ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) has urged the Federal Government to urgently implement a comprehensive social protection programme to provide a safety net for the most vulnerable in the country.
Andrew Mamedu, AAN Country Director, made the call in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
Mamedu said there was a need for initiatives to create decent and sustainable employment opportunities, particularly for youth and women.
He said that a comprehensive social programme included having price controls to help stabilise prices and ensure that essential goods remained accessible to all Nigerians.
“Since corruption has been prevalent in social protection programmes in the past, stringent measures must be put in place to combat corruption and ensure effective delivery of support to those who need it most.’’
Reacting to the recent Human Development Report (HDR) ranking Nigeria as 161 out of 193 countries globally with a HD Index (HDI) value as low as 0.548, he said the figure painted a harrowing picture of global regression in human development.
Mamedu, who called for urgent reform to improve Nigeria’s human development crisis, further demanded immediate action to address the dire realities confronting the nation.
“The latest data from the report ranks Nigeria as low as 161 out of 193 countries in the world, and an HDI value as low as 0.548 is a huge setback.
“It is more frightening as the recorded recovery of HDI values since the 2020–2021 decline is projected to be highly unequal.
“The impact of the findings in the report on the Nigerian populace cannot be overstated, as they are the most vulnerable and bear the brunt.
“Only half of the global population feels in control of their lives, and one-third feels unheard in their political system.
‘‘According to the report, both Libya and South Africa boast relatively high HDI rankings, indicating significant achievements in human development.
“Libya’s wealth, predominantly derived from its substantial oil reserves, has contributed to its high HDI ranking, while South Africa’s diversified economy and robust infrastructure have propelled its development,” he said.
He said that in spite of Nigeria’s vast natural resources and higher GDP compared to Libya and South Africa, its HDI remain comparatively low
“This discrepancy underscores a critical issue: the failure of economic growth to translate effectively into improvements in the well-being of Nigerian citizens.
“While Nigeria’s high GDP figures may suggest economic prosperity, it evidently don’t not necessarily correlate with improvements in living standards, education, healthcare, or overall human development.’’
Mamedu, who identified the National Multidimensional Poverty Index as 0.257, said the figure indicated that poor people in the country experience just over one-quarter of all possible deprivations.
The country director, however, urged the Federal Government, as the custodians of the nation’s future, to act decisively and swiftly.
According to him, failure to act will condemn millions of Nigerians to a future of perpetual suffering and despair.
He assured ANN of its readiness to collaborate with the government and other stakeholders to chart a path towards sustainable development and prosperity for all the populace. (NAN)
