Ebonyi Assembly passes law on correctional service reformation into law

By Nwogha Ndubuisi, Abakaliki

Ebonyi State House of Assembly has passed a bill for the establishment and regulation of State Correctional Service into law for purpose of ensuring human and effective management of offenders, promotion of reformation, rehabilitation, reintegration and Public Safety. According to statement made available to newsmen by the Assembly Public Relation Officer, Sylvester Egede, the passage of the bill took place at the Legislative Complex Nkaliki Road Abakaliki after an extensive deliberations on the bill by the member. The speaker of the house, Moses Odunwa said the bill was intaderm with governor Nwifuru's people's charter of needs manifesto which placed high premium in the welfare and core needs of the citizenry. He expressed happiness over the unanimous and speedy passage of the bill and maintained that offenders who have turned a new leaf in the correctional Centre could be rehabilitated to become responsible members of the state. Earlier, the leader of the house, Hon. Kingsley Ikoro said the bill provided for the administration of custodial and non-custodial services in the State. He emphasized that some of the inmates were innocent of the crimes being accused of and expressed hope that their proper rehabilitation and integration to the society would aid productive input to the labour market of the state. He also appealed on the colleagues to support the immediate passage of the bill. Other members who spoke in favour of the speedy passage of the bill included the member representing Ishielu South, Hon Lucas Chukwu, the representative of Ivo, Chief Onyebuchi Ogbadu and his Ezza South State Constituency counterpart Hon Friday Ogbuewu. They commended the governor of the state, Chief Nwifuru for always prioritizing the interest of the people in his agenda. They was also a motion for the immediate rehabilitation of a portion of entrance road leading to Chief Judge and speaker's quarters. The motion was moved by Hon Godwin Abiri representing Izzi West Constituency and Seconded by Hon. Oluchukwu Ukie Ezeali representing Afikpo North East