February 20, 2018

WORLD DAY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE

Alliances for Africa celebrates world Social Justice Day today, 20th February, 2018 and in commemorating this day recognizes the import of the theme for this year, “Workers on the move, the Quest for social Justice”.

Social justice is a political and philosophical concept which holds that all people should have equal access to wealth, health, wellbeing, justice and opportunity.

The concern is, in commemorating this day, how far has Nigeria come in attaining social justice for everyone, especially the Nigerian women and children?

It is now trite to hold that women and children in Nigeria are the worst hit in the nation where social injustice thrives on the wings of dire corruption and unaccountability of the government instituted to ensure a fair distribution of health, wealth and justice to the Nigerian society. However trite this view may be, it is the reality of the Nigerian community. A society ravaged with social injustice where the wealth, justice and health facilities are the sole entitlements of the political class.

Can social justice be attained in Nigerian? Can it be attained globally even?

With the increase in migration owing to the heightened unemployment in developing countries like Nigeria, social justice has become a much sought anecdote to the malaise of poverty and unemployment. Migrants are in search for a better life which can be found in their countries if the mechanism of social justice is employed effectively.

Alliances for Africa draws the attention of the Nigerian government to a workable solution to this social cancer of migration and unemployment; Taxation. Specifically exploring the social dimensions of taxation, such as income and gender inequality and human development, as well as capacity development, will advance social justice and inclusion for all in Nigeria.

Outlining and defining taxation here will be stating the obvious, effective taxation is imperative to promote a more inclusive and sustainable growth. It is fundamental to making social justice workable for the Nigerian society.

Tax structures affect society and the economy in many ways, beyond a narrow financing focus: equality, in its many dimensions, impacting investment and growth; empowerment of women; sustainability of the environment; extraction of natural resources; and many other concerns central to the attainment of a socially just Nigeria. Where and if these structures are instituted in Nigeria, social justice will be very attainable.

As the world celebrates Social Justice today, Alliances for Africa draws the Nigerian government’s attention to the need to establish effective mechanisms to combat tax evasion, money laundering and illicit financial flows, so that the country can better mobilize her resources to attain social justice for her citizens.

AfA further reminds the government that fair and efficient tax systems, combined with good service delivery and public accountability, build citizens’ trust in government and help societies prosper.