ANAMBRA LAWMAKERS APPROVE NEW CORRECTIONAL SERVICE BILL

The Anambra State House of Assembly has taken a bold step toward reshaping the justice system by passing a bill that will give birth to the Anambra State Correctional Service.

The bill, cleared during plenary in Awka on Thursday, now awaits the signature of Governor Charles Soludo to officially become law.

Explaining the essence of the legislation, House Majority Leader Hon. Ikenna Ofordeme (APGA, Ekwusigo Constituency) said the service would oversee both custodial and non-custodial sentences, a move designed to make justice delivery faster and more humane.

He stressed that the law would not only regulate the running of correctional facilities but also emphasize rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders into society, rather than simply locking them away.

Analysts say the initiative is in tune with wider reforms across Nigeria, as states seek to reduce prison congestion and embrace modern, people-centered correctional practices.

If Governor Soludo gives his assent, Anambra will roll out a new system expected to involve trained officers, stricter regulations, and possibly community-based punishments as alternatives to jail terms.

Civil society groups and legal experts are already gearing up to track how effectively the law will be implemented once it takes effect.

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