The albatross of Nigeria’s escalating poverty

The swift dismissal of the Brookings report, that Nigeria has the highest number of poor persons globally, by Federal Government was not unexpected.

This verdict was not only damnatory, but a blow to the administration’s seeming achievements.

Nigeria has already overtaken India, as the country with the largest number of extreme poor in early 2018. Our trajectories suggest that Nigeria had about 87 million people in extreme poverty in May, compared with India’s 73 million.
Extreme poverty in Nigeria is growing by six people every minute,’ the report stated. By this status, Nigeria has surpassed India and other African countries in pauperism.

Minister of Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, queried the findings saying, ‘the indices used for the report might have been compiled, when Nigeria was in recession.’

Government reserves the right to dismiss any appraisal, however it is  pertinent to pay close attention to the disturbing projections by the agency.

The institution has nothing to gain by posting a fallacious dossier on Nigeria, given its antecedents, in providing credible data on global issues.

It is doubtful if Nigeria can match the expertise of this institution,  because since its inception, in 1916, Brookings has been involved, in credible research on development trends, with its coterie of over 300 leading world experts in government and academia.

The minister knows well that this country has been beleaguered by years of excruciating deprivation of basic amenities, but has reached a tipping point, according to Brookings, under this regime.

Indeed the nation’s current dismal demographic index is unprecedented in its annals, hence the hurried efforts to paper the unsavoury news that out of 190 million, over 85 million citizens are poor.

Obviously no responsible government  exposes its country to ridicule, but strives to strengthen its ebbs, through effective policies.

Unfortunately, it is virtually impossible to mask Nigeria’s bourgeoning economic and social imbroglio, due to ineffective and reckless governance.

Economic experts and world leaders have expressed concern over the country’s degeneracy, amidst the opulent lifestyles of government officials.

Daily struggles for survival by the populace, despite fleeting resources, energy crises, bogus budgets and widespread violence are too glaring to hide or ignore.

Nigeria’s demographic score card, as the world’s topmost poor nation is devastating, despite reported gains in economic recovery, rice production and  importation reduction.

The minister reeled out a string of statistics to justify success of government’s economic recovery plan, however, his  explanations were dismissed, by critics as incongruous with society’s brazen realities.

His arguments were at odds with the precarious lives of ordinary citizens, as many  go to bed hungry, with majority slaving on less than a dollar.

Clearly, the masses are tired of  phony policies and programmes, with little or no bearing on their welfare. The international community is also not impressed by all the endless grandstanding, being paraded as achievements.

Drug abuse and suicide rates are increasing, due to lack of  socio-economic safety nets. 

Additionally the rising overpopulation burden, unemployment, educational deficiencies and low life expectancy are all reflections of extreme penury and leadership failure.

Yet experts predict worsening food crises, following the killing of farmers and destruction of farm lands by suspected pastoralists, particularly in the Middle Belt, as many agrarian communities  flee their farms over the unrelenting carnage.

Federal Government recently admitted that life is cheap, following the Plateau state massacre and similar killings across the country.

Indeed, life in Nigeria is now, unquestionably cheap, essentially, due to irresponsible governance,  security failure, income disparities, terrorism, infrastructural decay and graft by the ruling class.

Lack of fiscal federation and dependence on oil sales are also, major factors for ineffective governance, budgetary discrepancies and social malaise afflicting  the country.

As a result, the nation is bereft of  investments in vital sectors, crucial for job creation and infrastructural development.

These infractions have increased the  calls for devolution of power and fiscal federalism, as the panacea for this political and economic sham.

The well-being of  citizens, is often the barometer for judging government’s performance, hence the clamour for this regime to stop paying lip-service to poverty eradication, by embracing international best practices and standards in economic growth and human development to save the country from doldrums.

Until this is done the country and its administrators may continue to bear the brunt of global disdain for incompetence.

Computer magnate and philanthropist, Bill Gates spoke passionately about this disconnection recently in Abuja.

Gates advised his privileged audience to visit primary schools and hospitals in rural areas in order to see the enormity of the nation’s decrepit infrastructure.

‘I visited a health clinic in Bodinga LGA in Sokoto. It reminded me why I do this work. I’d like to ask all of you to spend one hour at a health centre. You’ll see how the system can be improved.’

The Nigerian primary health  system is not adequately funded. But it also doesn’t get the most out of its current funding, due to lack of  transparency and  accountability. Government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan identifies “investing in our people” as one of three “strategic objectives.” But the “execution priorities” don’t fully reflect people’s needs, prioritizing physical capital over human capital,’ he added.

To anchor the economy over the long term, investments in infrastructure  must go hand in hand with investments in people. People without roads, ports, and factories can’t flourish. Roads, ports, and factories without skilled workers to build and manage them can’t sustain an economy.

Citing a  ‘World Bank World Development Report,’ which identified education as vital to employment, productivity, and wages, Gates noted that ‘more than half of  Nigerian rural children can’t read and write. The conclusion is inescapable: Nigeria’s economy tomorrow depends on improving its schools and primary care system.’

He concluded his discourse with the words of world-acclaimed novelist and activist, Chimamanda Adichie: 

‘Nigerians are known around the world for their big dreams and big ambitions.” 

Government bears much of the responsibility for these dreams to become reality.

OAU sex scandal: Historic victory for Osagie

The recent dismissal of Professor Richard Akindele over sexual impropriety by the authorities of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has again resonated the urgency for effective legislations against gender-based crimes in the country. Justice has been served for the bold and courageous Monica Osagie, who nailed the fate of the randy lecturer with overwhelming evidence. The women rights community is quite enthused over the historic victory, as a boost for its campaign, because Osagie, unlike many others, remained stoic, despite tremendous threats, stigma and pressure against her.

The initial apathetic response from the university sparked off widespread media and public rage, with some legislators and Edo state government calling for expeditious investigation and justice in the case. Osagie, in several media interviews including CNN, said she remained dogged in the battle for justice, due to the rise in sexual objectification and exploitation of women across society.

“I am happy I came out. I am helping many ladies that have gone through the same thing I have gone through. Most of them can’t talk about it. They are scared of coming out in public. But I know it happens everywhere, not just in Nigeria. Speaking up will bring more women to speak out,’ against the evil trend,’ she said. Indeed the evidence against Akindele, a professor of Accounting and Management was staggering, hence he was summarily dismissed by the institution.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede said ‘Akindele operated in a position of power and authority over Miss Osagie by sexually harassing her. He was liable for all the allegations of misconduct levelled against him and was dismissed,’ the VC said.

‘To disabuse the minds of the general public on the issue of an alleged cover-up, he said the duo were duly invited and investigated after which the lecturer was dismissed, ‘ he added.

‘Prof Akindele had an inappropriate relationship with his student. This was established through their conversation in the audio recording; his reply to the query; the oral evidence; and the printed ‘WhatsApp conversations’ tendered before the Committee. He offered to change Miss Osagie’s purported 33 percent result to a pass mark in consideration for sexual favours, though she had passed the course. His request for sexual favours from Osagie to change her examination scores was scandalous behaviour that portrays the university, as an institution where its teachers and examiners trade marks for sexual favours,’ he explained.

The judgement is a relief because it will not only serve as a deterrent to other sex perverts, who victimise people over sex and money for grades, but will encourage others to report such maleficence.

Many victims are often denied justice, due to lack of evidence and legal services, as well as, family pressure, social stigma, threats and psychological trauma. Nigeria is currently witnessing increasing cases of sexual crimes in several institutions, prisons, police cells, Internally Displaced (IDP) camps and homes.

The gory details of sex-related crimes perpetrated across the country are quite alarming and horrific, hence the heightened demand for stiffer penalties for assailants. Amnesty International recently accused members of Joint Task Force(JTF) of rape and sexual exploitation of women in Internally Displaced (IDP) Camps in the North-East, saying it had ‘evidence that thousands of people have starved to death in the camps in Borno state, since 2015.’ Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Osai Ojigho, said ‘it is absolutely shocking that people who had already suffered so much under Boko Haram have been condemned to further horrendous abuse by the Nigerian military.’ ‘Thousands of women and girls are abused by the Nigerian security forces, who claim to be rescuing them,’ it alleged. Despite the international rage against rape and sexual offences, they have continued to escalate in India, Nigeria and other countries. Global statistics indicate increasing incidences of sex-related violations against women.

In Nigeria, such crimes are largely under-reported because of societal inhibitions, lack of professionalism, corruption along with other weaknesses bedevilling the security and judicial system. Other factors include discriminatory social norms, primitive cultures, political crises and ineffective legislations. Generally, women in patriarchal and traditional societies, as well as those in the entertainment industry and institutionalized settings are more predisposed to sexual assault. Spain is presently besieged by protests across several cities, following the controversial judgement over the alleged sexual abuse of a young girl, due to bail options for the assailants. Meanwhile, United States (US) famous actor, 80 year-old Billy Cosby faces a mandatory state jail term of up to 30 years, after his conviction, as a sex offender.

The world is awash with stories of despicable sexual atrocities, involving top politicians, business moguls, entertainment icons, particularly, in Europe and America.

Sadly India, seems to lead the global chart on sexual offences and rape, due to its ancient caste system, primordial cultures and religious mythologies, which mortify females and poor people. In India a women is reportedly raped every 15 minutes. Generally it is believed that a girl is sexually abused, virtually every day, in several countries. It is said that most females suffer a form of sexual abuse at least once in their life time.

Sexual rights of women are violated from the home to the work place, as well as in IDP camps, schools, stadia, prisons and other heinous circumstances across this country. Successive governments have failed to implement several global benchmarks on basic human rights, including the conventions on women, children and physically challenged persons. Nigeria is signatory to several United Nations (UN) conventions and protocols on women rights, but has not domesticated many of the treaties.

For instance government has not implemented the 2016 World Health Assembly on strengthening health systems in addressing violence, against women, girls and children. United Nations(UN) Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), has intensified calls to implement the principles of CEDAW, as global standards in tackling sexual crimes and gender-based violence, which constitute human rights violations. It also called for concerted efforts to end all discriminatory policies and violations that undermine the safety and lives of women and girls, through economic empowerment, microfinance, training, education, legislation and media advocacy.

Meanwhile government, weekend, said it ‘will deal decisively with any university council that fails to deal with reported cases of sexual harassment in their institutions.’ Nigerians hope this is not another irredeemable pledge.