The lawmaker representing Delta North Senatorial District, Senator Ned Nwoko, has advocated for a data-driven social security structure that would ensure sustainable support for unemployed and vulnerable citizens.
He also reiterated his call for the replacement of the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry with the National Social Security Agency under the office of the President.
Senator Nwoko stated this over the weekend in Abuja during a meeting with a coalition of civil society organisations across the country.
Under the aegis of the Coalition for Creativity & Social Change, the organisations are working in social welfare thematic areas.
While explaining that the proposed legislation, which is already before the National Assembly, enjoys the support of his colleagues across party lines, he said the agency, when established, shall provide well-structured, impactful, and sustainable social interventions to eligible unemployed Nigerians and the vulnerable.
Accompanied by his wife and actress, Regina Daniels, the federal legislator said social security should not be considered an act of benevolence but a fundamental human right.
The proposed agency, he pointed out, would target and address the needs of the vulnerable population through a more efficient and sustainable system.
He lamented that the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry has been embroiled in controversy, expressing regret that the vulnerable in society have been neglected by the government.
Senator Nwoko noted that while the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry carries out an ad-hoc approach in the Federal Government’s social safety nets programme, the new agency would provide a more sustainable and dignified solution to social welfare and align Nigeria with global best practices in social security management.
He explained that the scheme would help address insecurity and criminal activities arising from unemployment.
“The essence of the bill is to make it mandatory for the government to provide for these categories of people without discrimination.
“The amount could be anything from N50,000 to N100,000. I know some people will say, what about Minimum Wage? It is for those who are working. But if you are unemployed and at home, you don’t make money through any other means.
“But for this to work, we must have a national database that is verifiable, credible, and acceptable by all.
“I am passionate about this because the vulnerable people in Nigeria are neglected. They are treated like aliens,” he said.
The Delta North senator stated that the agency would be funded through contributions of 5 percent earnings by governments, businesses, and multinationals.
Some members of the coalition include Research and Training for Real Empowerment (Restore Initiatives); Evergreen Initiative; Media & Creativity for Social Consciousness; and civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA).
They drummed up support for the senator’s call to replace the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs with the National Social Security Agency, even as they lauded his focus on using accurate, up-to-date data to ensure that social security benefits reach those who genuinely need them.
In his presentation, renowned media scholar and lecturer at Baze University, Abuja, Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi delivered a comprehensive presentation that provided historical context and highlighted exemplary global practices.
On his part, HURIWA National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the proposed National Social Security Agency has the potential to address some of the root causes of social unrest in Nigeria.
According to him, the agency would represent a significant shift from the charity-oriented framework currently dominating our social welfare landscape.
Similarly, media executive Gloria Okolugbo applauded the lawmaker for the initiative, stressing that he is passionately spearheading what civil society organisations should champion.