NAN-HE-12
Inequality
By Kingsley Okoye
Abuja, May 17,2017 (NAN) The Oxfam International, an international confederation of 20 organisations working with partners in over 90 countries to end the injustices that cause poverty, has advised the Federal Government to embark on deliberate policies to reduce inequality and extreme poverty in the country.
Oxfam made the call in its 2017 “ Inequality Report in Nigeria“ release in Abuja on Wednesday.
The report remarked that it was important government strengthened policies and laws for the economic empowerment of women who were mainly victims of inequality.
It said that the rising level of inequality in Nigeria posed a growing threat to Nigeria’s unity and stability and to its ability to eradicate poverty.
It, however, said deliberate policy interventions and political commitment backed by an active, vibrant civil society and enlightened, proactive citizens, could break the cycle.
It, therefore, advocated the adoption of a progressive tax system, through a robust progressive tax laws, to close the loopholes in Nigeria’s tax system.
It said the loopholes were resulting in tax avoidance and tax dodging by some Individuals and organisations.
It also urged the government to eliminate unfair, unnecessary tax waivers and tax holidays to companies by reforming the allocation of tax incentives to beneficiaries.
Oxfam called for the strengthening of polices and laws to empower women, through the National Gender Policy 2014 and the Violence against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act 2015.
According to the organisation, it is expedient to pass the Gender and Equality and Opportunity Bill as soon as possible.
The report also suggested the reduction of astronomical and indefensible high cost of governance in the country.
It recommends that government should also introduce measures to safeguard the policy making process from undue vested interest by some selfish elites.
The report also called for an increase in the amount of public resources allocated to the provision of public goods and services like health, education, social protection, energy and safe water.
“Active citizenship holds the key to Nigeria’s inclusive development; adequate resources should be given to schools to promote civic education and citizen participation should be encouraged,“ it stated.
The report emphasised the need for an urgent measures to address youth unemployment crisis and revive the Nigerian private sector.
It said that interventions to improve the business environment, reverse the brain drain and revive local manufacturing were critical to unlocking the country’s potential.
According to the report: “Increased support to small-scale agriculture is essential to addressing poverty and inequality.
“Increased investment, review of government incentives, elimination of bottlenecks and corrupt practices and strengthening of agricultural insurance and credit schemes are critical to achieving more inclusive agricultural growth.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oxfam is part of the international community’s response to help more than 6 million people in Nigeria, Chad and Niger suffering from severe and chronic hunger.
Oxfam has reached nearly 245,000 people in Nigeria with water, sanitation and hygiene kits. (NAN)
KC/IA
(Edited by Idris Abdulrahman)