Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas has advocated the adoption of community-focused initiatives to address the scourge of poverty in the country.
This is just as the Speaker called for the activation of grassroots-oriented policies to tackle the challenges of social inequality across the country.
The Speaker stated this at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja at the inauguration of the House of Representatives Committee on Community and Social Development Agency/NG-Cares, on Wednesday.
Represented by the Minority Whip, Isiaka Ibrahim, Speaker Abbas emphasised the significance of community and social development, tasking members of the Committee to discharge their duty with a sense of patriotism.
He said, “With inflation eroding household incomes and widening social gaps, there is a pressing need for structured, grassroots-driven mechanisms to deliver measurable poverty reduction and enhance economic self-reliance.
“Given the multi-dimensional nature of poverty in Nigeria, where deprivation extends beyond income to basic infrastructure, there is an urgent need for quick intervention to provide services and opportunities that are both community-sensitive and adaptable. That is the reason for the creation of this committee.
“Community and social development occupy a foundational place in the architecture of national advancement. They serve as primary conduits to actualise inclusive growth, distributive equity, and societal cohesion.
“In a country as demographically diverse and economically stratified as Nigeria, the decentralisation of development initiatives ensures that no region remains a peripheral participant in the nation’s progress”.
He further noted that the role of institutions such as the Community and Social Development Agency and the NG-CARES initiative has grown increasingly vital, particularly in a post-pandemic fiscal environment marked by inflationary pressures and fragile livelihoods.
“NG-CARES, supported by the World Bank, has already reached over two million Nigerians with livelihood grants, social transfers, and basic services, a feat that illustrates the efficacy of decentralised interventions in cushioning systemic shocks” he added.
“The Committee,” the Speaker added, “Has been created to recommend measures for consideration by the House in respect of policies, projects, and programs aimed at addressing developmental challenges, rural and suburban communities in the country.”
