Plateau State Governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to partnering with the Prison Fellowship of Nigeria to implement measures aimed at the effective reformation of inmates in correctional facilities across the state.
Governor Mutfwang made this pledge when the president of Prison Fellowship Nigeria and executive director of Prison Services, Dr. Tsado Jacob, led other officials on a courtesy visit to the New Government House, Rayfield, Jos.
According to a statement issued in Jos by the director of press and public affairs, Mr. Gyang Bere, he commended the organisation for its selfless dedication to inmate reformation.
Governor Mutfwang also emphasized the critical role of moral and social consciousness in transforming lives.
He noted that in a justice system plagued by corruption and lawlessness, groups like the Prison Fellowship bring integrity and hope for a better future for inmates.
The statement further said the governor expressed delight at the progress made in constructing a state-of-the-art correctional facility with a capacity of 3,000 inmates in Jos East local government area.
He called for the timely completion of the project to enhance service delivery and address the growing challenges in the correctional system.
Highlighting the importance of restorative justice, Governor Mutfwang said: “We must take a holistic look at the criminal justice sector. Justice must not only be for the victims but also for the accused and society as a whole. Government plays a critical role as a mediator to harmonize these interests for the restoration of justice.”
Earlier, the president of Prison Fellowship Nigeria, Dr. Tsado Jacob, appreciated the governor for the warm reception and emphasized the organisation’s mission of instilling moral values in inmates to help them reintegrate as responsible and productive members of society.
Dr. Jacob advocated a restorative justice approach that ensures fairness, equity, and societal healing. He expressed the Fellowship’s desire to partner with the Plateau State Government to strengthen peace and reconciliation efforts statewide.
Speaking on the concept of restorative justice, Dr. Jacob explained: “Restorative justice is a global approach that prioritizes the needs of victims, holds offenders accountable, and restores societal harmony through reconciliation. Unlike conventional punitive justice systems, restorative justice focuses on addressing specific offences, their root causes, and their implications for the future.”
He added that Governor Mutfwang’s transformative leadership, evident in his development initiatives across the state’s 17 local government areas, has significantly contributed to the well-being of citizens.
