By Abuja, Nigeria
The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has disclosed that awaiting trial inmates constitute 64 per cent of the total custodial population nationwide, underscoring persistent congestion and pressure on correctional facilities across the country.
Controller-General of the Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, made this known while presenting the agency’s 2025 budget performance and 2026 estimates before the House of Representatives Committee on Reformatory Institutions in Abuja.
According to him, as of February 9, 2026, the total inmate population stood at 80,812. Of this figure, 51,955 are awaiting trial inmates, 24,913 are convicted inmates, while 3,850 fall under other detention categories.
Nwakuche described the Nigeria Correctional Service as a critical institution within the criminal justice system, responsible for custodial and non-custodial services, safe custody of legally detained persons, as well as their rehabilitation and reintegration as law-abiding citizens.
He added that the Service is mandated to ensure inmates are adequately fed in line with the United Nations Minimum Standard Rules for the Treatment of Offenders.
On 2025 Budget Performance, the Controller-General disclosed that the Service received a total appropriation of ₦184.63 billion in 2025, covering personnel, overhead and capital expenditure.
“Of the ₦124.31 billion approved for personnel costs, ₦112.68 billion representing 90.6 per cent was released and fully utilised for salaries, pensions and health insurance contributions under the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS),” he added.
Nwakuche explained that capital expenditure is crucial for the construction and rehabilitation of custodial centres, procurement of operational vehicles, arms and security equipment, ICT systems, inmate biometric capture and agricultural inputs for prison farm centres.
“Despite not being a revenue-generating agency, the Service realised ₦84.65 million as internally generated revenue in 2025.”
On 2026 Budget Proposal, Nwakuche presented a proposed ₦198.85 billion budget for the 2026 fiscal year and appealed for additional funding to address critical operational and infrastructure needs.
The Controller-General further appealed for the approval of an additional ₦90.38 billion to boost capital funding, which would raise total capital allocation to about ₦100.50 billion to address infrastructure deficits and capacity development across correctional facilities.
Speaking earlier, Chairman of the House Committee on Reformatory Institutions, Hon. Chinedu Ogah, called for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s correctional system, including increased funding, improved infrastructure and presidential assent to the Correctional Service Trust Fund Bill.
Ogah described the Nigeria Correctional Service as central to national security but lamented what he termed inadequate budgetary attention despite its critical responsibilities.
“Our core duty here today is the budget defence of the 2026 Appropriations as presented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Ogah said, adding that the committee would scrutinise both past performance and future funding needs.”
Ogah highlighted ongoing efforts to expand access to education within correctional centres, revealing that about 10 study centres of the National Open University of Nigeria have been established in custodial facilities nationwide.
