By Gadia Mercy
The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has requested ₦198.85 billion for the 2026 fiscal year during a budget defence session before the House of Representatives Committee on Reformatory Institutions, with lawmakers warning that chronic underfunding is undermining operations, stalling infrastructure projects, and worsening inmate congestion nationwide.
Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, disclosed that as of February 9, 2026, the country’s total inmate population stood at 80,812, of which 51,955, 64 per cent are awaiting trial. He said the disproportionate number of awaiting trial inmates has placed immense pressure on facilities, many of which were built decades ago and are in urgent need of rehabilitation.
“The budget we are defending today is critical to ensure proper custodial services, rehabilitation, reintegration, and the expansion of infrastructure in line with international standards,” Nwakuche told lawmakers, adding that capital releases in 2025 stood at just 22.2 per cent of the ₦14.50 billion appropriated.
The proposed ₦198.85 billion budget covers personnel costs, recurrent overhead, inmate feeding, operational expenses, and capital projects. Of the total, ₦138.30 billion is earmarked for personnel to cater for a projected staff strength of 37,541, while ₦50.40 billion is proposed for recurrent overhead, including ₦14.83 billion for feeding an estimated 91,100 inmates at a daily rate of ₦1,125.
Nwakuche also requested an additional ₦90.38 billion to boost capital funding, raising the total allocation to ₦100.50 billion for infrastructure, equipment procurement, ICT upgrades, and expansion of custodial facilities. He further appealed for ₦37.99 billion to support non-custodial measures across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas and clearance of outstanding liabilities, including ₦30.38 billion in promotion arrears and ₦25.16 billion owed to contractors.
Chairman of the House Committee on Reformatory Institutions, Chinedu Ogah, said the correctional system is central to national security but has suffered from persistent budgetary neglect.
“Our duty is not just to approve figures, but to ensure proper implementation,” Ogah said. “Without timely funding, ongoing projects stall, rehabilitation programmes falter, and inmate welfare is compromised.”
He urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to assent to the Correctional Service Trust Fund Bill, which would empower states to establish correctional facilities and ease pressure on federal centres. Ogah also highlighted educational initiatives, including 10 National Open University of Nigeria study centres established in custodial facilities, providing free programmes to inmates to aid rehabilitation and reintegration.
Some lawmakers disclosed that, in the absence of dedicated oversight funding, they had personally contributed to interventions, including paying bail for inmates and addressing urgent operational gaps.
Nwakuche noted that many facilities are decades old, capital releases have been insufficient, and personnel shortages continue despite approval for 5,000 new recruits. These challenges, he said, threaten rehabilitation efforts and operational efficiency.
The committee is expected to conclude its review of the 2025 budget performance before finalising recommendations on the 2026 estimates.