CORRUPTION IDENTIFIED AS A THREAT TO IMPLEMENTATION OF SOCIAL JUSTICE IN NIGERIA
World Social justice Day is celebrated on 20th February each year.
It is a day set aside by the United Nations General Assembly to encourage people to examine how social injustice affects poverty eradication. The day focuses on the goal of achieving full employment and support for social integration.
It also enables the United Nations International Labour Organization and other organization to present plans for greater social justice, tackle poverty, unemployment as well as social and economic exclusion.
The Secretary, Enugu State Justice Reform Team, Chief Tom AnyafuIudeh explained that corruption had remained a major challenge to implementation of social justice across the nation.
He emphasized that citizens would find it difficult to enjoy social justice if their rights were trampled upon.
‘’Social justice means a free society where everybody belongs, where there is employment, no discrimination against anyone or based on gender, religion, race or colour. There is even distribution of resources, social justice eradicates poverty but this not the case in Nigeria basically because of corruption. Chapter 2 of the 1999 Constitution as amended provides for the obligations of the state towards the citizens of Nigeria. Some of these obligations are provision of good water supply, education, security, healthcare. When a state promotes these social rights, people will have social justice and their wellbeing will be enhanced.’’
Chief Anyafuludeh therefore advised individuals who could not seek redress in the court of law to benefit from social justice to use the power of their vote to enthrone good governance.
‘’It is not justicable, you cannot sue in court of law to have social justice. You use your vote to vote, but that entails education on the part of people, it is when you are enlightened on your rights that you know your rights.’’
The theme of this year’s celebration is “Preventing Conflict and Sustaining Peace Through Decent Work”.
EVELYN AWUNOR