By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Director Reforms Coordination and Service Improvement, Odii Ndubisi Barry has disclosed that the government has rolled out policies that will lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty.
Barry said made this known on Thursday at a skills empowerment event organized by a Non-Governmental Organization , NGO, Solidarity Empowerment Club, to
commemorate the 2024 International Day of Poverty Eradication Day, in Abuja.
He said ,”Poverty remains a daunting challenge in our nation. Previous statistics indicate that multidimensional poverty index surveys stood at 63% of individuals or at least 133 million Nigerians dimensionally poverty.
The Permanent Secretary who said that poverty is a violation of human dignity, stated that about 133 million people are affected by multidimensional Poverty caused by the multiple effects such as economic turbulence, climate change, COVID-19 Pandemic and other global crises which thereby causing urgent necessities for decisive action.
“There is a need for the government to continue to invest in education, healthcare and infrastructure to create opportunities and break the circle of poverty; address income inequality through progressive taxation, fair labour practices and social safety nets.”
Speaking on other alternative intervention to tackle poverty in the country, he urged for the creation of jobs which should complement the development of skills that are tailored towards the demand of the nation’s changing economy.
He, however, called on stakeholders to reduce their over dependency on government to reduce poverty in different environments.
The Special Adviser to the President, on Humanitarian Affairs, Mrs. Delu Bulus -Yakubu assured Nigerians that the present administration is trying hard to make policies to cushion the hardship of the people.
Bulus-Yakubu pleaded with Nigerians to be patient with the administration as the current economic situation will soon be over.
So far, Solidarity Empowerment Club in collaboration with the humanitarian ministry has trained over 30 beneficiaries in skills ranging from confectioneries, paint production, makeup, and CCTV and Solar production.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to Daybreak said they were happy for the opportunity to be part of the poverty eradication and empowerment and promised to give back to the society by training others and contributing financially to their families.
