House of Representatives
July 2, 2025
A bill for an Act to establish Correctional Reformation and Reintegration Trust Fund (CRRTF) has scaled second reading in the House of Representatives.
The bill, seeking to ensure sustainable financing for inmate rehabilitation and skill acquisition, was sponsored by Rep. Steve Fatoba (APC-Ekiti) at plenary on Wednesday.
Leading the debate, Fatoba said that Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) had a mandate, which included the safe custody, reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders into the society.
He, however, said that limited funding and inadequate rehabilitation of infrastructures had hindered the realisation of the set goals.
According to him, many ex-inmates face stigmatisation and unemployment, thus relapsing into criminal activities due to the absence of structured post-release support.
“The proposed amendment seeks to establish a Correctional Reformation and Reintegration Trust Fund (CRRTF) to provide sustainable financing for inmates’ rehabilitation, skill acquisition, mental health support and post-release integration.
“This fund will bridge the gap between incarceration and productive citizenship,” he said.
The lawmaker stated that the fund was for vocational and educational training programmes, psychological and drug rehabilitation services and post-release support system, including employment schemes and halfway homes.
He also said that the fund was aimed at reducing recidivism by equipping ex-inmates for societal reintegration and enhancing the correctional system’s alignment with international best practices in offenders’ rehabilitation.
“The establishment of a fund is a proactive step toward transforming Nigeria’s correctional system into a tool for nation-building, not just punishment.
“This amendment will ensure that inmates leave correctional facilities not just reformed, but also equipped to become responsible and contributing members of the society,” he said.
Fatoba said that the bill suggested that the programme would be funded by proceeds from vocational agriculture, construction and other activities or services rendered by the inmates.
According to him, the programme will also draw funds from donations by religious bodies, including one per cent of net profit from banking and insurance companies, one per cent of net profit of alcohol and tobacco products companies as well as fines, penalties and forfeitures from criminal cases, among others.
He explained that the fund would be used for vocational training workshops and educational programmes.
The lawmaker said that it would also be used for rehabilitation of drug-dependent inmates, pre-release orientation and reintegration counseling as well as establishment of transitional halfway homes.
Fatoba urged his colleagues to support the bill to be read the second time and referred to the relevant committee for further legislative inputs. (NAN)
