*says, its a shame, embarrassing
BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The All Workers Convergence, (AWC) on Wednesday, frowned at the recent report by the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Nigeria.
AWC in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze said the report, “is a shame on us all” as well as an embarrassment to Nigeria.
He stated that, ” the report confirms the afflictions Nigerians have been subjected to, basically as a result of poorly administered country”, and that ” prevalence of massive poverty in Nigeria is man made, basically borne from poor governance and terrible policies of government that is encouraging poverty amongst our citizenry”
Comrade Emelieze stressed. ” the report calls for concern, considering the massive wastage of human resources and the grevious implications for the wellbeing of the affiliated. The report is an indictment of governance in Nigeria and should be an embarrassment to government.
” As a matter of fact , considering the huge budgeting spending to curb poverty and the massive national borrowing; and Nigerians still continue to be this poor, is a big disgrace. Instead of reducing, poverty is on the increase. It is as if this government has wasted seven years of this administration”, he said.
Comrade Emelieze added, ” the embarrassing figure of multi dimensional poverty speak volume of the competency of governance.
Ordinarily, Nigeria is not supposed to have any business with poverty but for the mindless, inhumane national policies that has been trying to institutionalize poverty in Nigeria”.
” The report calls for concern, considering the massive wastage of human resources and the grievous implications for the wellbeing of the affiliated. The report is an indictment of governance in Nigeria and should be an embarrassment to government. The recent report by the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has further confirmed the horror and terror the Nigerian people are passing through in the face of badly mismanaged society. The multidimensional poverty index report by the NBS is likely to be an underestimation of the real situation in Nigeria.”
Maintaining that the report also portray the poverty of our socio-economic system, and that ” inevitably, the poverty situation in Nigeria is traceable to our new found and imposed ideology of privatization”, saying, “our government must rethink her privatization agenda and shift to a more inclusive democratic economic system that will engender social equalization and equitable distribution of national wealth”.
He stressed further,” this report is a shame on us all. The question is, how did we allow Nigeria to degenerate to this abysmal level”
Comrade Emelieze however listed the way out as ;
*We should restore the public spirit
“We should return to the collective socio-good.
” Immediate developments of a social security payment plan to the unemployed and the vulnerable.
*Pressurize for a rethink of privatization agenda.
*Challenge all forms of employment concessioning.
*Demand for free and compulsory education at all levels
*Demand for free medical care across all ages.
*Protest and demand for responsible governance. and
*Denied and deprived Nigerians must unite as a class and query the social order that has forced them to multidimensional poverty.”
