An Analysis of Poverty as a Violation of Human Right in Nigeria

Abstract

The incidence of poverty in Nigeria has become pervasive, with over 60percent of the estimated 150million population living below the poverty line. This has necessitated the discourse that due to the pervasive poverty in the country the fundamental human right of the people was systematically been denied. The question that looms large is what is the nexus between poverty and Human right violations? This paper looks at the incidence of poverty in the country and posits that due to the massive poverty in the country, the rights of the people have been violated. Leaning towards the notion of justice as posited by John Rawls, it contends that it was inhuman for Nigerians to live in conditions that de humanizes them. Finally, having noted that there is a symmetry between poverty and violation of Human rights, what is of utmost concern now is how to apply the precepts of John Rawls that ”Social& Economic inequality are to be arranged so that they are to the greatest benefit of the least advantage’’