Existing Inequality, Subsidy removal fueling Child poverty in Nigeria – University Don

By Samuel Luka, Bauchi

Dr. Ali Madina Dankumo of the Department of Economics and Development Studies, Federal University Kashere in Gombe state has stressed that the existing inequality and subsidy removal, among others in Nigeria have formed part of the reasons behind child poverty in the country.

The Economic expert who stated this while presenting a paper on the effect of Child Poverty on Socio Economic Development of Nigeria said, before now, Nigeria use to have high income earners, middle income earners and low income earners.

He however lamented that such stages of income earning has eroded the country due to bad governance.

“In Nigeria now, we don’t have anything like middle income earners because they have been pushed down to meet the low income earners as a result of their inability to maintain their position”, he said.

The university Don who noted that due to the inability of the low income earners to go up, they have gone down which necessitated the bottom to become heavily loaded.

“The only option for them is to go down, that is why the bottom is heavy and once the bottom is heavy when it comes to the issue of income earning, there are a lot of consequences that are attached to it”, he said.

Dr. Dankumo who mentioned some of the consequences of inequality to include, protest demonstration, criminal activities, social ills and the rest, insisted that concerted efforts are required to drive policy implementation to safeguard the rights of the children.

He said government policies such as removal of subsidy on essential commodities such as fuel as done by the Nigerian government has its attendant consequences on the plights of children.

While arguing that there is no country in the world that is not subsidizing one or two things, the university Lecturer said that the fuel subsidy removal has changed the whole narratives because it has had a multiplier effect on economic activities of the country which has reflected negatively in the standard of living of ordinary citizens.

“That is why any study research conducted last year, if you do it now, it will multiply by almost 100 percent because of subsidy removal.

He said as result of corruption, funds meant for improving the living standard of the citizens are being diverted to personal pockets.

In his goodwill message, the Honourable Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Gombe state, Salihu Baba Alkali assured that the three states of Adamawa, Bauchi and Gombe states would collaborate the UNICEF to uplift the living condition of the children.

He commended the UNICEF for conducting the Media Dialogue, saying such initiative is in line with the current developmental priorities of the North-East Geo-political zone which would be immensely contributory to an improved Child development.