The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, citing a glaring lack of visible progress and worsening poverty levels since his assumption of office.

The association described the situation as a “grave miscalculation” and called on the President to urgently reassess the leadership and operations of the ministry to address the growing humanitarian crises in Nigeria.

HURIWA pointed out that the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and Poverty Alleviation, overseeing seven agencies, which include the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), North East Development Commission (NEDC), National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced People (NCFRMI), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), and the National Commission for People with Disability (NCPWD), appear to be in a state of dormancy.

The association lamented that, since Professor Yilwatda’s appointment, the ministry has shown no tangible results, despite its critical mandate to provide humanitarian interventions and combat the worsening poverty crisis. “The silence emanating from this vital ministry is deafening.

Poverty continues to balloon out of control, and millions of Nigerians are suffering while the ministry appears to be in a state of slumber,” HURIWA stated. HURIWA expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s expanding poverty rate, noting that the ministry has failed to address the urgent needs of the nation’s poor and vulnerable populations.

The association highlighted the rising levels of hunger, starvation, destitution, and the alarming increase in out-of-school children as indicators of the ministry’s ineffectiveness. It also criticized the apparent cessation of the school-feeding programs, which had previously provided some relief to families living in poverty.

“Since Professor Yilwatda’s appointment, no significant policy, intervention, or program has been initiated to tackle these pressing issues. Nigerians are asking if there is even a functioning Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation,” HURIWA queried.

The association contrasted Professor Yilwatda’s tenure with that of his predecessor, Dr. Betta Edu, who, despite allegations of corruption and ongoing investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was seen as relatively more active and engaged.

“It is ironic that a minister under investigation for alleged corruption seems to have been more effective than the current leadership, which has brought the ministry to a standstill,” HURIWA noted.

HURIWA also criticized the perceived opacity in the running of the ministry, accusing it of failing to communicate its activities or engage meaningfully with the public.

The association questioned the rationale behind appointing two ministers from the same geographical region to lead a ministry tasked with addressing a national crisis like poverty.

“Poverty is a national malaise that transcends ethnicity, language, and religion. Assigning two ministers from one region to a ministry with such a critical mandate reflects a lack of understanding of the problem’s scope and diversity,” HURIWA stated.

HURIWA challenged Professor Yilwatda to wake up from what it described as his “celebratory hangover” and immediately get to work. The association emphasized that the overwhelming nature of the challenges faced by the ministry requires proactive and strategic leadership.

“It is unacceptable that after over two months in office, there is no visible activity or progress in addressing Nigeria’s humanitarian and poverty crises. The minister must take responsibility and begin to demonstrate leadership. Nigerians need to see action, not silence,” HURIWA declared.

The association called on President Tinubu to reconsider the current leadership of the ministry if no tangible progress is made soon. It urged the minister to prioritize transparency, actively engage with stakeholders, and implement targeted programs to alleviate poverty and address humanitarian challenges.

Additionally, HURIWA recommended an independent review of the ministry’s operations to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies that may be hindering its performance. “The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation must be revived and repositioned to fulfill its mandate.

Failure to do so would not only exacerbate Nigeria’s humanitarian crises but also erode public confidence in the government’s commitment to addressing poverty,” the group warned. HURIWA concluded by reminding the federal government that poverty and humanitarian challenges are not regional but national issues requiring a unified, inclusive, and robust approach.

“The silence and inaction from the ministry are not just failures of governance but betrayals of the trust Nigerians have placed in this administration. If the current leadership cannot rise to the occasion, the President must urgently consider alternative measures to ensure the ministry fulfills its critical role,” the association stated.

Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko National Coordinator, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) January 15, 2025