Group to grill presidential candidates over plans to tackle poverty

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The Conference of Northern States Civil Society Networks has raised an alarm over the rising poverty level in the country, especially in the Northern part, insisting that all the 18 presidential candidates must explain to Nigerians their intentions to tackle it.

According to the CSOs, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) should investigate the federal government’s social investment programme and establish why poverty is on the increase.

Speaking at a press conference on behalf of 20 Chairmen/Coordinators of the 19 Northern States and FCT Civil Society Coalitions/Networks at Grand Ibro Hotel, Abuja, the President, Kano Civil Society Forum, Amb Ibrahim A Waiya, said as development advocates, they are concerned with the rise in unemployment which has left a large chunk of potential Nigerians in abject poverty and unemployment.

“The most recent figures made available by the National Bureau of Statistics referred to as Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) Survey, has unambiguously indicated that things are worse than what they were formerly observed and predicted in 2015.

“The results of this survey amongst other issues have exposed in detail the effects of corruption in the national economic lives of the people ,as 63% of persons living within Nigeria representing 133 million people, are multi dimensionally poor, while the 65% of the poor representing 86 million people live in the North. Similarly 35% of this figure representing nearly 47 million live in the South.

“The report also stated clearly that Poverty levels across States vary significantly, with the incidence of multidimensional poverty ranging from as low as 27% in Ondo (South) to a high level of 91% in Sokoto (North).

“This survey which was carried out by a government owned agency even proved beyond reasonable doubt that the world had underestimated the poverty rating of Nigeria, as reported on World Poverty Clock.

“Riding on the above, it is becoming more evident that, the crusade against corruption in Nigeria, is most needed now more than ever, as most of the factors that contribute to the level of poverty in Nigeria, are attributed to the high level of corruption in Governance as well as in other sectors of the economy.

“It is on this note, we feel the imperative need to specially acknowledge the efforts of the current leadership of Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) led by a focused, energetic and vibrant young man, Abdulrasheed Bawa, the EFCC Chairman, who in his ingenuity has gradually institutionalized a whistle blowing system that has exposed several conduits of financial embezzlement among government officials (civil servants and elected officials) across the country.