64% of inmates awaiting trial as Correctional Service seeks ₦198.85bn for 2026

By Gift ChapiOdekina, Abuja

The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has revealed that 64 percent of inmates in the country are awaiting trial, underscoring severe congestion and mounting pressure on correctional facilities nationwide.

Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, disclosed this while presenting the Service’s 2025 budget performance and 2026 estimates before the House of Representatives Committee on Reformatory Institutions in Abuja. As of February 9, 2026, the total inmate population stood at 80,812, including 51,955 awaiting trial, 24,913 convicted, and 3,850 under other detention categories.

Nwakuche described the NCoS as a vital component of the criminal justice system, responsible for safe custody, rehabilitation, and reintegration of inmates. He added that the agency also oversees non-custodial measures and ensures inmates are fed in line with UN standards for the treatment of offenders.

2025 Budget Performance

The Controller-General said the Service received ₦184.63 billion in 2025, covering personnel, overhead, and capital expenditure. Of the ₦124.31 billion approved for personnel, ₦112.68 billion (90.6%) was released and fully utilized for salaries, pensions, and health insurance under IPPIS. Overhead releases stood at 73.7%, with ₦27.28 billion (71.7%) spent on inmate feeding; outstanding food ration obligations amounted to ₦10.75 billion.

Capital funding performed weakest, with only ₦3.22 billion (22.2%) of the ₦14.50 billion appropriated released, leaving ₦11.27 billion unreleased. Nwakuche stressed that capital expenditure is essential for constructing and rehabilitating facilities, procuring operational vehicles, arms, security equipment, deploying ICT systems, capturing inmate biometrics, and supporting prison farm centres.

The NCoS has a staff strength of 33,024, including uniformed personnel, medical professionals, and civilian employees across headquarters, zonal formations, state commands, and custodial facilities nationwide. Despite not being a revenue-generating agency, the Service earned ₦84.65 million internally in 2025.

₦198.85bn Proposal for 2026

For 2026, the NCoS proposed a ₦198.85 billion budget, requesting additional funding to address critical infrastructure and operational gaps. The proposal includes:

₦138.30 billion for personnel costs for 37,541 staff.

₦50.40 billion for recurrent overhead, including ₦14.83 billion for feeding 91,100 inmates at ₦1,125 per inmate daily.

An additional ₦90.38 billion to boost capital funding, raising total capital allocation to ₦100.50 billion.

₦37.99 billion dedicated to implementing non-custodial measures across 774 local government areas.

The Service also seeks legislative approval to clear outstanding liabilities, including ₦30.38 billion in promotion arrears (2019–2024) and ₦25.16 billion owed to contractors (2023–2025).

Lawmakers Call for Reform

Chairman of the House Committee on Reformatory Institutions, Hon. Chinedu Ogah, urged urgent reforms in the correctional system, including increased funding, improved infrastructure, and presidential assent to the Correctional Service Trust Fund Bill. He noted that many facilities were built over a century ago and have significantly deteriorated, contributing to security breaches and operational strain.

Ogah also highlighted efforts to expand educational access in correctional centres, including 10 study centres of the National Open University of Nigeria, enabling inmates to graduate and reintegrate into society. He called on private sector organisations to support correctional institutions through corporate social responsibility initiatives to reduce recidivism and enhance national security.

The committee will review the NCoS’s 2025 performance before concluding deliberations on the 2026 budget estimates.

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