By Tobias Lengnan Dapam
The National Social Protection Forum (NSPF), said it is committed and always ready to continue working with all the stakeholders in Nigeria towards the total eradication of multidimensional poverty.
DR Taiwo Benson, Chairman, National Technical Committee, stated this during the National Social Protection Electoral Advocacy in Nigeria.
He said the multidimensional poverty index which was released on November 16, 2022, by NBS is a very document that calls for sober reflections.
“The multidimensional poverty index report reveals that regardless of the spirited efforts of the government and other stakeholders to eradicate poverty, it is on the increase.
“According to the report, 133 million Nigerians are poor across a number of measures. Further breakdown reveals that 63 per cent of Nigerians are poor due to a lack of access to health, education, and living standards, alongside unemployment and shocks. Furthermore, the latest data shows that multidimensional poverty is more pronounced in rural areas where 72 per cent of people are poor compared to 42 per cent in urban areas.
“Ending poverty requires the collective efforts of the governments at all levels, the citizens, development partners, international community, and civil society organisations to drive progress. This need underscores why the Coalition of Social Protection Civil Society Organizations and Partners is organizing this National Dialogue on the Poverty Situation in Nigeria.”
He said in the count down to the 2023 general elections, it is crucial that issues of poverty and the importance of social protection in reducing poverty continues to take center stage in the governance agenda of political parties and candidates.
“As a result, the Coalition in collaboration with stakeholders is launching the social protection to end poverty campaign (#SP2EP2023). This campaign is geared towards ensuring that electoral candidates and their parties understand the importance of social protection in lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty and in mobilizing the electorate to use their votes to demand for increased coverage of social protection initiatives across the country.”
He added that, the Coalition will implement several initiatives including media campaigns, community outreaches, town halls, policy dialogues and individual engagements to achieve its objectives.
“To ensure that these engagements translate into meaning impacts in the lives of poor and vulnerable Nigerians, the Coalition will put in place measures to hold elected candidates and their parties accountable to the commitment made during the electioneering campaigns. We call on political candidates and the electorates to see the 2023 general elections as an opportunity to improve the standard of living of Nigerians and ensure that every Nigerian can live a life of dignity.”
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