Director of Women Empowerment and Legal Aid, Mrs. Funmi Falana SAN, urged the Federal Government to implement policies and programs that will ease the economic hardship currently facing Nigerians.
Speaking with journalists in Iyin Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Saturday after hosting her annual Christmas party for the children at Erelu Angela Adebayo Children’s Home, Falana called on both federal and state governments to allocate special provisions for reputable orphanages in their annual budgets.
She emphasized, “Such special budgetary allocations will improve the effective management and operation of these homes.
It will complement the efforts of kind-hearted individuals and philanthropists.
You will agree with me that places like these deserve such allocations.”
Falana pointed out that substantial funds are allocated to the National Assembly, which has fewer than 500 members, in the national budget.
She suggested that the government could allocate more funds to orphanages to support the less privileged.
The renowned legal practitioner, who presented cash gifts, food items, soft drinks, and beverages to the children, also appealed to philanthropists to continue supporting the less fortunate and spreading joy.
“The harsh economic situation in the country is hitting hard, and our governments must urgently address this to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians, so they are not seen as failures,” Falana said.
“Women are crying, and children are weeping.
I don’t know how the average Nigerian is surviving with the rise in petrol prices and other products.
A bag of rice costs about N120,000,” she continued.
She continued, “Everyone knows that rice is one of the staple foods for children, and even garri.
There is no food item that isn’t expensive now in Nigeria.
The government should find solutions to these problems.
Poverty seems to be weaponized in our country.”
Falana also linked recent stampedes that resulted in deaths, including that of children, to the widespread poverty in the nation.
“This is one of the ripple effects of the economic hardship.
The charity organisations that facilitated these programs meant well, but they turned tragic because of the level of suffering in our country.
It is very sad,” she added.
Mrs. Modupe Ajayi, Matron of the orphanage, expressed gratitude to Mrs. Falana for her over 10 years of unwavering support for both the children and the orphanage.
