socio-economic rights of Nigeria citizens to water, health and education sectors should be included in the Nigerian constitution
By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
There is a strong advocacy that the socio-economic rights of Nigeria citizens to water, health and education sectors be included in the Nigerian constitution.
Furthermore, communities particularly in rural areas where poverty mostly abound must be awaken in ensuring that good and well treated drinking water, adequate health facilities and services and free qualitative education are provided by relevant organs of government.
These were some of the recommendations of report and participants input at the town hall meeting on ‘promoting citizens participation in the fight against corruption in the health, education and water sectors in Nigeria’.
The event which was held in Lagos on Tuesday was organised by a human rights and advocacy organization, the Socio Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
At the meeting, it was noted that corruption has eaten deep into the socio-economic development and rights of poor Nigerians and has consequently denied poor people access to such rights.
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Presenting the report titled ” The Ignored Pandemic: How Corruption in the Water, Health and Education sectors is Plunging Nigerians further into poverty” a survey put together by SERAP, the presenter, lead researcher and legal practitioner Dr Elijah Okebukola said that about 57 million Nigerians are living below poverty level and therefore cannot afford good drinking water, adequate health treatment and qualitative education.
He said that as part of this policy research, SERAP conducted a survey exploring the linkage between corruption and poverty on the access of Nigerians to amenities particularly health, education and water.
According to Okebukola, two states (one poor and one rich) was selected from each of the six geopolitical zones for the survey.
States surveyed from North Central are Niger and Kwara; North East are Taraba and Bauchi; North West are Sokoto and Kaduna; South East are Ebonyi and Anambra; South South are Cross River and Delta while South West are Ekiti and Lagos.
He said the objectives of the research are to evaluate public service delivery to the poor in health, education and water sectors; to access the policy framework and institutional environment for allocating resources and dispensing services in these sectors and to provide recommendations for improving access of poor Nigerians to public goods and services.
Some of the findings of the research amongst others include: poor people are victims and not perpetrators of corruption in the health, education and water sectors.
States did not have documented policies for helping people living in poverty or people earning low income to have access to health, education and water.
Corruption contributes to poverty and consequential sufferings of people living in poor neighbourhoods. Budget fraud, procurement fraud, embezzlement of funds among others, lead to failure in the delivery of services including education water and health.
Combating corruption is a poverty reduction strategy.
The report recommended prompt amendment of the Nigerian constitution of 1999 as amended to recognise Nigerians’ socio-economic rights, including the rights to an adequate standard of living, education, quality healthcare and clean water as legally enforceable human rights.
Increase investment in public health, the healthcare system, education services, provision of clean water and other basic public goods and services that will benefit majority of the population.
Participants at the meeting recommended that the role of traditional leaders is vital in the provision of these essential sectors in their various communities.
The Civil Society Organisations need to do more and ensure that the communities are well informed and act on the information received.
There is need for active participation of individuals in ensuring that corruption is nipped in the bud in these sectors. A complete overhaul of our mindset and holistic change of our attitude from ‘ it doesn’t concern me’
The youths should participate actively by monitoring and ensuring that projects earmarked for execution in their communities are judiciously carried out.
At the event, participants witnessed the unveiling of WAHEED, an acronym for Water, Health, Education and the inauguration of Serap Accountability Club (SAC) officers of University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Lagos State University (LASU) chapters respectively.