By KP Reporter
In a landmark effort to decongest prisons and overhaul the criminal justice system, the Lagos State House of Assembly has introduced the Lagos State Correctional Service Bill 2025, a legislative initiative aimed at establishing a modern, rehabilitative correctional centre in the state.
The bill, which received first reading during plenary, proposes a shift from a punitive to a reformative justice model, focusing on rehabilitation, reintegration, and the implementation of both custodial and non-custodial sentencing options in line with global best practices.
Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions and LASIEC, Hon. Oladipo Ajomale, described the bill as a forward-thinking response to challenges in the state’s correctional infrastructure. He noted that with correctional services now on the Concurrent Legislative List, Lagos has the legal backing to initiate state-level reform.
“This bill ensures standards for inmate health, security, welfare and rehabilitation, with specific provisions for juveniles, mental health, and modern surveillance tools like CCTV,” Hon. Ajomale said.
House Majority Leader, Hon. Noheem Adams, highlighted the bill’s potential to enhance living conditions within correctional facilities, including better hygiene, medical access, and humane accommodations.
Hon. Abiodun Tobun underscored the inclusion of vocational training and life skills development for inmates, which he said would reduce recidivism and promote successful reintegration post-incarceration. He also called for strict ethical oversight from correctional administrators and the proposed Director General of the centre.
In his contribution, Hon. Femi Saheed linked the bill to broader developmental goals, stating:
“Lagos, as Nigeria’s economic nerve centre, cannot afford a broken justice system. Investing in correctional reforms is a direct investment in social stability and economic growth.”
Lawmakers including Hon. Omolara Olumegbon called for continuous staff training and youth-focused correctional interventions, noting the need to tackle crime through preventive and reformative measures.
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Obasa, lauded the bill as a timely intervention and a product of the Assembly’s commitment to people-centred governance.
“This is the House’s baby, and we must nurture it. The success of our justice system depends on the infrastructure we put in place to support it,” Obasa said.
The bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and LASIEC for further legislative scrutiny, with a report expected in three weeks.
If passed, the Lagos State Correctional Service Bill 2025 would position Lagos as the first Nigerian state to establish an autonomous, reform-oriented correctional institution in the post-concurrent legislative era.