Working Framework And Specific Principles To Drive Social Inclusion; By Jaye Gaskia

Introduction:

THE WAY I have chosen to address this topic or theme is to take close look at what might be a working framework and or principles for enabling social inclusion, and making the transition from social exclusion to social inclusion, in the context of a social transformative process.

This approach is informed by two interrelated factors; first with respect to this forum, and the process of which it is an integral part – that is the project on promoting the rights of the original inhabitants (OIs) of the FCT, I have already been engaged with the preparation of a series of policy briefs around five interconnected themes, including the theme of promoting the inclusion of the FCT OIs in employment and empowerment programs of the Federal Government, and the Federal Capital Development Authority [FCDA];

The second factor, is that this forum, provides an opportunity to deal with the social exclusion – social inclusion dynamic and contradiction.

In this presentation, I will thus be building on the specific foundation laid in the policy brief to address the specific challenge, and essentially utilise the opportunity presented to draw more holistic lessons for the process of promoting, enabling, enhancing and achieving social inclusion in society.

What are these specific principles? And what does this working framework consist of?

Specific principles to drive social inclusion:

1. The very foundation of this is the understanding that social inclusion is a relationship, not an activity; it is a process, not an event. In this sense it is the product of social interactions and between and among people in human society. Social inclusion can only happen through a deliberate and intentional process.
2. A first place to start is to ensure that adequate, comprehensive and accurate information and data exist and is kept; and that this data must be disaggregated reflecting the diversity of the society, and in particular accurately capturing and recording information about the targeted excluded and vulnerable community – such FCT OIs, women, youth, people with disability, etc, among others. For instance, general population data, workforce data, number business organisations, entrepreneurial data, organisational membership data [business organisations, state institutions, workers organisations, trade and professional organisations and associations, state institutions – employing and promoting employment and empowerment of targeted excluded group of community, among others.
3. Unions, working peoples’ organisations, employee organisations, etc must have and keep accurate and disaggregated membership data and records; reflecting gender, the youth demography, people/workers with disability; and in this specific case, of FCT OIs in their membership.
4. Unions and working peoples’ associations, including informal sector associations, must also insist that employers, in public and private sector, as well as in formal and informal sectors keep such accurate and disaggregated data of their workforce.
5. A Preliminary, and baseline comprehensive audit process, followed subsequently by regular and periodic audits of the status and currently existing situation with respect to the socially excluded communities, in the workforce and in the world of work, in employment and in entrepreneurship; identifying weaknesses and barriers, as well as opportunities and strengths is a prerequisite, and needs to be undertaken.
6. On the basis of this [periodic] audit, deliberate and intentional mechanisms must be established and empowered to drive the implementation of the findings and recommendations of this audit.
7. Policies, including legislative and regulatory frameworks must be put in place to enable the operationalization of the implementation mechanisms.
8. Institutional and organisational mechanisms must be established and enabled to ensure implementation and enforcement of the frameworks to enable and enhance social inclusion.
9. The design, and implementation of the frameworks and mechanisms for social inclusion, must be driven and led by the respective targeted excluded communities [women, young persons, people with disability, and in this specific case, FCT OIs].
10. A reward and punishment mechanism, driven and led by the members and representatives of the targeted excluded community, and vested with adequate mandate and authority is required to enforce compliance, and assure the transition from exclusion to inclusion.
11. Policies, including legislations and regulations; institutional processes and mechanisms; organisational makeup; as well as organisational/institutional/societal practices must increasingly reflect the inclusion [that is representation, involvement, participation, engagement and autonomy] of the targeted hitherto socially excluded community; if we are to be able to ascertain and affirm that progress is being made.
12. Essentially our way of life, how we relate and interact routinely and must become reflective of this social inclusion process; only then can the leap from responsiveness to transformation be made; only then will social transformation have taken place.
13. And although this process must be a participatory, multistakeholder, intersectoral, and multidisciplinary, in nature; reflecting the multidimensional character of the existing challenge; It requires the strong leadership of the state [government], enabling the active agency of the targeted community, in order for it to undertaken; and for the goal of social inclusion to be realised. Social exclusion is a social problem and a reflection of a societal process, as such, social inclusion can only be achieved within the context of radical, root and branch societal change and social transformation.
14. In this context therefore, the organised, and conscious self-activity and self organisation of the targeted socially excluded community is imperative, and with the objective of achieving and sustaining the autonomous capacity to take action in its own interest.
15. Likewise, the institutions of society [workers organisations, employers organisations, state institutions, business entities, etc], as well as societal processes [employment/job creation, human capacity development, basic social services delivery, support for entrepreneurship development, business development support services, etc,] must reflect included status, the social inclusion, and autonomous representation, participation, involvement and engagement of the targeted community.

FCT OIs case study: specific recommendations;

As we conclude, let us return to the specific context of the FCT OIs, as a case study. What is the role of government and her agencies in factoring inclusion FCT OIs, marginalised groups in employment and empowerment programs? What steps will be required to be taken? And how might these steps be taken?

Government will need as a matter of urgency to establish a central FCT wide OIs Rights Enforcement Coordination Committee with the mandate to ensure the inclusion of FCT OIs in employment and empowerment programs.

This coordination committee must include representation from all the relevant state institutions [the FCDA departments and Agencies; relevant Area Council departments and agencies; as well as non-state institutions – including the private sector (employers organisations like NECA and ACCIMA), civil society organisations, workers organisations in the public and private sectors; and in formal and informal sectors (trade unions, traders and artisanal associations, professional associations); as well as from the FCT OIs communities.

Each of the entities and institutions represented in the central coordination committee should also establish their own OIs Inclusion Committees.

Both the central coordination committee and the individual inclusion committees must not only include significant representation of the FCT OIs, they should also be led [or co-led] by representatives of the FCT OIs.

The task before the committees will be to utilise the framework above to guide and drive processes towards ensuring, enabling and enhancing the inclusion of FCT OIs in employment and empowerment programs and processes.

Finally, in wrapping up this presentation, and specific to the issue of remedying the social exclusion of FCT OIs in employment and empowerment programs, the conclusion and recommendations of the policy brief on promoting the economic rights of FCT OIs developed for CHRICED led consortium implementing the project on promoting the rights of the FCT OIs, is reproduced below:

“To conclude, it is important to restate and emphasise that there is a need for an urgent and cogent, deliberate and intentional interventionist program and process on the part of government, to address the historical challenges being faced by OIs of the FCT. Furthermore, this program, and intervention must be such that addresses both the immediate and medium-term consequences of the historical displacement of the OIs, but also begins to address the longer-term development of the OI communities, including investment in the development of human capital, as well as the infrastructure to support delivery of accessible basic services, and sustainable socioeconomic growth.

For such a program to have the ownership of the OI communities, it must be inclusive and participatory, and must be based on equity, fairness and justice for the original inhabitants of the FCT, enabling them to become, and enjoy full citizenship of the FCT, and of Nigeria. And for such a program to have a chance of being realised and to be sustainable, it must be accompanied by a well though tout investment strategy, that will ensure the mobilisation of the funds, and other relevant human and material resources that will be required for the implementation of such a comprehensive and holistic interventionist development agenda for the Original Inhabitants of the FCT.

Recommendations:

A. Reform of the political structure to enable and enhance its engagement by original inhabitants.

B. Adoption of the draft code of standards and best practice as mandatory policy instrument by all actors engaged with empowerment and employment services production.

C. Put mechanism in place to ensure synergy and coordination among relevant government agencies involved in employment and provision of empowerment opportunities for FCT residents and OIs of the FCT.

D. Affirmative action for OIs with respect to provision of employment and empowerment opportunities in the FCT.

E. Engagement with and the putting in place of enabling mechanisms to implement the FCT Original Inhabitants Charter Of Demands.

F. There is an urgent need for the Federal Government to establish an inclusive, participatory, and multistakeholder process to undertake a comprehensive, and holistic audit and review of the impact of the 1976 decision to establish Abuja City and the FCT, as well as of the consequent conditions and status of the OIs of the FCT, with a view to outlining a clear program and agenda for addressing and redressing the situation, on the basis of justice, equity, social inclusion and fairness, in favour of the OIs of the FCT.”

Comrade Gaskia delivered this as a presentation at Public Forum on ‘Building Indigenous Inclusion in Employment and Empowerment Programs for the Original Inhabitants of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria, Organised By SERDEC held on Thursday, 14^th September, 2023.