WELFARE OF OVER 75,000 INMATES AT RISK IN NIGERIA – AGG

• URGES TINUBU TO LOOK INTO BACKLOG OF NON-PAYMENT OF RATIONS AND GAS CONTRACTORS’ DUES BY THE NIGERIA CORRECTIONAL SERVICE
• TELLS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TO INVESTIGATE THE MATTER

The Alliance for Good Governance (AGG), a non-governmental organization has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to look into the issue of backlog of non- payment of Rations and Gas Contractors dues by the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCos).

The organization cited the high cost of foodstuffs such as Beans, Rice and Garri as a major factor exacerbating the problem adding that the situation has severe implication for the livelihoods of the contractors and the inmates and the overall economy.

The group said outstanding dues that the NCos owes contractors was over #5.6 billion for food supplied to inmates across the country adding that the non –payment of contractor’s dues puts the welfare of over 75,000 inmates at risk potentially that could lead to starvation and other health issues.

The NGO in a statement made available to newsmen signed by Chris Sanwo and Jude Nwokolo, group Coordinator and Secretary respectively  revealed that this    nonpayment can lead to abandonment of the feeding of the inmate, job losses to those under the employment of these contractors and in turn lead to increase in poverty, which the statement noted with melancholy  that the  Tinubu administration in seriously making concerted to address through several programme under  the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The group recalled that the  Federal Government recently increased the daily feeding allowances for inmates from #750 to #1,125 aiming to improve their nutritional  welfare  for which the group said is a good development, however with this development  the Rations and Gas  Contractors are yet to be paid for  October, November and December 2023 while some are yet to be paid for the food and Gas supplied for August 2024 and some still have outstanding  payment.

‘’We urge President to take swift action to address this issue ensuring that contractors receive their payment they deserve for their work. We also call on the Committee on Interior at the National Assembly to investigate this matter and provide oversight to prevent similar situations in the future’’.

‘’Many contractors have borrowed money from financial institutions with interest rates to supply food to inmates and the non- payment of their dues is causing them significant financial hardship’’.

The group called on the National Assembly to investigate this matter and provide oversight to prevent similar situations in the future

It also urged President to take swift action, intervene in the situation and ensure prompt payment of outstanding dues to Ration and Gas Contractors.

‘’This will alleviate the suffering of inmates and the contractors alike, and ensure the continued provision of essential services to the correctional facilities stressing this challenge may undermines investor confidence and slows economic and exacerbate fiscal policies’’, the group said.