Professor Aiguosatile Otoghile, a lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), has warned that the worsening economic hardship in Nigeria could lead to a revolt. He attributed this hardship to the lack of a functional social security system for citizens.
Citing the recent uprising in Kenya, Professor Otoghile cautioned that while a similar situation in Nigeria is undesirable, the escalating economic struggles could eventually lead to an outburst. He shared these views during a lecture themed “Advocacy for the Creation of a Comprehensive Social Security in Nigeria,” organized by the Community Awareness Against Social Vices and Youth Empowerment (CAASVYE) Initiative, an NGO based in Benin City.
Professor Otoghile highlighted that approximately 80 percent of Nigerians are unable to afford three square meals a day, which he described as quality food in the right proportion.
He criticized the Nigerian government’s social security policies as ineffective and riddled with corruption, referring to them as “policy voodooism” and failed initiatives.
He expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of the National Assembly, accusing its members of being more interested in recouping their election expenses than in addressing citizens’ needs.
As a survival strategy, he advised Nigerians to diversify their income sources, raise awareness about their plight, and vote out ineffective leaders.
In her lecture titled “Advancing the Law on the Enforcement of Citizens’ Right to Welfare in Nigeria,” Dr. Elizabeth Iyamu Ojo from the Faculty of Law at UNIBEN stated that welfare rights are social rights. However, the 1999 Nigerian Constitution does not make them justiciable.
She pointed out that although there are numerous laws providing for citizens’ welfare rights, such as the National Health Act, Child Rights Act, and Pension Reform Act, there are inadequate provisions for their implementation.
Dr. Ojo stressed that welfare rights promote social justice, human and economic development, and equality among citizens.
She highlighted several challenges to implementing these rights, including resource constraints, bureaucratic inefficiencies, political and economic barriers, and low public awareness.
To improve the enforcement of welfare rights, Dr. Ojo recommended legal reforms, institutional strengthening through capacity building and resource allocation, enhancing judicial capacity, and implementing inclusive policies with effective monitoring and evaluation. She also emphasized the importance of public education campaigns.
Mr. Osaretin Aileme, the Executive Director of CAASVYE, called on Nigerians to take responsibility for demanding social security from the government. He stressed the need for a sustainable, transparent, and comprehensive social security system in Nigeria.
