Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has said that approximately 110 million Nigerians are still living below the poverty line.
Osinbajo said this while addressing members of the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS) y their President, Maj.-Gen. Lawrence Onoja (retd.), at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.who paid him a visit at the State House, Abuja.
The Vice President said “This is the main challenge, when you look at the economic and social policies, and you look at the level of illiteracy in parts of the country, some are extremely bad and some with cases of about 80% or 90% of children out of school, and other cases of unimaginable decayed infrastructure.
“Governments have not been accountable to the people, otherwise policies should have roots in the real conditions of the people.”
He said people are only concerned about “how do I get a meal, how do I get healthcare and how to send children to school.”
He urged the institute to strongly consider how policy formation will have impacts on the lives of the people.
NIPPS President, Maj.-Gen. Lawrence Onoja (retd.) also added that President Muhammadu Buhari should not relent in his anti-corruption crusade.
Onoja said “We fully support the statement credited to the Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman of our Heritage Council, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, that all those found guilty of corruption should not only have their assets seized or forfeited to government but also face jail sentences.
“We need institutional framework to prevent grafts and public theft. Therefore, we support Buhari administration’s move to do forensic audit of all revenue-generating agencies namely NNPC, CBN, Customs etc.
“There should also be adequate funding for anti-corruption agencies. The courts should also be empowered to prosecute fund offenders.”
Having worked in the country, I can honestly say, the biggest problem in Nigeria is a completely out of control human growth rate.