Khadijat Yusuf
Abuja
The Federal government says it will continue to promote sustainable development, climate resilience and environmental protection in it's bid to pave the way for nighter future and uplift Nigerians from Poverty.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and poverty alleviation, Dr. Abel Enitan gave the assurance at the commemoration of the 2024 Day International Day for the Eradication of Poverty organized by the Ministry in collaboration with Solidarity Empowerment Club in Abuja.
He said, 'together we are able to achieve this. Yesterday, 102 participants were trained in various skills ranging from installation of CCTV & Solar system, Cosmetology, Catering, and Make-up Artistry, paint making. Today, same training continues and will be completed while new ones will join. This will be carried out on incremental basis continuously while attention will be extended to other parts of the country."
"Government will continue to promote sustainable developments climate resilience and environmental protection. Together, we can transform our society, uplift the impoverished, and pave the way for a brighter future for all Nigerians. This includes targeted support for women and youth, who are often the most affected by poverty yet serve as pillars of their communities.'
"In a nutshell, Government have been proactive in eradicating poverty and this is evident in series of programs and agencies it has introduced such as the National Social Investment Program, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, National Senior Citizens Centre."
Dr. Enitan said other government initiatives to ease the rising cost of living of Nigerians includes, "the launching of Compressed liquified Gas (CNG) buses and Natural gas infrastructure centers aimed at reducing the cost of transportation as a result of the rising cost of fuel. Consumer Credit Scheme, Conditional Cash Transfer, School feeding programme, Student loan Scheme, Promotion of Small and Medium enterprises (SMEs), Tackling Insecurity, Presidential order on ease of doing business, Fine tuning of Fiscal and monetary Policy for enhanced efficiency transparency, Youth Support initiative, Fight against corruption, deregulation of oil Refineries and downstream sector, VAT exemption on Diesel, Feed Gas, Liquified Petroleum Gas, Introduction of Electric Vehicles to mention but a few."
He added that, "The Renewed Hope Agenda to reduce poverty removed restriction on the importation of staple food items such as rice, maize, wheat, Sorghum, drugs for initial six months; also the approval of new minimum wage of Seventy thousands Naira per month for all Nigeria workers to be reviewed in three years, was aimed at curbing poverty. Also, sale of 50 kg of rice at forty thousand naira to citizens and opening of Portal for Youth Investment Fund to empower youths and create jobs, plus major investment in Agriculture all geared towards creation of jobs and eradication of poverty."
The Permanent secretary however harp on the need for everyone and not just government alone to take part in the eradication of poverty
"It is not just a task for the government it is a moral imperative for us all. Let us stand together in solidarity and action, committed to making poverty a thing of the past."
"In commemorating the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, it marks a pivotal moment in our collective journey towards a more equitable world. The International Day for eradication of poverty serves as a reminder of our collective responsibilities to combat the vicious circle of poverty ravaging our country and indeed the world over. It is therefore a shared mission to eliminate poverty in all its forms. This year’s theme, “Ending Social and Institutional Maltreatment, Acting Together for just, peaceful and inclusive society” aligns deeply with our national goals and Mr. President’s commitment to uplift every Nigerian."
He described poverty to be more than just lack of income; but a violation of human dignity. He added that It is a continuous struggle to access the basic needs of humans such as food, water, shelter, health care and education. It’s the constant uncertainty, the crushing weight of vulnerability.
"We gather today, to acknowledge the resilience and strength of those living in poverty, we recognize their daily struggles, their resourcefulness and their unwavering hope for a better tomorrow. However, it is worthy to acknowledge that poverty is not solely an individual issue, but a systemic problem perpetuated by inequality, discrimination, favoritism, social injustice, etc."
"Poverty remains a daunting challenge in our nation. Previous statistics shows that multidimensional poverty index survey stood at 63% of persons living within Nigeria (i.e. 133 million persons are dimensionally poor). The effects of economic turbulence, climate change, COVID-19 Pandemic and global crises have further compounded these challenges, creating urgent necessities for decisive action."
"Additionally, what every stakeholder must do is to reduce over dependency on government and begin to think on other efforts to reduce poverty in our different environments. Though Government must continue to invest in education, healthcare and infrastructure to create opportunities and break the circle of poverty; address income inequality through progressive taxation, fair labour practices and social safety nets."
"We must also empower marginalized communities through inclusive policies and participatory governance such as the one we are doing here today. It is crucial to foster an economic environment that enables sustainable jobs and promotes entrepreneurship. The creation of jobs must go hand-in-hand with the development of skills tailored to the demands of our rapidly changing economy. The government will intensify efforts to partner with the private sector and create enabling business environment,' he said.
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