Ondo NBA Demands Full Implementation of Correctional Service Act, Urges State to Establish Dedicated Rehabilitation Structures

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Akure Branch, has intensified the call for reform in Nigeria’s criminal justice system, urging the Ondo State Government to fully implement the provisions of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act (NCSA) 2019. The appeal, contained in a communiqué released today, Sunday, November 16, 2025, at the close of its Law Week, underscores the need for a fundamental shift in the state’s approach to incarceration.

The 2019 Act is a landmark piece of legislation that repealed the outdated Prisons Act, changing the focus from simple punitive detention to one centered on correction, rehabilitation, and reintegration. The NBA stressed that without dedicated state-level commitment, the core objectives of the NCSA reducing recidivism and transforming ex-inmates will remain unachieved.

The NBA Akure Branch Chairman, Mr. Onimisi Umar, highlighted the need for concrete action by the state government. The communiqué specifically advocated for the establishment of a dedicated state department responsible for correctional reforms, policy articulation, and the effective monitoring of rehabilitation programmes.

Addressing Overcrowding and Reintegration

Among the key provisions of the NCSA that the NBA seeks to be actualized are the new non-custodial measures, such as community service, probation, and restorative justice, which are crucial for decongesting custodial centers. The Act also empowers State Controllers to reject new intakes when a facility exceeds its holding capacity.

Crucially, the NBA called for the creation of state-funded halfway houses to serve as transitional facilities for ex-inmates, helping them bridge the gap between incarceration and full re-entry into society. The association urged all relevant stakeholders, including the judiciary, civil society, and private sector partners, to collaborate with the Ondo State Government to provide the necessary funding and data management systems to ensure the reforms are monitored and sustained.