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| Nigerian Senate |
The
Nigerian Senate on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to designate October 17
as World Poverty Day in line with the resolution of the United Nations.
This was one
of the prayers of the senators in a motion on the importance of the day
approved by the UN General Assembly in 1992.
The
motion was sponsored by Ali Wakili (APC-Bauchi).
The
lawmakers observed that recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics
indicates that about 112 million Nigerians live below the poverty line.
The Senate
also observed that “the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and
its antecedents, the World Day for Overcoming Extreme Poverty, are intended to
promote dialogue and understanding between people living in poverty.”
Speaking on
the bill, Aidoko Ali, (APC-Kogi) urged the Federal Government to release funds
for the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, especially for areas that concern
poverty.
“Some months
ago, the President made commitment that the country will be faithful to implementation
of the SDG program but till today, no fund has been released,” he lamented.
Also lending
his voice, Shehu Sani, (APC-Kaduna) said poverty in Nigeria is man-made and
observance of such day with impactful governmental policies will reduce the
menace.
“Nigeria’s
poverty is man-made. Poor people are completely ostracised from governmental
policies and programmes,” he said.
“Bringing programmes that will
address the problem is the core of setting aside this day. If we don’t address
this, we risk a serious revolution in the country,” he added.
Hinged on
these, the Senators called on the Federal, State and Local Governments to
designate and observe October 17 of every year as World Poverty Day.
While urging
private organisations and media to step up discourse on the issue, the
lawmakers urged the Federal Government to pursue vigorously its social
investments programme in line of eradicating poverty and fund necessary SDGs
that will eliminate poverty.
The Senate
also adopted an additional prayer moved by Buka Abba, (APC-Yobe) that
government at all levels should declare “free and compulsory education.”
The senators
however did not make clarifications on which level of education is to be made
free and compulsory.
The theme of
the 2017 World Poverty Day is: “Answering the call of October 17 to end
poverty: a path towards peaceful and inclusive societies.”
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