A socio-political organisation, United Igbo Elders Council (UNIEC) Worldwide, has backed the demand by the legislator representing Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Ned Nwoko for Anioma State and a change of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs into a National Social Security Agency under the Presidency.
The Igbo group said the Anioma State movement being championed by Nwoko is a further demonstration of an uncommon strategic capacity and foresight in delivering the dividends of democracy to all citizens of Nigeria regardless of where they live.
Arise News reports that Nwoko’s recommendations were contained in an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, and had sparked serious debate.
The Director of Media and Publicity in UNIEC, Prof. Obasi Igwe, in a ten-paragraph statement, explained why the recommendations by Senator Nwoko should be taken serious by the Federal Government.
He said, “There is always something in a name, and especially when an object switches location and nomenclature there would be difference in management and funding and, therefore, substance, which in effect can trigger better outcomes.
“There have been humongous criticisms over the performance of the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry, especially under the COVID, and under the prying eyes and closer supervision of the Presidency, the story would improve drastically. Hence, the distinguished Senator took many factors into account before bringing the matter to the direct attention of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces:
“The Oronsanye Report. The primary object of Oronsanye was to end the duplication of functions between ministries, agencies and departments, to further minimize red tape and de-bureaucratize governance, and by so doing improve efficiency and results. The distinguished Senator is in effect recommending the implementation of the report as pertains to the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry.
“The recommendation fully supports a “social safety net” for citizens, but deals with the means of its effective practical substantiation in Nigeria.
“Like the Anioma State movement that the great Senator now champions, this advocacy is a further demonstration of uncommon strategic capacity and foresight in delivering the dividends of democracy to all citizens of Nigeria regardless of domicile.
“The Senator was not unaware of the problems of definition, identification and enumeration of the “vulnerable” in today’s Nigeria, especially given the rapid deterioration of the economy and speedy disappearance of the middle class. Since it now appears that all Nigerians are at different degrees of vulnerability, the holistic approach that the leading Senator brings to the attention of the Presidency is a definite sine qua non for effective safety net policy.
“The Senator clearly appreciates the inter-linkages between the existing states of insecurity in Nigeria and the concomitant issues of farm and highway invasions, and offers to the Presidency a further encouragement into the necessity for a holistic approach in tackling the issues.
“In effect, the Senator’s approach for a more all-inclusive poverty elimination instead of mere ad hoc poverty alleviations, brings the country closer to the global best practices on the war against poverty.
“Distinguished Senator Ned Munir Nwoko was clear that unaddressed injustices are at the core of various agitations, and that a patriotic, competent national policy towards every component of society would go a long way in returning the country to a path of peace and stable development.
“Our distinguished Senator was not unaware of problems of funding an effective social safety net nationwide; a problem that had overwhelmed many developed and rich nations, but which he believes is a challenge worth grappling with.
“However thorough a policy might be there can always be room for improvements. At policy levels that which directly touches everybody is always the best route to save the peoples. A return to cheap electricity and other fuels would reignite trade, industrialization, and jobs; while a similar return to effective free education up to the School Certificate levels at least, a drastic abolition of high fees at tertiary institutions, a more comprehensive coverage of the National Health programme to reach every citizen, together with a compulsory abrogation of the unlawful charges by sundry telecom, TV and other service providers, are some of the direct and efficient means of reaching the masses, far better and effective than all the complex data and political calculations relating to other social safety nets. Government should listen to these demands.
“We greatly commend the distinguished Senator for his high quality representation, diving deep into the peoples’ needs and aspirations, and carrying them along each step of the way.”
Friday Olokor,
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