Topic:
Country: Nigeria
Delegate Name: Jackson Harlan
Country: Nigeria
Committee: UNDP
Topic: Income inequality
Delagate: Jackson Harlan
School: Williamston High School
Income inequality is a pressing issue in today’s world. The gap between rich and poor has become more prominent due to issues such as COVID-19 and the rising inflation from the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Many countries have hundreds, thousands, and even millions of people on the threshold or in poverty. Especially with inflation and COVID-19, the rich get richer while the poor get poorer. In 2020 the income at the top made 12.90 times more than the income at the bottom, while in 2021 they made 13.53 times more. This is a clear sign that the gap between the bottom and top is only growing more extensive and will continue to do so. One thing is for sure, the world cannot stay in this state.
Nigeria has taken action in the past to fight these issues. One is the national gender policy which seeks to combat violence and discrimination, eventually leading to further equality among sexes. Nigeria has also created many more policies regarding these inequalities, especially regarding women. Unfortunately, there has been and currently is tension along the northern and eastern borders of the country causing Nigeria to be focused on this rather than these inequalities.
The first step to solving this problem is quality education, but this will not get us all the way. This needs to be accompanied by progressive taxation. That would mean putting a higher tax on a higher income and a lower tax on a lower income to prevent a further gap from occurring. One step even further is to address the unemployment crisis in the country. Creating jobs, even further creating safer working conditions, and higher wages. As I previously stated Nigeria has conflict currently arising on the northern and eastern borders and is preoccupied with this, but realizes that this issue needs to be addressed and work towards progress.
