FG to Integrate Inmates into Social Protection Net, Deepens Partnership with Correctional Service

By Onwe Wisdom, Pan Afric Reporters|Abuja, March 17, 2026

The Federal Government has intensified efforts to extend social protection programmes to inmates and ex-inmates, announcing plans to integrate correctional facilities into its national poverty reduction framework as part of a broader push for inclusive rehabilitation and reintegration.

The Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard M. Doro, made this known while receiving the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Mr. Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, alongside his management team during a courtesy visit to the Ministry in Abuja.

Describing the visit as timely and significant, Doro according to press release e-signed by the ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Mrs. Janet McDickson stressed that inmates remain a critical but often overlooked segment of vulnerable Nigerians, insisting that government interventions must be inclusive and non-discriminatory.

He commended the leadership of the Nigerian Correctional Service for its commitment to inmate welfare and rehabilitation, noting that stronger institutional collaboration would enhance the effectiveness of ongoing reforms within the Ministry.

The Minister revealed that the Ministry is currently implementing key reforms to improve the transparency, targeting, and overall impact of social intervention programmes. He acknowledged that reaching the most vulnerable has been a longstanding challenge, but noted that partnerships with institutions like the Correctional Service offer a practical pathway to delivering measurable results.

Central to the reform agenda, according to Doro, is the National Social Register, which currently captures over 19.7 million households nationwide through a community-driven and geo-referenced data system. He explained that incorporating data from correctional centres into the register would ensure inmates and ex-inmates are not excluded from government interventions, while also strengthening accountability.

Doro further highlighted the Ministry’s poverty graduation framework, designed to transition beneficiaries from dependency on aid to sustainable economic independence. The framework, he said, goes beyond skills acquisition to include access to productive assets, financial inclusion, mentorship, and continuous monitoring.

“Experience has shown that skills alone are not enough. Without the right support systems, many beneficiaries fall back into poverty. Our focus now is to provide a complete ecosystem that guarantees long-term success,” he stated.

The Minister also welcomed proposals from the Correctional Service, particularly in vocational training, certification, agricultural programmes, and strategies aimed at reducing recidivism. He endorsed the plan to establish a joint technical committee to develop and implement areas of collaboration.

Earlier, the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Mr. Nwakuche, expressed appreciation for the Ministry’s willingness to partner, emphasizing that enhanced collaboration would significantly improve rehabilitation programmes and post-release support for inmates.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya, underscored the importance of inter-agency synergy in addressing the needs of vulnerable populations. He noted that correctional centres play a dual role of custody and rehabilitation, aligning with the Ministry’s mandate on social protection and poverty reduction.

Present at the meeting were the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya, Director Information and Public Relations, Mrs. Janet McDickson, Senior Technical Assistants to the Honourable Minister, Mr. Kupan D. Amos, DCG ITP, Mr. Ibrahim M. Idris, Esq., DCG NCS, Mr. Debit Timothy D., ACG Welfare, and Mrs. Maria Egbuche, CC Livestock.