Chairman of the Labour Party Caretaker Committee, Dr. Nenadi Usman, has said that, as it celebrates its 64th Independence Anniversary, Nigeria must face the stark reality confronting it, which is that it is home to over 20mi out-of-school children and well over half of its people living below poverty line.
In an Independence Day message to Nigerians, Mrs. Usman, who lamented that Nigeria has been richly endowed with natural, human, and material resources, yet has had its progress hindered by years of stagnation and setbacks, agonised: “The statistics paint a troubling picture: nearly half of our population lives below the poverty line, and over 20 million children are currently out of school. Corruption continues to cripple our economy, and the integrity of our politics and elections raises significant concerns.”
She said that despite some economic growth, poverty remains widespread and inequality persists.
“The transformation of our economy has not yielded the productivity gains we hoped for.
“Governance failures and rampant corruption remain serious obstacles, as Nigeria continues to rank poorly on indices measuring corruption and the rule of law,” she said.
Furthermore, Senator Usman advised that Nigeria reverse this decline and chart a course for a brighter future, insisting that “we must commit to decisive actions” to redeem the ugly situation.
Such actions, she said, must include adopting policies that promote macroeconomic stability, stimulate private sector growth and expand social safety nets for the most vulnerable.
“We must foster unity across tribal and religious lines to build a New and Productive Nigeria, one that prioritizes the collective well-being of all its citizens.
“Our focus must shift to improving access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, as well as ensuring free and fair elections.
“As we commemorate this independence anniversary, let us pledge to take meaningful steps toward a better future for Nigeria,” the surmised.
