Anambra Assembly Passes Bill to Establish State Correctional Service

The Anambra House of Assembly has passed a bill for a law to establish the Anambra State Correctional Service.

The bill, which is an executive bill, was passed during the plenary session in Awka on Thursday.

The bill, which seeks to domesticate Anambra Correctional Services, will, among other merits, help to quicken justice dispensation in the state.

The Speaker of the assembly, Somtochukwu Udeze, commended the lawmakers for their painstaking efforts in examining the bill thoroughly and presenting it for its passage.

Mr Udeze noted that when the bill is assented to by Governor Charles Soludo and operational, the citizenry would enjoy quicker dispensation of justice.

Earlier, the Majority Leader, Ikenna Ofordeme, representing Ekwusigo State Constituency (APGA), said that the bill would regulate the Anambra State Correctional Service to ensure humane and effective management of offenders.

He said that it would also provide for the administration of custodial and non-custodial services in the state.

Noble Igwe, representing Ogbaru 1 state constituency(APGA), said that the bill would not only enhance the speedy dispensation of justice, but it would also checkmate the high rate of criminal activities in the state.

In a swift reaction, Josephine Onah, the project coordinator of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) programme in Anambra, described the passage of the State Correction Service Bill as a “striking mark of legislation”.

She made the comment while reacting to the passage of the bill in a news briefing.

“The legislators have done creditably well; it is cheering news for me, and I am going to escalate it in my office; certainly, they too will be very happy.

“The Speaker, the chairman, House Committee on Judiciary and all the legislators have shown that the progress and safety of the people are paramount to them.

“This is a federal legislation to be domesticated in the state. Once its enactment and accent take place, it is hoped that RoLAC will continue to support the effective implementation of the law,” she said.

Ms Onah said that the accent of the bill would inform the body’s work plan for the year 2026.

(NAN)