By Joseph Edegbo
Kaduna, (Nigeria)– Speaker, Nigeria’s House Of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has warned that for citizens of democracy to overcome violence, they must defeat extreme poverty.
The Speaker made the remark on Monday in Abuja, the nation’s capital, at a Summit on Legislative Frame Work for Economic Recovery and Sustainable Development organized by the House Ad hoc Committee on Economic Recession.
Dogara said it is important to note that unemployment remains high, while poverty and inequality continue to take their toll on our hard working but beleaguered people.
“Issues of exchange rate stability, high inflation rate, inadequate fiscal response, have also increased the nation’s misery index to about 56% which is spectacularly dismal.
“For most of our families, the situation has been pathetic. They have endured the economic downturn with grace; suffering quietly as they deal with recession by trying to dig their way out of a pit defined by unrelenting economic bleakness.
“The terminal date of a recession is usually no cheering news for families as the traumatic effects of a recession on families lasts far more than the duration of an economic downturn, Dogara noted.
He stated that in the face of this grim reality, no responsible and proactive Parliament or, Institution of democracy should fold its hands and look the other way as intense poverty and misery hold the knives out for our citizens.
As such, he said, the Lawmakers have no alternative but to craft a viable legal framework upon which sustainable economic growth and progress can be built.
“We must reverse the nose-diving trend of the hope and opportunity curve of our dear country to stamp out the slide towards violence which is fast becoming the language of the despondent and hopeless”, he said.
The Speaker therefore enjoined policy makers, members of parliament at both federal and state levels, captains of industry, the academia, organised labour, civil society and non-governmental organizations to interface and proffer lasting solutions to the socio-economic and infrastructural challenges facing our dear country.
He further hoped that the summit will result in recommending a legislative framework that will promote transparency, provide robust governance solutions, clearly define roles, and provide a standardised and acceptable framework for financial management.
