Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Centre calls for improved budget for female inmates in Nigeria

He stated that implementing the Nigerian Correctional Service Act of 2019 required deliberate budgetary allocation.

• January 20, 2025
U.S prison
U.S prison used to illustrate the story

The Centre for Gender Economics in Africa (CGE Africa) has called on stakeholders to improve budgetary allocations and construct more centres and crèches for female inmates in Nigeria.

The executive director of CGE Africa, Uchenna Idoko, made this appeal at the end-of-project dissemination workshop on the assessment of government budgets for female inmates and their babies in correctional centres.

At the event, which took place on Monday in Abuja, Mr Idoko emphasised that the report, titled “Addressing the Needs of Female Inmates and Their Babies,” highlighted the pressing need for improved welfare for female inmates.

The event, supported by the MacArthur Foundation, also highlighted the gaps in the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) budget and its impact on the care of female inmates and their babies.

Mr Idoko explained that CGE Africa’s research, conducted in Lagos, Suleja, and Enugu, assessed the government’s budgets for female inmates and their children.

He stated that implementing the Nigerian Correctional Service Act of 2019 required deliberate budgetary allocation to address the unique needs of female inmates.

“Female inmates represent approximately two per cent of the inmate population in Nigeria.

“Unfortunately, their needs are often overshadowed by the 98 per cent male population,” Mr Idoko noted.

He also advocated for gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) to bridge these gender gaps and ensure that the needs of both males and females were met.

He argued that GRB was a strategic tool for promoting equity and addressing vulnerabilities, especially for women in correctional centres.

Mr Idoko urged ministries, departments, agencies, and organisations to contribute to reducing the challenges faced by female inmates through effective budget implementation.

He called on the ministry of interior to adopt gender-responsive budgeting in the next budget cycle for the Nigerian correctional service.

Adenike Sheyindemi, gender advisor to the acting controller-general of NCoS, emphasised the importance of reformation, rehabilitation, and reintegration programmes but noted that they were often undermined due to a lack of funds and gender-specific budgets.

Ms Sheyindemi explained that as of January 13, the total female inmate population in Nigeria was 1,688, with 34 pregnant women and 51 babies under the age of 18 months in custody.

She stressed the importance of Section 34 of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act of 2019, which mandates the inclusion of gender-sensitive practices in all procedures, programmes, and projects.

However, she pointed out that an analysis of the NCoS budget since 2018 revealed significant gaps in fully integrating gender considerations.

The event, attended by stakeholders from the National Orientation Agency, ministry of women affairs, and other organisations, also presented a research report.

The report revealed that the challenges faced by women in correctional facilities include overcrowded cells, inadequate menstrual hygiene, and limited access to healthcare, particularly for pregnant and nursing mothers.

The findings highlighted the urgent need to address these issues in order to improve the conditions of female inmates.

The report identified significant gaps in funding and resources for female custodial centres, calling for better budgeting to provide sustainable support for female inmates and their babies.

It also recommended access to clean water, improved sanitation, comprehensive healthcare, transportation to court appearances, adequate feeding, clothing for infants, and mental health support.

(NAN)

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

Abubakar Kyari

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency

Lagos

Lagos: Policeman arraigned, remanded in Kirikiri for defiling 17-year-old inside station

The teenage girl was said to have gone to the station on June 29, 2024, to report about her stolen phone.

Youths on drugs

NationWide

14 million Nigerians abuse drugs: NDLEA

She described the younger people as the most vulnerable victims of drug abuse. 

Demolition of building (credit: Rueben abati)

Lagos

Lagos govt. to demolish shanties, illegal structures in Itu-Mara

He said that the removal of illegal structures was a step toward planned and sustainable growth.

House of Representatives

NationWide

Reps seek Taiwan’s partnership on science, technology development

He said that Nigeria could not afford to lag behind in this era of rapid innovation. 

FCT minister Nyesom Wike

Abuja

Wike lauds communities for supporting projects’ execution in FCT

The minister explained that work was going on uninterrupted due to the overwhelming support of affected communities.