World Social Justice Day: What Injustice Looks Like in Nigeria

World Social Justice Day: What Injustice Looks Like in Nigeria

February 20 marks the World Day of Social Justice. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007 to promote action against poverty, unemployment and social exclusion globally.

Like many other countries, Nigeria joined the rest of the world in observing the day on Thursday. First Lady Oluremi Tinubu released a statement, calling for collective efforts to bridge societal gaps and promote inclusivity.

However, beyond the official statements, Nigeria ranks among the worst-performing nations in social justice.

In December, FIJ reported how the country placed 120th out of 140 in the 2024 World Human Rights and Rule of Law Index, falling behind military-ruled Niger, El Salvador and war-torn Ukraine.

 

FIJ looks at how Nigeria has fared in recent months across the indices and metrics of social justice.

HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION

In December 2024, the World Justice Project ranked Nigeria among the bottom 25 countries for upholding fundamental human rights. The country’s justice system remains inaccessible to many, with rampant abuse and impunity.

Instances of these abuses occurred during the #EndBadGovernance protest in August when minors were arrested and detained alongside hardened criminals.

Reports documented inhumane conditions, including severe malnutrition, with some underage detainees collapsing in court.

Despite judicial orders for their release, Babagana Zulum, the Borno State Governor, publicly opposed freeing them. Amnesty International reported that over 1,200 people were detained, with 24 deaths recorded during the protest.

State authorities continue to prioritise power and control over justice. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has remained silent on the imbalance in the case of Subomi and Wahab Okoya, who were filmed publicly abusing the naira while a police officer assisted them.

While the officer faced consequences, the siblings, sons of a powerful businessman, walked free.

Even reporting social injustice has become a risky business.

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), in February, threatened to arrest Lagos resident Adebisi Adewole for speaking to the media about the injustice he suffered.

Perhaps the most troubling example of disregard for human rights is how the Nigeria Police Force and the Sierra Leonean Police let Benjamin Best Nnanyereugo, known as ‘KillaBoi’, off the hook despite confessing to murder.

Best had been arrested in Sierra Leone in October 2023 but bureaucratic negligence has kept him from facing justice in Nigeria.

GENDER INEQUALITY AND EXCLUSION

Nigeria ranks 130th out of 146 countries on the 2023 Global Gender Gap Index. The 2023 position is a decline from the 123rd spot in 2022.

The practical implications of this are evident in the country’s public administration. Despite campaign promises, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has failed to address gender inequality.

Tinubu pledged that women would make up 35 per cent of his cabinet, yet only eight out of 48 appointees were women. Following the suspension of Minister Betta Edu, that number has dropped to seven.

Disability rights are also routinely ignored in Nigeria. The Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act of 2018 mandates inclusive education and accessible public buildings.

 

Yet, the press has uncovered how major institutions like the University of Lagos and the Federal Polytechnic Ede lack facilities for students with physical, visual or auditory impairments.

Government websites fare no better. FIJ reported how 26 out of 36 official sites remain inaccessible to users with disabilities, violating Nigeria’s PWD Act.

POVERTY AND FAILURE OF SOCIAL PROTECTION

Nigeria’s social protection policies remain grossly inadequate. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) reports that only 11 per cent of Nigerians had any form of social protection in 2022.

Meanwhile, the World Bank notes that Nigeria is one of the countries with the lowest spending on social protection. As of 2021, the country allocated just 0.14 per cent of its GDP to social protection.

The consequences are dire. An estimated 83 million Nigerians — 40 per cent of the population — live in extreme poverty. With inflation soaring and the naira weakening, the situation has only worsened.

Conditional cash transfer and other social protection programmes exist but are ineffective due to weak legal frameworks and inconsistent implementation.

 

FIJ