The Country Director of Oxfam in Nigeria, John Makina, has raised the alarm over the deepening inequality in Nigeria, saying it continues to favour a privileged few while keeping the majority trapped in poverty.
Mr Makina made the remarks in Abuja on Thursday at a policy dialogue titled ‘The Next 90%: Youth, Policy & A Fairer Nigeria’, according to a statement shared with PREMIUM TIMES. The event convened stakeholders from the Senate, key ministries, embassies, international organisations, and civil society groups.
Speaking at the event, Mr Makina lamented that inequality is starkly evident in the political marginalisation of young people.
He also spotlighted the continued marginalisation of women in governance, noting that only 4.2 per cent of elected officials in Nigeria’s National Assembly are female. This, he said, is despite women playing a dominant role in rural agriculture and still suffering from literacy gaps — with just 35 per cent female literacy compared to 59.5 per cent for men.
Mr Makina further criticised Nigeria’s fiscal policy, revealing that in 2024, the country lost over N5 trillion to tax incentives granted to large corporations — an amount equivalent to 18.5 per cent of the federal budget.
He called for wide-ranging reforms, including wealth and excess profit taxes, stronger regulation of corporations, breaking monopolies, and investments in public services.
“To address youth challenges, we need progressive labour policies that promote decent work and fair pay. Raising the national minimum wage to reflect the real cost of living is a good start,” he said.
He noted that about 65 per cent of Nigeria’s workforce operates in the informal economy, and formalising these businesses through access to credit, training, and social protection could boost economic inclusion.
Reducing vulnerable employment, which affects 55 per cent of young Nigerians, Mr Makina said, is also vital. “Encouraging small and medium-sized enterprises through simplified registration, tax incentives, training, and credit support can help.”
