State Governments Raise Concerns over Proposed Transfer of Inmate Feeding Responsibility

Key Highlights:

1. State Governments Urge Federal Government to Review Revenue Allocation Formula: Governments of Ogun, Gombe, Ondo, Delta, Borno, Osun, and Rivers have expressed their reservations about the Federal Government’s plan to transfer the responsibility of feeding and caring for inmates in custodial centers to the states. They argue that the current revenue allocation formula should be revised to provide states with adequate financial resources to handle this proposed responsibility.
2. State Governments Question Feasibility of Proposal: The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, recently announced that state governments would be responsible for the feeding of their inmates in federal facilities. In response, state officials raised concerns about the practicality of this proposal. They highlighted the need for proper procedures, financial considerations, and a clear definition of the states’ roles before such a transfer can take place.
3. State Governments Call for Increased Funding: To effectively shoulder the added burden of caring for inmates, states emphasized the importance of additional funds from the Federal Government. The states of Ondo, Delta, and Rivers emphasized the need for a review of the revenue sharing formula to allocate more resources to the states. They argued that since states are closer to the people and often bear other responsibilities, they require increased financial support to handle the proposed inmate feeding responsibility.