By Babatunde Tiamiyu
A former Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lagos, Prof. Lai Olurode, has attributed the prevalence of multidimensional poverty in Nigeria to low budgetary spending on health and education.
The former National Commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lamented that Nigeria spent the least on education and heath when compared to Ghana and South Africa.
The sociology professor stated this while presenting a paper at an annual stakeholders on Education staff improvement workshop in Iwo, Osun State.
The paper had the theme: “Reluctant Souls, Lamenting Teachers; the State and Knowledge Centres”.
Olurode reeled out data painting the gloomy picture of the two key sectors, saying: “It is an expression of Nigeria’s socioeconomic and political elite indifference to budgetary allocations to the sectors that ought to matter Nigeria’s rich resources are being harvested and plundered by some politicians of different shades”.
The elder statesman lamented that ordinary Nigerians have been turned into scavengers in a sharp contrast to huge endowments of the country. He emphasised that Nigeria’s poverty profile will remain daunting unless attention is paid to the sectors.
The professor said: “Multidimensional poverty is high in Nigeria because we spend the least on education and health sectors when compared to Ghana and South Africa, even though these countries aren’t as well endowed as Nigeria.
“The data shown is an expression of Nigeria’s socioeconomic and political elite indifference to budgetary allocations to the sectors that ought to matter Nigeria’s rich resources are being harvested and plundered by some politicians of different shades.
“Ordinary Nigerians have been turned into scavengers which are a paradox in the context of Nigeria’s huge human and resource endowments.
“Without attention being paid to education, Nigeria’s poverty profile will remain daunting. This paper summarises how major players in the education sector aren’t just bothered. Their children aren’t participants in the sector.
