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Worried about the poverty level in the country, ActionAid Nigeria has launched a movement known as Movement for the Transformation of Nigeria(MOTION)
This is as the Country Director, Andrew Mamedu disclosed that MOTION is formed to ask deeper questions that would help in shaping governance system in Nigeria especially at the sub-National, improve democracy that delivers through strong electoral reforms, effective leadership accountability, and combating poverty and injustice.
Speaking at the launch which also concides with the International Day For the Eradication of poverty, Andrew Mamedu said, “Eradicating poverty is dear to our hearts in ActionAid Nigeria, one of the reasons our 10-year strategy is heavy on lifting 5m people out of poverty by 2035. However, for we to actualize this tall dream, the environment must be provided through well thought out programmes and policies by the Government of Nigeria, most importantly the sub-National governments.
According to him. “In 2022, the National Bureau of statistics revealed that 133million Nigerians lives in multidimensional poverty and 72% of this people lives in the rural area.
“While we applaud the efforts of the supreme court judgement in 2023 on Local Government Autonomy, we believe poverty alleviation efforts by the Federal Government would not translate to reality with the people in the rural areas in Nigeria without the deliberate and collective efforts of the sub-National Government.
“The Nigeria national budget has progressively increased since 1999 when Nigeria returned to democracy from N299billion to over 54trillion in 2025. Unfortunately, poverty rates have also increased from 42.7% in 1999 to 61% in 2025. It then appears that as the population grows with increased revenue and national budget, poverty proportionately grows.
“According to Zacch Adedeji, FIRs Chairman, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria- President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has increased federal allocation to states by 70%. This again calls for deep concerns as this increase still has not translated to improved lives of people in the rural areas. Mamedu revealed
“Today as we commemorate the international day for the eradication of poverty we must reflect on our strategies, and suggest innovative ways to address the deep rooted causes of poverty which include lack of fiscal transparency mostly at the sub-National levels, illicit financial flows that bleed an average of $18billion annually from Nigeria making Nigeria the highest contributor to illicit financial flows in Africa.
“We would not discountenance the efforts that the Federal Government has said it made in reaching 8.1million households with N330billion, we are however concerned that citizens appear to be excluded from the process of disbursement of funds to beneficiaries in terms of monitoring the budgeting process, released of funds and disbursement.
“In 2018, ActionAid Nigeria and other Civil Society Organisations were deeply involved and could report appropriately how funds were disbursed to beneficiaries. The government should also give opportunity to civil society organisations and media to carry out social audits on the people and household reached.
“The World Bank recently warned that, despite efforts to stabilise the economy, about 139 million Nigerians now live below the poverty line. This means that even when food is available, millions cannot afford it. The situation is even more alarming in rural communities, where three out of every four people are now estimated to live below the poverty line, which reflects deepening inequality and worsening deprivation across the country.
“ActionAid Nigeria therefore calls on the Nigerian government to:
All electoral guidelines should be linked to the sections of the electoral Act 2022
Link voters card to other government approved identification card
“There should be independent appointment of the INEC Chairman.
Adequate funding of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Nigeria
“The present INEC Chairman should deliver a more credible and election in 2027
The government should ensure that open tendering or open bidding, adhered to by all government agencies, will enable a more competitive process where all qualified and interested suppliers submit bids.
“The Nigerian government must urgently convene a National Poverty Summit to harmonise fragmented policies into a single, binding National Action Plan for food security and poverty eradication.
“Strengthen social protection systems that provide sustainable support for families, ensuring that no Nigerian is left behind in the fight against hunger and poverty.
To everyone of you here today, as we reflect on this year’s theme, “ ending social institutional maltreatment by ensuring respect and effective support for families ,” let us remember that hunger poverty and injustices are not just statistics. They are lived realities for millions of Nigerians. The Country Director stated.
