High Poverty Rate In Nigeria Condemned

An appeal has been made to the federal government to redistribute wealth throughout the country to eliminate the current high poverty rate.

A faith-based human rights advocacy group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), made the appealed yesterday through its executive director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola.

MURIC lamented the growing trend of extensive poverty among the working class caused by alarmingly poor salaries amid fat and disproportionate remuneration for the political class.

“There is growing restlessness among the Nigerian working class. University lecturers under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have threatened to strike.

“Similarly, resident doctors have given the government notice of a strike. Similarly, hospital nurses have just resumed from a warning strike today, Monday, 15th September 2025.

“In the face of this gloomy socio-economic scenario, the Federal Government (FG) is reportedly considering an increase in the earnings of politicians.

“Apart from an army of unemployed graduates, the condition of the working class in Nigeria is pitiable.

The take-home pay of the proletariat cannot take him home.

Market prices, which hit the roof over a year ago, are now up in the sky, aiming at Jupiter. The inflation rate was 21.88% as of July 2025.

“There is widespread hunger and starvation in the country. The North is bleeding. The South is barely surviving. Strangled and suffocated, the jamaahiir at the bottom of the pyramid of poverty can hardly breathe.

“While we appreciate the ongoing economic reform launched by the FG, we call for immediate reordering of our common patrimony sharing pattern”.

According to MURIC, only an equitable and proportionate readjustment of workers’ and politicians’ salaries can stem the current tide and bring about socio-economic justice.

“We also appeal to FG to reconsider its attempt to increase politicians’ wages when, already, a senator allegedly earns a whopping N21 million monthly compared to a professor’s meagre monthly salary of N633,333.

“This sad development has caused brain drain in the universities. Exempli gratia, 239 first-class lecturers left the University of Lagos (Unilag) in the last seven years over poor pay.”

“Medical doctors and nurses are leaving the country in droves. At least 50 doctors leave Nigeria weekly. More than 15,000 nurses left Nigeria in 2024 alone.”