Stakeholders Seek to Address Nigeria’s High Multidimensional Poverty

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

With 63 percent of Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty, stakeholders are calling for joint action by government, development partners, and the private sector to improve living standards through sustainable social protection measures.

The Executive Director, Africa Network for Environmental and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), David Ugolor, in his welcome remarks at the opening of a two-day dialogue on “Social Protection in Nigeria,” explained that the dialogue was CSOs’ build-up to the National Summit on Humanitarian and Poverty Reduction in Nigeria.

Ugolor, said the summit provides opportunity for civil society organisations and other stakeholders to discuss how to contribute to improving social protection interventions in Nigeria.

The objectives of the dialogue include to present Act Naija! project baseline study report to the government and other stakeholders for discussion and possible action on the recommendations; to review the current state of social protection in Nigeria and identify an entry point for civil society engagement and monitoring of social protection delivery.

He said: “According to the National Bureau of Statistics (2022), 44.7 million men and 43.7 million women live on less than $1.90 a day, and 63 percent of the population is multi-dimensionally poor.

“The country has a low Human Development Index score of 0.548, ranking it 161st out of 193 countries UNDP (2024) underscores the urgent need for inclusive social policies that tackle these inequalities.

“To contribute to the consolidation policy efforts, strengthen civil society engagement and collaboration with government and track implementation progress, the Act Naija Consortium has convened this dialogue session as CSO’s build-up to the National Summit on Humanitarian and Poverty Reduction in Nigeria scheduled to take place later in the year, to be organised by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction in collaboration with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, with funding from the EU.

“The three-year Act Naija project is being implemented by three organisations, namely: Bread for the World, Germany, Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ and the New Initiative for Social Development (NISD).

“The project co-funded by the European Union under its Human Rights and Support to Civil Society in Nigeria programme. The overall objective of the project is to improve the inclusivity of the social protection system in Nigeria.

“In Nigeria, a country with vast economic potential yet staggering levels of poverty, the importance of a robust and inclusive social protection system cannot be overstated. Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and the fourth largest economy on the continent, with a GDP of $252.74 billion.”

Also, in a keynote address delivered at the dialogue by the Minister of State, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Yusufu Sununu, said it was imperative to have a reliable National Social Protection Policy, NSPP, which is currently being reviewed for efficiency and impactful interventions.

Sununu who was represented by the Director of Social Development, Valentine Ezulu, also declared that social protection was not charity but a right.

“In order to ensure more coordinated, efficient, and impactful interventions, we are undertaking harmonisation of social protection initiatives across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

“This reform will reduce duplication, close operational gaps, and enhance service delivery to Nigerians. In this regard, the Ministry in conjunction with other stakeholders, is currently reviewing the National Social Protection Policy, (NSPP).

“This is being undertaken to reflect current socio-economic realities and ensure alignment with current global standards.”

Other stakeholders also called for a new approach to address the frightening poverty plaguing Nigerians and come up with lasting solutions.