The non-government organisation, ActionAid Nigeria, (AAN) has said that not less than 86 million Nigerians are living in multi-dimensional poverty.
The organisation, which works with communities to reduce poverty and promote human rights in the country, said this in Abuja at the end of its Austerity campaign launch, with the theme: ‘Public Discourse on Ending Poverty and Inequality in Nigeria’.
AAN’s Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, speaking at the launch, said the underlying cause of this poverty is rooted in the heavy burden of austerity measures, imposed as part of broader macro-economic policies in the country.
The report said that multi-dimensional poverty is higher in the rural areas, where 72% of people are considered poor and also constitute approximately 70 percent of all Nigeria population who live in the urban areas.
Mamedu said that in communities across Nigeria, where austerity measures have led to the withdrawal of social services, it is women who step into the void, providing unpaid care work at the expense of their economic independence and well-being.
“According to the austerity report, Nigeria has more than 64 percent or more representation of women in senior positions, but women earn only 50 percent of the income earned by men”, he added.
Earlier, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, represented by the Director Macro-Economy Analysis, Felix Okonkwo, said addressing poverty is essential, not only for economic growth, but also for preventing conflict, insecurity and mitigating the effects of climate change.
