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Health

Corruption, major cause of poverty in Nigeria, says NGO

Mr David Anyaele,  Executive Director, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD. [/caption

By Michael Ajayi/ Vivian Ihechu
Corruption
Lagos, Dec. 3, 2019 (NAN) As the world commemorates the International Day for Persons Living with Disabilities on Tuesday, an NGO, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), has described corruption as the major cause of poverty in Nigeria.

Mr David Anyaele, the CCD Executive Director, made the assertion on Tuesday at a symposium to commemorate the 2019 Disability Awareness Week/International Day for Persons with Disabilities in Lagos.

Anyaele called on persons with disabilities to participate in the current administration’s fight against corruption in Nigeria.

Theme for the Week is: “The Way Forward: Nigeria Disability Act as a Panacea to Corruption as it Relate to Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria.’’

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the International Day for Persons with Disabilities is marked annually on Dec. 3.

Speaking with NAN, Anyaele said that PWDs participation in the fight against corruption would reduce the incidence of poverty, because disability causes poverty and vice versa.

“The incidence of disability will reduce as some state institutions are using people with disabilities to misappropriate funds that are meant for PWDs.

“What that means is that, by reasons of not utilising what has been earmarked in the budget, they have succeeded in increasing their poverty, and other chances of getting more disability in their life.

“That is why persons with disabilities have to take the issue of corruption and fight against corruption very seriously.’’

Anyaele said that there was urgent need to institute the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities.

According to him, the none constitution of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities is increasing incidence of disability in the community.

“The reason is because persons with disabilities need government to implement the Disability Act and non implementation of the Act predisposes people with disabilities to negative impact of corruption.

“The implication is that resources that are ordinarily supposed to be used to support them will not be used because there is no commission or Board of Commission to take care of it.

“I want to use this opportunity to call on people in power to take appropriate steps to constitute the board to reduce the hardship of people living with disabilities in this country,’’ he said.

Similarly, the CCD Executive Director also called on the Lagos State Government to constitute a board for the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA).

“The LASODA Board expired with the last administration and it is important to constitute a board and appoint competent persons to head the establishment.

“The none constitution of LASODA Board is hindering the administrative activities of the agency; they cannot take any policy decisions or actions around people with disability in the state.

“It means that people with disabilities are not benefitting in the administration of this government,’’ Anyaele said.

Earlier at a panel session, the EFCC Assistant Director (Legal), Lagos State Office, Mr Kabir Elelu, commended the CCD for its efforts geared toward the enactment of the Disability Act 2018 of PWDs.

Elelu also said there was an urgent need for the establishment of the commission.

According to him, it is the body saddled with the implementation and overseeing the achievement of the act.

In his keynote address, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State, Moyosore Onigbanjo, said that disability was also a cause and consequence of poverty.

“This is due to limited access to education, employment, medical care, nutritious food and accessible environment,” Onigbanjo said.

He said that causes of disability include trauma, genetic disorder, malnutrition, environmental hazards, natural disasters, traffic and industrial accidents, civil conflict and war.

Onigbanjo, represented by Ms Biola Oseni, Director, Citizens Right, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, said that PWDS deserve special attention.

“This is to enable them to participate in the mainstream of development and lead a life with dignity and self-esteem.

“People are disabled by society, not just by their bodies; these barriers can be overcome, if governments, NGOs, professionals and PWDs and their families work together.

“PWDs are not heroes, they are not victims; there is a thin line between ability and disability.

“An individual can be able-bodied today and disabled tomorrow; therefore, the issue of inclusion and protection of PWDs involves all and sundry,’’ he said. (NAN)
MA/VIV/GOK
Edited by Olagoke Olatoye

General news

Nasarawa monarch lauds association over poverty alleviation initiatives

Nasarawa monarch lauds association over poverty alleviation initiatives

By Awayi Kuje
Empowerment
Akun (Nasarawa State), Oct. 28, 2019 (NAN The District Head of Wakama in Nasarawa State, Mr Makka Nangba, has lauded Azhili Progressive Club Wakama (APCW) for distributing broilers (chicks) to widows and orphans in the area free of charge to enable them become self reliant.
APCW is a non-profit organisation in the state.
Nangba made the commendation while fielding questions from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in his palace on Monday on the activities of the association in his domain.
Nangba, who is a former Secretary of Nassarawa Eggon Local Government Council, said that the gesture would not only improve on the standards of living of the beneficiaries but would also reduce the poverty level among widows and orphans in the area.
He urged beneficiaries to use the chicks for the purpose they were meant for by rearing them for economic purposes to improve on their welfare and that of their family members.
“I want to commend the members of the association under the leadership of Dr Sam Anzaku for the gesture.
“It was on Saturday, Oct. 26, that the association distributed the five weeks old broilers (chicks) to 500 widows and orphans.
“As the gesture will not only improve on the standard of living of the widows and orphans but will also to enable them become self reliant.
“The association deserved commendation for the gesture, hence the need of my applause in that direction,” he said.
Nangba also called on wealthy Nigerians to assist the poor and the needy in order to improve their lives in the society.
“If other wealthy Nigerians will emulate what the association has done, it will go a long way in improving on the standard of widows and orphans,” he added.
Besides, he called on Nigerians to continue to support government policies and programmes in order to enjoy more dividends of democracy.
The traditional ruler urged his subjects and other Nigerians to live peacefully and tolerate one another irrespective of their affiliations in the interest of national development.
NAN recalls that on Oct.26, the association distributed broiler birds to 500 widows and orphans in which each widow and orphan got 15 chicks with bags of feeds and drugs, among other poultry inputs, free of charge. (NAN)
AKW/ECN/MST
Edited by Emmanuel Nwoye/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Poverty: Expert renews call for family planning

Poverty: Expert recommends family planning
By Ummul Idris
Poverty
Abuja, May 10, 2019 (NAN) Dr Towoju Olumunyi, a medical doctor at the National Hospital, Abuja, has recommended Family Planning (FP) to tackle the increasing rate of poverty in the country.
Olumunyi made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.
He noted that it would be a disservice to oneself at this critical moment when the country is faced with economic downturn for couples to have children more than what they could cater for.
He called on the Federal Government to provide access to free FP services, adding that some have more than the needed children because they could not afford the cost of FP.
“You must get out of poverty by planning your family, the economic situation in the country today is telling us we should not have more than certain number of children we can cater for,’’ said the expert.
He stated that in the past when our forefathers had many children it was because of the need to have people work on their farms, noting that the number of children they had then would determine the wealth and length of farming.
Olumunyi said there was no reason women should not had unfettered access to FP commodities, just as children had access to free immunisation.
“We need the government to provide free FP for women, this is important so as to enable them have the number of children they can cater for and as well enjoy their sexual life without inhibition,” he said.
The medical doctor said that providing free FP services for Nigerian women would go a long way in salvaging the country’s future economic and social sectors.
Besides, he called on the government to provide quality healthcare services in order to save children from health related challenges, stressing that it is time the government considered free FP for all women. (NAN)
UMD/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Breastfeeding reduces poverty – Secretary

Breastfeeding reduces poverty – Secretary
By Felicia Imohimi
Poverty
Abuja, Aug. 17, 2018 (NAN) Mrs Amanda Pam, the Secretary, Health and Human Services Secretariat, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), said on Friday that breastfeeding contributes to poverty reduction.
Pam also said breastfeeding promotes nutrition and food security that were fundamental to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
She said this at a ‘Baby Show’ organised by the FCT Primary Health Care Board in Abuja, to commemorate the 2018 World Breastfeeding Week.
The theme of the event is “Breastfeeding: Foundation of Life”.
According to her, breastfeeding is the foundation that ensures infants and young children get it right in the issues of preventing irreversible conditions that will affect their developmental milestones within the first 1,000 days.
She described the exercise as the gold start and the smartest investment for child survival, growth and development especially with the potential to increase natural immunity and ability of the body, to withstand infections.
According to her, as the first nutrient component to ensure nutrition security, human capital development, thereby contributing to national socio-economic development.
“The theme for this year’s celebration highlights the importance of breastfeeding as a foundation of lifelong good health for babies and mothers even in time of poverty and crises and as a low cost way of feeding babies.
“Breastfeeding is biological, nutritional, physiological, immunological, psychological, emotional and lots more,” she said.
Earlier, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, the Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Healthcare Board, described baby show as a good way of practically passing the message on the importance of breastfeeding and to drive attention to promote, protect and support its practice.
He said world breastfeeding celebrated from Aug. 1 to 7 annually was aimed at deepening public awareness on the importance of breastfeeding as well as ensuring commitment of government, policy makers and other nutrition stakeholders.
Mohammed, who decried the poor exclusive breastfeeding rate in the country, however urged government and private organisations to provide creches in their various establishments to encourage mothers to exclusively breastfeed their children from 0 to six months.
“The theme of the year provide mothers, everybody opportunities to discuss the how, when and where’ of breastfeeding.
“Breast milk is God’s natural gift to women for nurturing their babies,’’ Mohammed said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report the high point of the baby show was the presentation of gift to three best exclusively breastfed babies. (NAN)
FUA/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Poverty, decline in moral, cultural values, responsible for hike in domestic violence – NAN survey

Poverty, decline in moral, cultural values, responsible for hike in domestic violence – NAN survey
Values
Bauchi, May 27, 2018 (NAN) Respondents to a survey on domestic violence have attributed the increase in violent acrimony at the home-front to decline in moral and cultural values, as well as non-adherence to the dictates of the two major religions.

In the survey conducted by News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), respondents in Bauchi, Yobe, Adamawa and neighbouring Jigawa States, also cited economic factor as another major contributor to the menace.

They further noted that unlike in the past when women constituted the bulk of victims of domestic violence in homes, the gap had reduced, with a number of cases of men falling victims of their over-domineering wives.

Dr Aminu Kyante, a Psychologist and lecturer with the Department of Guidance and Counseling, Federal College of Education, Yola, said the increase in cases of fatal domestic violence was as a result of collapse of social values and morality.

“Lack of tolerance and collapse of social values caused by many factors, including drug abuse and copying foreign culture, are among the factors responsible for domestic violence, ” Kyante said.

Mrs Rebecca John, an official of Adamawa Widows Association, said that women sometimes become violent in their homes as means of responding to oppression by men.

John also attributed most of domestic violence to psychological trauma most women underwent in their homes.

She noted that the African culture did not favour women in decision making and also made them vulnerable to all types of oppression.

Sheikh Yunus Ahmadu, an Islamic scholar in Yola, said ignorance and abject poverty were some of the factors responsible for domestic violence.

He also noted that the adoption of alien culture had contributed significantly to increase in violence in families, adding that the only solutions to the trend is to educate the society about the responsibilities and cultural values of living together as couples.

A social commentaror in Dutse, Alhaji Muhammad Kwalam, observed that domestic violence was responsible for the break in most homes in the country.

According to him, this development has led to improper upbringing of children, with disastrous consequences on the society.

He said that in the past, men were mainly responsible for such violence, but women had now joined the fray.

“In those days, it was mostly men that maltreated women but the reverse is almost the case now.

Alhaji Rabiu Nasoro, the Director, Social Welfare, Jigawa Ministry of Women Affairs, said many factors came to play in the new dimension of social violence.

According to him, many men give false impression of their financial status before marriage and therefore encounter difficulty living up to the needs of their spouses.

He said another reason was ‘role conflict’, especially when wives attained certain position of social or economic influence, and probably relegated their husbands to the background.

Nasoro also said neglect or the attitude of some husbands who often shifted their responsibilities to their wives by failing to provide the basic social needs of the family could automatically lead to disagreement and graduate to violence.

Also concurring with the views of other respondents, an octogenarian in Damaturu, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, observed that the decline in moral and cultural values, as well as the increase in drug abuse, were major factors.

“Culturally, the husband is the head of the family and must command respect, but these days, the woman takes over, especially if she is wealthy.

“The wife’s lack of respect for the husband leads to the transfer of such habit to her daughters; when the daughters get married, they imitate their mother and if they happen to have impatient husbands, hell will let loose,” he said.

Hajiya Rakiya Aliyu, a house wife and retired civil servant in Damaturu, attributed the increase in domestic violence in Nigeria to drug abuse.

“Many families, especially young couples, both husband and wife, abuse drugs and most times engage in conflicts.

“The banned codeine was consumed in many families by both the husband and wife, sometimes involving young babies,” she said.

Considering the negative effect of domestic violence on the socio-economic well-being of the society, a clergy in Bauchi, Malam Babangida Alaramma, said people needed to be sensitised to appreciate the evils of domestic violence.

“Except in self-defence, people need to know that application of violence can never be justified,” he said.

Dr Filibus Sani, a Sociologist in Bauchi, described domestic violence as a violent or aggressive behaviour in the home, involving the violent abuse of a spouse or a partner.

Sani said traditional and religious leaders had a role to play by sensitising the public on the dangers of violence.

“Unfortunately, battering and trafficking have become part of us as we wake up daily to hear of them (battering and trafficking) over the radio, watch them on the television and read them in daily newspapers and social media,” he said.

According to him, any form of violence in a family could lead to disharmony, and by extension, impoverish the family.

“Couples should seek additional knowledge to maximally unleash their potentials.

“Gender equality does not mean women ruling over men, rather, it guarantees a level playing field, devoid of all forms of discrimination.

“There was a man that was said to have committed suicide because he had been subjected to emotional trauma, physical abuse and harassments by his wife.

“For the better part of their marriage of a decade and a half years, fighting and verbal assault were said to have been a trademark of the marriage,” he said.

He lamented that such incident was just one of the many cases of domestic violence that had gradually become regular occurrence in the country.

He said something needed to be done urgently to curb the growing trend that cut across all strata.

An elderly woman in Bauchi, Mrs Rabi Baba, aged 78, said that the increase in cases of domestic violence was due to westernisation, noting that spouses no longer treated each other with respect, dignity, honour, trust and love.

“Nowadays, spouses believe marriage is just about love; westernisation has flushed out some of our standard cultural practices that had impacted positively on our lives.

“Cheating, in all its ramifications, has become a fashionable attribute in young people, as such there will always be disagreement that will turn violent,” she said.

Mrs Larai Bishams, an official of an NGO in Bauchi, Heal Ability Initiative, opined that economic depression could result in frustration that would lead to domestic violence.

According to her, lack of adequate source of income tends to create avenue for myopic thinking over little issues, and the bubble gets burst at the home-front.

In her contribution, the Chairperson, Bauchi chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Mrs Bulak Afsa, said that domestic violence had to do with inadequacy of tolerance among the spouses.

She therefore said tolerance was key to ensuring peace and tranquility at home. (NAN)
Reporters/ASH/MST
Edited by Abdullahi Salihu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Centre attributes domestic violence to family upbringing

Centre attributes domestic violence to family upbringing
By Mustapha Sumaila
Violence
Abuja, May 27, 2018 (NAN) The International Centre for Advocacy on Right to Health (ICARH) has attributed the new face of domestic violence in the country to poor family upbringing.

The Litigation Officer of the centre, Mr Martin Chiaha, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja that rising cases of domestic violence, most especially against males by females, was alarming.

Chiaha was reacting to a survey conducted by NAN on the new trend of domestic violence where men were been battered, beaten and sometimes killed by their spouses or girl friends.

He explained that many young ladies who came from irresponsible homes where their fathers were beaten by their mothers, also practice that in their homes thinking it was normal.

“A woman who was raised in a home where her mother assault or beats her father would usually think it’s a norm to maltreat husbands/men,” the lawyer said.

He said that sometime, when women discovered that they were physically stronger than their husbands, it pushes them to maltreat the men with frequent assaults.

“When the man is abusing the woman to the extent that she’s been pushed to the wall she could overreact in a violent manner which might involve use of weapons.

“A man who does not provide for the family needs but rather spend outside stands the chance of domestic violence from the wife.

“When a man is in the habit of not performing his conjugal duties but constantly denies the wife of that right she might develop hatred and harm him,” Chiaha however explained.

A retired civil servant, Mr Mathew Adeika, who described the new trend as an ugly development, said that most of young women were into drugs unknowingly to their spouses.

Adeika said that women addiction to hard drugs was one of the reasons their husbands suffered in their hands by often beating and battering them.

According to him, after taking the drugs, they will be high, lose their senses and then behave in dangerous manner.

He commended the Federal Government for banning the manufacture, sale and consumption of codeine, which was being abused by both sexes, in the country.

From Umuahia, Dr Anthony Agbazuere, a human rights activist and constitutional lawyer, has recommended measures, including patience and tolerance, to check the rising cases of domestic violence in Nigeria.

Agbazuere told NAN that “married couples should learn to be tolerant of each other.
“They should understand that they were not born of the same parents,” he said, adding that “even people born of the same parents do not have the same character”.
He further urged married couples to always bear in mind that the choice to become husband and wife was entirely theirs and not by compulsion from any quarters.
Agbazuere also charged couples “to be ready at all times to reconcile their differences themselves,” adding that extended families should restrain themselves from unnecessary meddlesomeness.
“Extended families should allow married couples to handle their differences but should only interfere when invited.”
He also enjoined men to learn to live a responsible life and devote quality time to their families.
“Men should desist from moving from the office to the bar, spend all the day there and return home by midnight and begin to bicker with their wives.
“Men should also reserve a greater percentage of their income for the upkeep of their family,” he advised.
Besides, Agbazuere advised married women to desist from “comparing their husbands with other men”.
He said that it was wrong and provocative when women challenge and compare their lowly-placed husbands with relatively better-placed, wealthy and flamboyant men.

Also speaking, a retired broadcaster, Mr Peter Okorie, said the phenomenon could also be a carryover from a quarrelsome parental background.
Okorie said that a man or woman from a quarrelsome and violent parent had the tendency to carry the trait into his or her marital home.
“On the contrary, when either couple or both come from a peace-loving parental background, it translates to a peaceful marital home.”
He also said that the rate of domestic violence might have been aggravated by uncontrollable disagreements that often arise when a couple run joint bank account.
He said that the phenomenon could also arise when a couple belongs to different religious denominations with conflicting doctrines and philosophies.
He said that the contest for superiority had wrecked many families, leaving many fatal cases in the trail.
Okorie, a Knight of St. Mulumba, said that the council had always intervened in many domestic crises, and identified parental interferences, economic hardship and influences from friends and relations among the factors that fuel domestic violence.
On his part, Mr Christopher Joseph, a political leader in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of the state, attributed the increasing cases of domestic violence to frustration.
“The domestic violence we are experiencing on a monthly basis – of wives killing their husbands – is borne out of frustration from declining finances, work places and the home itself.
“Some women, who feel that they have been confined to the home of a particular man, often go through frustration.
“They usually feel psychologically depressed and often take extreme actions to express their depression.”
Joseph therefore urged the government to introduce measures to alleviate the economic hardship in the country in order to reduce the rate of frustration among citizens. (NAN)
Reporters/MS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

67% Nigerians live below poverty line – Presidential Aide

67% Nigerians live below poverty line – Presidential Aide
NAN-HG-9
Dialogue
By Chinenye offor
Abuja, Jan. 18, 2018 (NAN) Mrs Maryam Uwais, the Special Advisor to the President, Social Protection, says about 67 per cent of Nigerian population live below poverty line.
Uwais said this during a social protection Practitioners and Academics Dialogue on Thursday in Abuja.
According to her, some of the social issues that plaque Nigeria is high poverty, high unemployment rates, increased insecurity, gender inequality and poor literacy rates, among others.
She added that social protection was a response and a key strategy towards reducing poverty and socio-economic vulnerabilities in the population as well as to encourage G2p payments digitalisation and financial inclusion.
Uwais also said that the Federal Government has designed a four-point National Social Investment Programme (N-SIP), including Conditional Cash Transfer Programme (CCT).
“This involves the direct transfer of N5,000 to the targeted poor and vulnerable households.
“The Home Grown School Feeding (HGSF) assist vulnerable families, feed their classes, primary 1-3 school children one nutritious meal a day and provides an incentive to send them to school which is targeted to feed 5.5 million children.
“The N-Power Programme is designed to put 500,000 young Nigerian graduates on employment and empower or train 100,000 of non-graduates with necessary tools to create, develop and build projects that will change our communities, economy and nation.
“There is also Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme (GEEP), which is targeted financial inclusion and empowerment loans programme to deliver maximum impact to the economically under- represented groups that targets about 1.6 million beneficiaries,’’ said the presidential aide.
She said that for National Social Programme to move forward the cooperation of stakeholders was key in actualising it in terms of knowledge, resources and skills for transformative undertaking.
She therefore called on stakeholders to partner with the initiative, saying that the complex issues facing Nigeria would be met with comprehensive solutions by collective efforts to invest in the strongest and most promising sector.
Mr Folunsho Okunmadewa, the Lead Specialist World Bank, noted that the dialogue was important, saying that they are very important stakeholders in the actualisation of the social protection agenda.
He said that the social protection agenda has grown big due to government concern, participation of private sector, civil sector and researchers excluding academics.
“Through the academia research would be evident and we are talking of a dynamic issue that change on a daily basis.
“Those who are on the state level and in operations unit are constantly aware of changing knowledge,’’ he said.
He added that the academia research on a daily basis and with that they can help with the programme and collaborate in the state and national level.
He added that some of the existing data could be analysed and give information that could help in the project which would bring about a mutual benefit.
He also said that involving the academics was a huge step in bridging the gap.
Mr David Adejo, the National Co-ordinator, Youth and Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO), also said that the involvement of academicians in the social protection agenda would boost the programme.
He noted that academicians have the tools to collect data and also work for the existence of more evidence action.
Adejo also said that the poor people were becoming more vulnerable and it needed the interventions which are ongoing.
The CDD Coordinator, Mr Abdul Kareem, said the academia has a lot of research and community services which could be achieved especially in data collection.
“We have so many primary health centres at the community level and with the help of the academics we can achieve some of the agendas because they can help us spread the news.
“Food protection agenda is a very positive development, if academia gives us support and accessibility, our micro projects will increase.
“We can’t go to a community and build a borehole when their need is not borehole and with the help of the academia we will be able to know the problem of each community through data processing,” he said.
Dr Temitope Sinkaye, the National Programme Coordinator, said the social protection intervention has been taken to 21 states and about 300 households had been covered.
She noted that the target was 1 million households and therefore called on the state governors to set up offices to enable them discharge their duties effectively. (NAN)
CSO/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Politics

2019: Nigerians want Buhari to tackle poverty, infrastructure deficit

2019: Nigerians want Buhari to tackle poverty, infrastructure deficit
NAN-H-32
Buhari
By Lydia Ngwakwe
Lagos, Jan. 5, 2018 (NAN) Some Nigerians have advised President Muhammadu Buhari to tackle poverty and fix major infrastructures before the 2019 electioneering begins in earnest.
They also urged the president to reform the country’s security agencies and strengthen institutions.
The citizens gave the advice in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.
According to them, if these problems are not tackled before electioneering begins, the problems may linger.
The National Youth Coordinator of KOWA Party, Mr Jude Feranmi, said there was the need for the Federal Government to carry out a painstaking reform of the country’s security agencies.
“There is a trend of insecurity that is building across Nigeria and our current security infrastructure can no longer tackle this menace with the inefficiency and brutality that characterised our security apparatuses.
“As I speak, Nigerians in the Benue region are leaving their homes for a place they don’t know, running from herdsmen; gunmen have already claimed lives in Rivers in this New Year.
“The first and most important duty of government to citizens which is the protection of lives and property is now at the lowest ebb.
“To tackle this deeply rooted problem, there is need for deep, and painstaking reform.
“If the Federal Government continues to fail in this task, especially in the penultimate year to the election, there may be crisis in the country,’’ Feranmi said.
Mr Dennis Aghanya, the Executive Director of Anti-Corruption Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI), said the federal government should embark on the construction of capital projects.
“With a year to the end of this administration, I want Mr President to massively pursue the construction of capital projects. Nigeria is very deficient in infrastructures.
“ When there are ongoing projects, the masses are engaged and there would be money in their pockets.
“ I also want him to consider paying most of the outstanding debts owe local contractors. The level of poverty among Nigerians is unbearable,’’ Aghanya said.
On his part, Mr Toyin Raheem, the Executive Secretary of Campaign for Constitutionalism and Human Rights (CCHR), said his desire was for government to reduce the poverty level in the country.
According to him, those working for Buhari as advisers and special assistants have been deceiving him and are not telling him what is truly on ground.
“The Federal Government should reduce the rate of poverty in the country. Nigerians are suffering, very hungry and angry.
“Policies of this government should be made to cater for the masses, prices of food are on the increase, purchasing power is reducing every day and jobs are being lost.
“The government should wake up to put an end to the suffering of the masses.
“Government should also take as a matter of mandamus to respect the rules of law and constitutionalism. Everything it does should be in accordance with the rules of law,’’ Raheem said.
He appealed to the president to allow an independent body to conduct a survey on the rate of poverty to truly ascertain the level of poverty in the country.
He advocated for a paradigm shift in the policies of this administration to be people oriented or pro-poor.
Raheem appealed to government at levels to make security and welfare of the people its major concern.
He said that the performances of the federal government this year would be the major consideration for Nigerians to make decisions about the 2019 elections. (NAN)
LED/MO/MST
Edited by Omolade MM/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Economy

OXFAM wants deliberate polices to reduce inequality, poverty in Nigeria

NAN-HE-12

Inequality

By Kingsley Okoye

Abuja, May 17,2017  (NAN) The Oxfam International, an international confederation of 20 organisations working with partners in over 90 countries to end the injustices that cause poverty, has advised the Federal Government to embark on deliberate policies to reduce inequality and extreme poverty in the country.

Oxfam made the call in its 2017 “ Inequality Report in Nigeria“ release in Abuja on Wednesday.

The  report  remarked  that  it  was  important government  strengthened policies and laws for the economic empowerment of women who were mainly victims of inequality.

It  said that the rising level of   inequality   in Nigeria posed a growing threat to Nigeria’s unity and stability and to its ability to eradicate poverty.

It, however, said deliberate policy interventions and political commitment backed by an active, vibrant civil society and enlightened, proactive citizens, could   break the cycle.

It, therefore, advocated  the adoption of  a  progressive  tax system,  through a  robust  progressive tax laws, to close the loopholes in Nigeria’s tax system.

It said the loopholes were resulting in tax avoidance and tax dodging by some Individuals and organisations.

It also urged the government to eliminate unfair, unnecessary tax waivers and tax holidays to companies  by reforming the allocation of tax incentives to beneficiaries.

Oxfam called for the  strengthening of polices and laws to empower women, through  the National Gender Policy 2014 and the Violence against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act 2015.

According to the organisation, it is expedient to pass  the  Gender and Equality and Opportunity Bill as soon as possible.

The report  also  suggested  the  reduction of  astronomical and indefensible high cost of governance  in the country.

It  recommends  that government  should also introduce measures to safeguard the policy making process from  undue vested interest  by  some selfish elites.

The report also called for an increase in the amount of public resources allocated to the provision of public goods and services like health, education, social protection, energy and safe water.

“Active citizenship holds the key to Nigeria’s inclusive development; adequate resources should be given to schools to promote civic education and citizen participation should be encouraged,“ it stated.

The report  emphasised  the need for an  urgent measures  to address  youth unemployment crisis and revive the Nigerian  private sector.

It said that interventions to improve the business environment, reverse the brain drain and revive local manufacturing were critical to unlocking the country’s potential.

According to the report: “Increased support to small-scale agriculture is essential to addressing poverty and inequality.

“Increased investment, review of government incentives, elimination of bottlenecks and corrupt practices and strengthening of agricultural insurance and credit schemes are critical to achieving more inclusive agricultural growth.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oxfam is part of the international community’s response to help more than 6 million people in Nigeria, Chad and Niger suffering from severe and chronic hunger.

Oxfam has reached nearly 245,000 people in Nigeria with water, sanitation and hygiene kits. (NAN)

KC/IA

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Health

Group to partner Oyo Govt on poverty alleviation, education

Group to partner Oyo Govt on poverty alleviation, education

NAN-HG-5 Poverty

By Akeem Abas Ibadan, Jan. 25, 2017 (NAN) A socio-political group, Hope Renaissance Group, has expressed readiness to partner Oyo State Government on education and poverty alleviation.

This was the resolution made by the group at the end of its meeting held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Ibadan on Sunday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the group comprises of sons and daughters of Oke-Odo community in Ibadan, who have excelled in their various callings.

The group bemoaned the high level of poverty and privation in their ancestral home, declaring readiness to salvage the situation by giving back to the community.

It also resolved to partner the state government in poverty reduction, education and the security of the community.

The meeting, which was presided over by retired Col. Remi Akande, also agreed to support indigent students of the community to excel in their academic pursuit.

“We have resolved to support indigent children of Oke-odo with due identification. We are determined to step up efforts at curtailing miscreants activities in the neighborhood.

“We have also resolved to support the urban renewal effort of government in our community,” the communique read in parts.

The group commended one of them, Dr Kolapo Akande, for initiating the meeting, pledging to give their best in strengthening the club and ensuring successes in their vision.

Akande urged members to be proactive for the cause, reminding them of the spiritual benefit inherent in such a disposition.

The group enjoined members to source for more members who will have ideological dovetail with their vision.

Besides, it resolved that the prospective members must be from both sexes, have good financial standing, must be of good character and should not be less than 30 years of age.

The group elected new leaders, among who are Pastor Bayo Olugbemi as President; Mr Bukola Adisa, Vice President, and Akande as General Secretary.

Others are Mr Adeoye Ajibade as Empowerment Secretary and Mrs Adeola Eniraiyetan as Treasurer.

NAN reports that the meeting featured a presentation by Oke-Odo club members led by their President, Mr Abiodun Alli, who urged members of the group to join them in making the community a model.

Alli, who gave a brief history of the club, missions, vision and achievements, stated that the Club was affiliated to the apex Ibadan Club, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII).

He said that they are desirous of having members of Hope Renaissance Group joining their club.

Responding, the Hope Renaissance Group promised to get back to them appropriately.

Also in attendance at the maiden meeting of the group are Mogaji Olutunde Aboderin, Mr Remi Olawoyin, Otunba Popoola Odunsi, Mr Adewale Alao, Mr Adekola Alli and Mr Adewle Bakari, among others.

NAN also reports that the Oyo state government had solicited the support of individuals, groups and corporate organisations in its efforts at transforming the state.

Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of the state had severally declared government’s readiness to partner any individual, group or organisations with visionary ideas and developmental efforts. (NAN)

TAA/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola