The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has released a new report focusing on how Nigeria’s “widespread and systemic corruption” in Ministries, Departments and Agencies, especially in the education, health and water sectors, is “plunging millions of Nigerians further into poverty”.
The 61-page report was presented to the public by Dr Elijah Okebukola, a senior research fellow at the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria. It cited that “61 per cent of people living in poor neighbourhoods ranged between having no formal education and senior secondary education”. It also highlighted that 57.30 per cent of people living in poor neighbourhoods were young, working-age people aged between 18 and 35 years old.
The report noted that corruption is the principal cause of persistent poverty and the consequential suffering of people living in poor neighbourhoods and asserted that poor Nigerians are victims and not perpetrators of corruption in the health, education and water sectors.
It also reported: “10.70 per cent earned between N201, 000 and N300, 000 yearly. 12.50 per cent earned more than N300, 000 yearly. 65 per cent of people living in poor neighbourhoods stayed in either one-bedroom or two-bedroom accommodation. Up to four per cent of people living in poverty, that is, about 2,245,657 had physical disabilities.”
The report urged President Muhammadu Buhari to “promptly propose an executive bill to amend the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria to recognise Nigerians’ socio-economic rights, including the rights to an adequate standard of living, education, quality healthcare and clean water as legally enforceable human rights”.
Poverty in Nigeria? You cannot be serious. Liar Mohammed may sue you for misinformation. You better check your facts.