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Imperatives of a social security/welfare scheme in Nigeria

1. Nigeria is awash with money, floating literally, free and up for grabs by anyone who has the audacity, way and means to dip into the till. This is partly because these moneys are not tied directly to structures or programs which benefit Nigerians personally and directly, and little impact is made in the lives of Nigerians. 2.Also as a result of the huge budgetary allocation yearly to little more than white elephant projects, the avenues to steal are teeming, consequently the very high rate of corruption. 3.70% of Nigerian’s live in penury and poverty, mostly abject. 4.There is presently no benefit the average Nigerian derives from its government-no social welfare/security, no social housing and no formal (official) succor. Nigerians are left entirely to their own vices; if you die, you die. 5.Related to point number one is the need to curb crime and insecurity through a national fingerprint database. The data base will help the police for forensic purposes, crime detection etc. 6.A social welfare scheme will require registration, fingerprint identification inter alia to be operational. It will therefore, simultaneously provide an automatic real-time census, a fingerprint database, less opportunity for embezzlement of ?free moneys, poverty alleviation and giving Nigerians a sense of belonging, ownership and pride. 7.Introduction of a social welfare scheme will make an immediate and sustained impact on Nigerians. 8.Will boost confidence in government. 9.It will help streamline and focus government expenditure, resource control and facilitate fiscal prudence. 10.Finally, it will show the real essence of governance-security and welfare of the individual and collective.

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