Reps ask FG to tackle poverty

THE House of Representatives on Tuesday called on Federal Government to tackle the issue of poverty in the country head-on.

The Federal Government was also asked to be more effective in implementing various programmes aimed at tackling poverty in the county.

The House resolution followed a motion sponsored by Honourable Mohammed Wudil entitled “need to strengthen the fight against poverty as the world commemorates 2017 international day for the eradication of poverty.”

According to the lawmaker, this year marks the 25th anniversary of the declaration of the international day for the eradication of poverty by the United Nations General Assembly.

He, however, noted the efforts of the federal government to eradicate poverty in Nigeria through 2017 budgetary provision for the Special Intervention Fund to cater for unemployed youths, women empowerment and job creation.

To this end, he expressed worry that measures being taken by the Federal Government have not impacted positively as expected on the country’s poverty index record.

Speaking further he said, “the United Nations report on Nigeria’s Common Country Analysis (CCA) published by the Daily Post on September 5, 2016 described the nation as one of the poorest and most unequal countries in the world with over 80 million or 64 percent of her estimated population of 175 million people living below globally defined poverty line of $1.90 per day.”

Most of the lawmakers were in unison on the need to tackle poverty in the country. Those who spoke in support of the motion include, Honourable Mohammed Monguno, Ayo Omidiran, Chris Azubogu, Ossai Ossai among others.

The lawmakers also used the opportunity to call on the federal government to ensure implementation of budget.

The motion scaled through when the Speaker, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, put the motion to a voice vote.