Eighty-five Non-Governmental Associations have tasked the Federal Government with developing a robust protection system to eliminate poverty and inequality in the country.
The NGOs under the aegis of the Nigeria Network of NGOs made the call during a virtual seminar organised as part of the Global Week to Act for the Sustainable Development Goals.
In a statement made available to The PUNCH on Tuesday, the group noted that the economic downturn in the country had worsened the impact of COVID- 19 on the poverty level in Nigeria.
Executive Director, Nigeria Network of NGOs, Oyebisi, B. Oluseyi, pressed home participants’ declaration when he said, “The last two years have been difficult for families and communities across the country as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The lock downs and stringent control measures hit business activities hard, including very small scale businesses, most of which ended up dying off completely throwing many families that depended on them further below the poverty line.”
Therefore, the NGOs called on the Federal Government to “create and ensure a strong social protection system for all which ensures a more rights based community centered approach focusing on financial inclusion of marginalized groups to ensure equity in governance and processes” and encouraged Civil Society Organisations to “mobilise resources locally by engaging private stakeholders to contribute at least 1% of their annual profits to combat poverty and challenges posed by the pandemic”.
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