The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has paid N17.5 million to secure the release of 21 inmates at the Zaria Custodial Centre in Kaduna State, as part of activities marking the 2026 Democracy Day celebration.
Abbas made the announcement on Thursday during a visit to the correctional facility, saying he deliberately chose to commemorate June 12 by visiting places of such nature to assess the welfare of inmates and personnel.
According to him, Democracy Day is a period for reflecting on freedom, freedom of speech and the country's democratic journey under civilian rule.
He said his visit enabled him to personally evaluate the condition of inmates and staff, adding that he was impressed by the level of sanitation, cleanliness and the dedication exhibited by officers despite the challenges confronting the facility.
"Alhamdulillah, what I have seen is quite inspiring. There have been remarkable improvements, particularly in sanitation, cleanliness of the environment and the high morale of the staff. The inmates are also in very good condition," the Speaker said.
He noted that the inspection provided him with firsthand information which he would relay to the National Assembly, especially in areas requiring intervention through budget appropriations.
Abbas disclosed that the clinic within the custodial centre was in poor condition and assured that urgent steps would be taken to rehabilitate it.
He also pledged to renovate the school attended by children of inmates and upgrade the skill acquisition centre to enable inmates acquire vocational skills that would aid their reintegration into society.
He explained that some of the affected inmates had spent years behind bars over liabilities amounting to less than N100,000.
"On behalf of the National Assembly and on this important day of democracy, I have committed that this amount will be paid to secure the freedom of these 21 inmates, Insha Allah," he said.
Abbas further announced the donation of 20 motorcycles to officers and personnel of the Nigerian Correctional Service in Zaria to boost their morale and enhance their efficiency.
The visit formed part of activities commemorating the June 12 Democracy Day and underscored the commitment of the National Assembly to improving correctional facilities and promoting the welfare of inmates and correctional personnel across the country.
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