Challenges to Effective Implementation of Rehabilitation Programmes for Prison Inmates in Southwestern Nigeria: An Empirical Approach

Abstract

The agitation for rehabilitation of prison inmates in Nigeria, especially in the southwest, have been a major discourse in the purview of professionals such as administrators, academics, policy makers and actors. This has propelled governments in collaboration with Civil Society organisations and a few religious bodies to investigate and implement programmes to better the lots of inmates by providing resources and desirable environment for its sustainability. Regrettably, these contributions have yielded meagre outcomes as a result of challenges encountered during implementation. Consequent upon this, this paper investigated the challenges of rehabilitation programmes for prison inmates in Southwestern Nigeria. Primary and secondary data were utilised through administration of questionnaire and indebt interview. Secondary data were obtained from text books, documents and internet. The paper revealed that delay in court procedures on awaiting trial inmates, lack of funds for rehabilitation programmes by the prison administrators and poor inmates’ welfare are major challenges to the effective implementation of rehabilitation programmes for inmates. Therefore, the study recommended that the Federal Government should provide an enabling environment for rehabilitation of inmates, as well as make more funds available for its continuous sustainability.