President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the employment of 50 medical doctors and 100 nurses to strengthen healthcare delivery in correctional facilities across Nigeria, the Federal Government announced on Monday according to gazettengr.com
The approval, communicated through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, aims to address persistent gaps in medical staffing and ensure improved access to quality healthcare services for inmates nationwide.
The initiative is part of broader reforms intended to enhance welfare, rehabilitation and custodial care within the Nigerian Prisons Service a move that follows repeated concerns about inadequate medical attention for incarcerated individuals.
Under the plan, the newly approved doctors and nurses are expected to be deployed to prisons in all geopolitical zones, with priority given to institutions experiencing the most severe healthcare shortages.
Government sources said the decision reflects an acknowledgment that effective healthcare is a critical part of humane custodial management and that previous staffing levels were insufficient to meet growing healthcare demands within correctional centres.
President Tinubu urged relevant authorities to fast‑track the recruitment process and ensure that appointed doctors and nurses receive the necessary support and resources to carry out their duties effectively.
The announcement has been described by prison reform advocates as a “welcome step” toward improving inmates’ welfare, though some stakeholders said additional measures such as upgrades to medical facilities and regular health audits will be necessary to sustain long‑term improvements.
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