Not less than 86 million Nigerians, particularly in Sokoto, Bayelsa, Jigawa, Kebbi, Gombe and Yobe States are living in multidimensional poverty, ActionAid Nigeria, a non governmental organisation, has revealed.
The Austerity Measures Poverty and Gender Inequality in Nigeria report also revealed that nearly 47million Nigerians living in the Southern part of the country were poor.
This was revealed at the end of the austerity campaign launch with the theme: “Public Discourse on Ending Poverty and Inequality in Nigeria”, organised by ActionAid Nigeria in Abuja.
The report said multidimensional poverty was higher in the rural areas where 72 percent of people are considered poor.
The report also stated that approximately 70 percent of Nigeria’s population lives in the rural areas compared to 72 percent of people in the urban areas.
Andrew Mamedu, Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, speaking at the launch, said the underlying cause of poverty was rooted in the heavy burden of austerity measures, imposed as part of broader macroeconomic policies.
He said in communities across Nigeria where austerity measures had led to the withdrawal of social services, it was women who stepped into the void, providing unpaid care work at the expense of their economic independence and well-being.
The austerity report revealed that Nigeria had more than 64% representation of women in senior positions, but women earned only 50% of the income earned by men.
Stated he: “The barriers to women’s advancement are deeply entrenched, from discriminatory laws and practices to limited access to resources and opportunities. Despite efforts to close the gender gap, the lack of investment in women’s economic empowerment has only widened the disparities”.
He urged government to prioritise public services and social welfare as an essential component of a just society.
Said Mamedu: “We also call on civil society organisations to mobilise, advocate for change and hold leaders accountable”.
Earlier, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, represented by the Director, Macro-economic Analysis, Felix Okonkwo, said addressing poverty was essential for economic growth and also for preventing conflict.
