neglect within the correctional service and provide recommendations for meaningful reform.
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