…say 2025 budget paid only salaries, capital projects lag behind
…propose N198.85 billion budget for the 2026 fiscal year
By Gloria Ikibah 
Nearly two-thirds of inmates held in correctional facilities across Nigeria are yet to be convicted, a stark figure that once again throws the spotlight on chronic congestion within the country’s prison system.
The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) revealed that awaiting trial inmates account for 64 per cent of the total custodial population nationwide , a situation that continues to pile pressure on already strained facilities.
Controller-General of the Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, disclosed the figures on Tuesday while presenting the agency’s 2025 budget performance and 2026 projections before the House of Representatives Committee on Reformatory Institutions in Abuja.
According to Nwakuche, as of 9 February 2026, Nigeria’s total inmate population stood at 80,812. Of that number, 51,955 are awaiting trial, 24,913 are convicted prisoners, while 3,850 fall under other detention categories.
He described the Nigeria Correctional Service as a vital pillar within the criminal justice framework, charged not only with secure custody of legally detained persons but also with overseeing non-custodial measures, rehabilitation initiatives and reintegration efforts.
Nwakuche emphasised that the Service is duty-bound to ensure inmates are properly fed in line with the United Nations Minimum Standard Rules for the Treatment of Offenders.
Reviewing the 2025 financial year, the Controller-General disclosed that the Service received a total appropriation of N184.63 billion, covering personnel, overheads and capital expenditure.
Of the N124.31 billion approved for personnel costs, N112.68 billion, representing 90.6 per cent was released and fully utilised for salaries, pensions and health insurance contributions under the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
Recurrent overhead releases stood at 73.7 per cent, with the final tranche for October 2025 only released in December. From the funds received, N27.28 billion, 71.7 per cent was spent on inmate feeding nationwide, while outstanding obligations for food rations reached N10.75 billion.
An additional N6.49 billion went towards operational expenses, including staff training, fuelling vehicles used for court duties, electricity bills, security services and maintenance of facilities.
However, capital funding recorded the weakest performance. Of the N14.50 billion allocated for capital projects, only N3.22 billion, 22.2 per cent was released and utilised. This left N11.27 billion in unreleased funds tied to projects across the country.
Nwakuche explained that capital expenditure remains crucial for building and rehabilitating custodial centres, procuring operational vehicles, arms and security equipment, installing ICT systems, capturing inmate biometrics and supporting agricultural activities in prison farm centres.
Despite not operating as a revenue-generating body, the Service realised N84.65 million as internally generated revenue in 2025.
The agency currently has a workforce of 33,024 personnel, including uniformed officers, medical staff and civilian employees deployed across its headquarters, zonal formations, state commands and custodial centres nationwide.
Looking ahead, Nwakuche presented a proposed N198.85 billion budget for the 2026 fiscal year, appealing for increased funding to tackle pressing operational and infrastructure gaps.
The proposal covers personnel costs, overheads, inmate feeding, operational expenses and capital expenditure for both custodial and non-custodial services nationwide.
For 2026, N138.30 billion has been earmarked for personnel costs, reflecting a projected staff strength of 37,541 operating under four salary structures.
A further N50.40 billion has been proposed for recurrent overhead expenditure, including feeding and day-to-day operations. Of this sum, N14.83 billion is set aside to feed an estimated inmate population of 91,100 at a daily rate of N1,125 per inmate.
The Controller-General also appealed for the approval of an additional N90.38 billion to significantly boost capital funding, raising total capital allocation to about N100.50 billion to address infrastructure deficits and expand capacity across correctional facilities.
Beyond custodial operations, he requested a dedicated provision of N37.99 billion to strengthen non-custodial measures across all 774 local government areas in the country.
Nwakuche further sought legislative approval to clear outstanding liabilities, including N30.38 billion in promotion arrears covering 2019 to 2024 and N25.16 billion owed to local contractors for services rendered between 2023 and 2025.
He reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to ensuring custodial security while expanding rehabilitation and reintegration programmes, and expressed appreciation to the committee for its continued oversight and institutional backing.
In his opening remarks, Chairman House Committee on Reformatory Institutions, Rep. Chinedu Ogah, pressed for sweeping reforms to Nigeria’s correctional system, warning that the sector can no longer afford to limp along under chronic underfunding and ageing infrastructure.
Ogah described the Nigeria Correctional Service as a cornerstone of national security, yet lamented what he called a persistent lack of adequate budgetary priority despite the weight of its responsibilities.
He pointed out that a significant number of correctional facilities across the country were constructed more than a century ago and have since fallen into serious disrepair — a situation he said has fuelled repeated security breaches and placed immense strain on daily operations.
“Our core duty here today is the budget defence of the 2026 Appropriations as presented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Ogah said, noting that the committee would not only assess the proposals for the coming year but also critically review previous spending and performance.
The lawmaker, who represents Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State, urged the President to give assent to the Correctional Service Trust Fund Bill already passed by the National Assembly. He argued that the legislation would reinforce constitutional provisions empowering states to establish their own correctional facilities, thereby easing the burden currently borne by federal centres.
According to him, improved funding alongside decentralised infrastructure would strengthen rehabilitation efforts, vocational training schemes and agricultural initiatives — helping correctional facilities operate as true reform institutions rather than mere holding centres.
Ogah also drew attention to strides being made in expanding educational access within custodial facilities. He revealed that approximately 10 study centres of the National Open University of Nigeria have been established in correctional centres nationwide.
One such centre, he explained, was set up at the Abakaliki Correctional Centre through collaboration between university authorities and correctional officials, with academic programmes offered free of charge to inmates.
He said access to education has enabled numerous inmates to complete their studies and return to society with a renewed sense of direction and purpose. He appealed to private sector organisations to channel their corporate social responsibility initiatives towards correctional institutions, arguing that such support would help reduce reoffending and bolster national security.
Ogah further called on the National Security Adviser to lend greater backing to the operational needs of the Service. While other law enforcement agencies are responsible for arresting and prosecuting suspects, he stressed, correctional authorities carry the long-term responsibility of custody, rehabilitation and reintegration.
He commended correctional officers across the country for sustaining operations despite difficult conditions and disclosed that members of the National Assembly have personally contributed to oversight efforts and emergency interventions aimed at addressing urgent challenges within the system.
The committee, he added, will thoroughly examine the Service’s 2025 performance before reaching final decisions on the 2026 budget estimates.
