By Naomi Sharang
The Fight Inequality Alliance (FIA) Nigeria has called for stronger collaboration among government, civil society organisations, development partners and citizens to address widening inequality in the country.
The Convener of FIA Nigeria, Ms Ekaete Umoh, made the call during activities marking the Global Day to Fight Inequality in Abuja on Saturday.
Umoh said the alliance was committed to building a common platform for collective action against inequality across all sectors.
She described FIA as a global movement of civil society organisations, activists and grassroots networks working towards a just, equitable and sustainable world.
According to her, inequality in Nigeria remains evident in healthcare, education, gender, youth participation, disability inclusion and access to economic opportunities.
She cited the “Not Too Young to Run” campaign and advocacy that culminated in the signing of the Disability Act in 2019 as examples of efforts to reduce inequality.
“Our vision is to stand together to fight every form of inequality. We want a society where everyone has equal opportunities and access to resources,” she said.
Umoh said the alliance was advocating a fairer distribution of wealth and resources to enable all citizens to live with dignity.
She described inequality as widespread, particularly affecting vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities.
She urged the government to create more opportunities for civil society organisations to contribute practical solutions to reducing inequality and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“We are not just pointing out problems; we are bringing solutions and asking government to open up the space for dialogue and partnership,” she said.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA), Ms Faith Nwadishi, said inequality had become increasingly pronounced, with a small proportion of the global population controlling a significant share of wealth.
Nwadishi, a member of the FIA National Council, cited data showing widespread multidimensional poverty, disparities between rural and urban communities, and limited access to healthcare, quality education and housing.
According to her, figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicate that about 63 per cent of Nigerians experience multidimensional poverty.
She said the condition extended beyond income deprivation to include poor housing, inadequate healthcare, limited access to quality education and other essential services.
Nwadishi called for policies that promote equitable wealth distribution, fair taxation and stronger social protection, while addressing barriers affecting women, young people and other vulnerable groups.
She also advocated cultural and institutional reforms to eliminate discriminatory practices and expand opportunities for women and marginalised communities.
In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of the Kids and Teens Resource Centre, Mr Martin-Mary Falana, called for systems and policies that discourage excessive accumulation of wealth while promoting greater social equity.
Falana, who is also a member of the National Council of FIA Nigeria, said policies should encourage public officials to rely on healthcare services within the country, adding that such measures could help strengthen confidence in the nation’s health system. (NAN)
Edited by Sadiya Hamza