The Fight Inequality Alliance (FIA), a non-governmental organization founded to counter the excessive concentration of power and wealth in the hands of a small elite, has called on the federal government to stop what it calls “the increasing commercialization and privatization of education, healthcare and other basic services.”
At a public rally in Ikeja at the weekend, the group called for a budgetary allocation of 15% and 20% to the health and education sectors across the three tiers of government. According to it, it is only this that can remedy the sorry state of the country’s health and education sectors.
Speaking on behalf of the Fia during the rally, Dr Gideon Adeyeni called for the immediate halt of the proposed discriminatory disbursement of government student loan scheme (NELFUND) and a total replacement of the scheme with education grants and scholarships.
He said this would ensure equality and fairness in the distribution of the country’s resources rather than the disbursement of the discriminatory loans. The FIA also called for adequate investment in agriculture and water provision and comprehensive social welfare programme to ensure access to food and water to all citizens, and an end to the privatization of public water across the states.
The group said the country’s economic and social support for persons with disabilities should ensure inclusive participation in the society and called for cut in governance cost by reducing government size and cutting the jumbo salaries and emoluments of government officials.
