The Lagos State Government has called for increased stakeholder support to advance the Community Service Scheme and strengthen the implementation of non-custodial sentencing and restorative justice in the State.
To stimulate this objective, the Ministry of Justice ,Community Service Unit on Tuesday convened a Stakeholders’ Sensitization Programme at the Marriott Hotel, Ikeja to collaborate,promote, support and advance the community service Scheme in the State.
Speaking at the event,The Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, and the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Mr. Hameed Oyenuga, ably represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mr. Adebayo Haroun, emphasized that modern criminal justice systems must balance punishment with rehabilitation and reintegration.
He noted that the Community Service Scheme has become an important non-custodial sentencing option in Lagos State, providing offenders with opportunities for behavioural reform while contributing positively to society.
Haroun explained that the Community Service Unit plays a central role in implementing the Scheme by assessing offenders, assigning them to approved placements, monitoring compliance, and reporting outcomes to the courts.
According to him, the Scheme has contributed significantly to prison decongestion, reduced the cost of short-term incarceration, and enabled many offenders to acquire discipline and maintain social stability while serving their sentences.
The DPP stressed that the effectiveness of community service sentencing depends on robust institutional support, effective supervision, and active participation from both public and private sector stakeholders.
He also called on relevant stakeholders to support offender rehabilitation through mentorship, vocational training, skills acquisition programmes, and approved placement opportunities.
Haroun urged them to embrace the Community Service Scheme as a means of rehabilitating offenders, reducing recidivism and promoting safer communities, describing it as a collective effort towards a more restorative justice system.
A major highlight of the programme was the presentation of testimonies by beneficiaries of the Community Service Scheme, who shared personal accounts of how the initiative contributed to their behavioural reform, skill acquisition, and successful reintegration into society. They expressed gratitude to the Lagos State Government for providing them with a second chance to rebuild their lives.
While delivering the vote of thanks, the Director of the Community Service Unit, Mrs. Tomi Bodude, expressed appreciation to all participants and stakeholders for their contributions, noting that the engagements and insights shared during the event would strengthen collaboration, promote offender rehabilitation and reintegration, and further enhance community-based corrections in Lagos State.
The Communiqué issued at the close of the programme emphasized the need for stronger inter-agency collaboration, increased stakeholder participation, sustained public sensitization on non-custodial measures, including the mobilization of resources necessary to enhance the effectiveness, reach and impact of the Community Service Scheme across Lagos State.
