The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), on Thursday, condemned the increasing poverty rate in Nigeria, labelling it unacceptable and calling for a comprehensive reevaluation of government policies and programmes.

The National Publicity Secretary of NNPP, Ladipo Johnson, in a statement to commemorate this year’s International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, said the urgent need for change to maintain peace and stability in the country.

The party asserted that the poverty index has deteriorated under the Tinubu administration, with more citizens experiencing severe economic hardship indicative of abject poverty.

The party noted that contrary to the professed ideals of the government’s reform agenda, policies have so far proved otherwise, and the future looks bleak.

NNPP criticised the lifestyles and expenditures of government officials and its institutions, which, it said, were unjust and did not reflect the need for inclusion, saying such a situation cannot guarantee peace and stability as it amounted to gross inequality and insensitivity to the plight of the suffering masses.

Johnson said: “In light of the prevailing crunching economic conditions, therefore, it becomes imperative for the government to look inwards and take strategic and workable steps to reset its policies and programs to arrest the worsening poverty in the country.

“This is important in order to enable the people to believe that truly there’s hope and eschew any recourse to anti-social behaviour which could threaten public peace.

“It is also pertinent that the government and its officials show some sensitivity to the plight of the people by being modest and accountable while government spending is tailor-made for the needy rather than the excessive extravagance we’ve seen in recent times.”