@Information Department IMHA
The establishment of a mini-industry or factory at the Nigeria Correctional Services in Imo State has become a necessity for the purpose of improving and reintegration of inmates into society.
This is a sequel to the motion chiefly sponsored by Hon. Barr. Chisom Ojukwu of Nkwerre state constituency titled:” Motion to Urge the Government of Imo State Led by Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma CON, GSSRS, to Establish a Mini Industry or Factory at the Nigeria Prisons in Imo State”. This motion is co-sponsored by
- Rt. Hon Amara Iwuanyanwu
- Hon. Barr. Ikenna Ihezuo
- Hon. Dominic Ezerioha
- Hon. Kingsley Ozurumba
- Hon. Innocent Ikpamezie
- Hon. Benneth Ebonine
- Hon. Princewill Amuchie
- Hon. Chigozie Nwaneri
- Hon. Henry Agbasonu
Presenting the motion which was seconded by Hon. Barr. Ikenna Ihezuo, Hon. Chisom made bold to say that security is not just about bearing arms and ammunition but also jobs and food security. He said the motion dwelled on the training of inmates to become reliant and productive, which can be achieved through the industrial unit of the correctional service.
Chisom stated that 90% of the inmates in Owerri Correctional Facility are imolite. Hence, the state can provide familiar force for subsidized food production by using the tool of reformation, which is one of the pillars of correctional service.
He stressed that this initiative will not only equip inmates with valuable skills but also provide a steady workforce for the factory, leading to overall economic growth.
Hon Ojukwu believes that the rationale behind the rebranding of the facility name from Prison to Correctional Service is to make the inmates better persons while they serve their term in the facility.
He frowned that this could not be achieved when almost all the social rehabilitation centers in the facility were dilapidated. He cited the farm center in Okigwe Correctional facility that was burnt due to insecurity.
The Nkwerre legislator insisted that the implementation and sustainability would create an effective parole system for profiling and decongestion of our correctional centers.
He called on the Imo state government to beam its developmental searchlight towards the rehabilitation centers. Not only will it improve the state’s internally generated revenue, but it will also be easier to reintegrate an ex-convict, making it difficult for people to cast aspersions or malign them.
Supporting the motion, Hon. Ikenna Ihezuo described the motion as timely and a call to humanity. He said it is good to know that when people commit crimes against society, they are punished by putting them in solitary confinement, otherwise known as prison.
Hon. Ikenna believes that there are three most important things the society and the inmate benefit after such confinement,they are, Psychological training, which deals with the improvement in the lives of the people and brings them to the desired behavior which they didn’t have before the confinement, the second is the occupational based training which is what the motion seeks to address. He said there is hardly one inmate who would not be trained while in the correctional service. Lastly, regarding educational training, Ihezuo explained that in many countries, most inmates have acquired more education in the facility and have come out as better individuals.
The Deputy Speaker Rt Hon Amara Iwuanyanwu calls for a partnership between the state government and the federal government to ensure that inmates acquire a skill or more.
In his words” As Imo state citizens, let us engage these inmates, put them to good use so that at the end of the day when they leave the facility they would integrate properly and on return, this impact would be felt in our internally generated revenue.”
Also, Hon. Kennedy Ibeh of Obowo State Constituency spoke in support of the motion while reacting to the question raised by Hon. Kelechi Ofurum of Owerri North State Constituency which borders on if the state house of assembly has the jurisdiction to implore the state government to establish a mini-industry or factory being that the Prisons is a federal government facility. In clarification to the above, Hon. Ibeh recalled that in 2019, President Mohammed Buhari amended the Nigeria Correctional Service Law and changed its name from Prisons to Correctional Service.
” That with the alteration, the National Assembly came together with the 36 states Houses of Assemblies of the Federation and removed the Correctional service from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent legislative list. By so doing state houses of assemblies can assume jurisdiction and delve into matters concerning such,” He maintained.
Hon. Ibeh said that it is within the thought of the movers of the motion that the state government does emulate Burkina Faso as no inmates should be allowed to rot away.
Hon. Innocent Ikpamezie reiterated that if the inmates are left idle, they will come out worse. The Mbaitoli representative suggested that dilapidated classrooms should be rehabilitated to encourage them to acquire formal education.
The Speaker Rt. Hon Chike Olemgbe put the prayer into vote which read as follows “Be it Resolved by this Honourable House to urge His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma CON, Governor Of Imo State To Direct Ministry of Justice in Collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Trade and Investment and The Ministry of Youth to Develop the Necessary Legal and Operational Framework for the successful Implementation of this Initiative.” Since there was no dissenting voice, the prayer was passed.
The Speaker then directed the Clerk Chinelo Emeghara Esq to convey the House resolution to His Excellency and other Relevant Ministries.
