It has been recognized that provision of Social Security Benefits in Nigeria is a long-term panacea for mass poverty, unemployment and an important tool for the realisation of an egalitarian society. Early this year precisely on the 16^th April 2009, the Federal Government inaugurated the National Working Committee on Social Security Policy for Nigeria under the headship of Dr Yakubu Gowon. No one seems to be hearing anything about it ever since.  I guess they must be working in the background. With the recent happenings in the country, from the Niger Delta militancy to the current Boko Haram crisis, one cannot deny the fact that a root cause analysis will indicate that some of the crises are due to the non existence of a system that will uplift and give confidence to the common man in the country without being dragged by the nose.

I believe it is the birthright of each Nigerian to live a life with dignity and with access to the basic necessities of life as well as being free. The underlying aim of Social security in any country is protection from fear and want. The extent of insecurity, poverty, destitution and vulnerability in Nigeria reach far beyond the objectives of typical systems of social security implemented in developed countries or even developing countries in the same rank with us. We need a social security system now than later that will cover the young and old as well as the employed and unemployed. We should be aiming for a social security system that will be integrated within the overall development strategy of the country rather than implemented as individual programmes.

We should aim to have a Social security policy that will encourage protection and promotion of both human and physical capital; a social security system that will include health support, access to clinics and hospitals, health insurance policies, better nutrition, improved access to schools, universal primary education, and so forth. The longer we wait to make the changes happen the more losses we shall have and more painful the experiences will be for Nigerians. If we allow pockets of opportunists to take over government’s responsibility then we should expect what we are seeing in North and the South. The responsibility is that of government. Even in capitalist societies they have a system to empower the citizenry in-order for them to stand up against teachings and beliefs that will impoverish mankind.

Social Security embodies Biblical and Koranic principles of intergenerational responsibility and support. These principles recognize the vulnerability and abandonment that may come with lack and want. Who can then blame the scores of Nigerians who have found themselves in situations where one eyed men lead them? This explosion of violence is a manifestation of pent up grievances, especially as hunger and unemployment create fertile grounds for unrest. We all know that Government‘s neglect of the Niger Delta spurned the militants to military action. Our elites from North, West, East to South are selfish beyond belief and I say this with all sense of responsibility. If not how do you explain a mansion with all amenities in the midst of stark darkness and want? I lived in the north for many years. I must confess that the number of Almajiris that are produced yearly is astronomic. If all the people who were killed in Bauchi and Maiduguri were gainfully employed there may have been a different perspective. As the Niger State Governor said, the Boko Haram crisis is due to poverty. This is what many people have also said of the Niger Delta and I say categorically that it is true. Militancy is due to poverty. So why are we having poverty everywhere when there is so much available to stop this trend?

I watched on AIT and the NTA President Yar’Adua receiving militants. My worry is that even though the President may have a good intention by his nature, it will be difficult for him to get his plan implemented because of the cartel behind all these. There is a group of Nigerians who enjoy seeing Nigerians in this pandemonium. We all hope that these boys and girls will be the real beneficiaries of the programme. The fundamental issue is the provision of basic amenities as part of a unified social security system for the country. Will Yakubu Gowon and his committee succeed? I believe this is the time to also come public about what the committee is doing and has done so far.  

The tendency for social conflict under the guise of religion and resource control will continue to grow if we do not provide basic needs for the populace. This is the basis of social security both in the Bible and the Koran. I am of the opinion that even the so called electoral reform being screamed about will not be effective if there is no social security system on ground. People who are hungry, uneducated and have no future will not be interested in any electoral reform. They will only live for what they can get to live.

In Nigeria we are very good at announcing committees. We have been inundated with so many programmes all pretending to help the people. For instance there is NAPEP which is an anti-poverty programme which appears to be cautiously initiated and whose finances are zealously supervised with billions of Naira liberally expended since its inception. However has the poverty index reduced despite all the money spent? So much is being appropriated for alleviating poverty yet there is poverty everywhere.

I believe the strength of our country is measured best by the compassion we show to one another in times of greatest need and vulnerability. This is the time to continue to look at proposals to modify the Social Security system through the framework of our moral values and religious experiences.

A good social security system will strengthen our democracy, by enhancing security, self respect and freedom of our citizens. The future belongs to those who give the next generation reason for hope. Social Security is truly a test of our values as Nigerians. Social Security is a fundamental promise that will lift most of our poor out of poverty and help millions of docile Nigerians, widows and orphans. We owe Nigerians from Kula to Kaura Namoda a better deal than we're having today. It's about time we do everything we can to keep the promise of Social Security.

On a final note, I believe no crisis of this magnitude can be planned and executed without a strong financial and political backing. And like the Niger Delta militancy, we cannot run away from the fact that there are sponsors. We can therefore not be sure of the broad nature of these affiliations, or even the truth about them, until a full-scale investigation is conducted by the Nigerian security services and reported to Nigerians if we must learn from them. But shall we ever see one? I stand to be proved wrong.

Robot  # 1 | 23.08.2009 07:13

It has been recognized that provision of Social Security Benefits in Nigeria is a long-term panacea for mass poverty, unemployment and an important tool for the realisation of an egalitarian society. Early this year precisely on the 16th April 2009, the Federal Government inaugurated the National Working Committee on.......Read the full article.