PRESS STATEMENT ON THE CELEBRATION OF THE 2019 WORLD DAY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE

February 20, 2019

PRESS STATEMENT ON THE CELEBRATION OF THE 2019 WORLD DAY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE

As we celebrate the World Day of Social Justice 2019, Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) calls on all tiers of government in Nigeria to take concrete and targeted steps for the mainstreaming of social justice into the daily lives of Nigerians. The theme of the 2019 World Day of Social Justice – “If you want peace and development, work for social justice” – is a clarion call on all stakeholders to be fair and just in the distribution of opportunities and privileges within the Nigerian society and the world at large.

Nigeria has witnessed a negation of the basic tenets of social justice vis; the fact of Nigeria as the poverty capital of the world, the ethnic and religious killings in Benue, Kaduna and other parts of Nigeria, the huge inequality and gender discrimination across the country as well as the 23.1% unemployment rate, etc. These are all indicators of the absence of peace and development.   

We recall that the federal character principle, universal basic education, commitment to the rule of law and many other tools were adopted by Nigeria for the promotion of social justice. Sadly, these tools have been desecrated. The lopsided appointments by the government, the 13.5 million out of school children and flagrant disregard of the rule of law are indicators that we have derailed from the principles of social justice. The fact that a peaceful 2019 election is a recipe for justice and development in the next four years cannot be overemphasized. The over-heated polity and threats of violence and intimidation that have characterized our preparations for the coming general elections are unnecessary. The 2019 World Day of Social Justice should serve as a subtle call to commitment for candidates, INEC, law enforcement officers, political parties, electorate and all stakeholders to rededicate themselves to peace and development by working for social justice.

Centre for Social Justice therefore makes the following recommendations:

• Governments at all levels and private sector stakeholders should redouble their efforts towards job creation as this will reduce social inequality and also go a long way to diffuse the time bomb of high unemployment rate in Nigeria.
• Rule of law, federal character principle and all constitutional provisions must be respected by all stakeholders.
• The government should take adequate steps to restore security and peace in Nigeria. Nigeria’s security chiefs should do more to address the challenges posed by Boko Haram terrorist, killer herdsmen, bandits, kidnappers and ritualists terrorizing Nigerians.
• Free and compulsory universal basic education must be fully implemented. Government and other stakeholders must take strategic steps to send the millions of out-of-school children back to school.
• The social interventions programmes of the government should be re-organized and strategically implemented in a manner that promotes greater value for money.
• Gender and vulnerability concerns should be mainstreamed into key decisions of government and other stakeholders.

Finally, Centre for Social Justice wishes Nigerians a peaceful and fruitful celebration of the 2019 World Day of Social Justice.  

Eze Onyekpere Esq.

Lead Director