Global Rights holds town hall on fiscal justice, social safeguards in solid minerals sector

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By Joy Odor

The Global Rights is set to hold a one-day Town hall meeting on promoting fiscal justice and social safeguards in the solid minerals sector in Abuja.

According to Kenechukwu Onuorah, Global Rights (Equitable Resource Governance & Business and Human Rights), the solid minerals sector in many countries is a major source of government revenue and has the potential to contribute significantly to economic growth and development.

However, he said, the sector is often plagued by challenges such as corruption, lack of transparency, and inadequate social safeguards, often lead to the exploitation of resources and deprive communities of the benefits of mining activities.

Global Rights informed that the town hall meeting seeks to address these challenges by promoting fiscal justice and social
safeguards in the solid minerals sector.

The meeting, according to them, would bring together experts, policymakers, civil society organizations, mining host communities, and industry stakeholders to design solutions to fiscal and environmental injustices suffered by mining host communities.

Global Rights affirmed that the objectives of the Town Hall meeting is to amplify solutions to the fiscal and environmental injustices suffered by mining host communities, to promote transparency and accountability in the solid minerals sector, to identify ways to strengthen social safeguards for communities affected by mining activities and to facilitate knowledge sharing and networking among stakeholders in the sector.

“The Format of the event will be a one-day event and will include plenary sessions, panel discussions, and open dialogue sessions.

*The plenary sessions will feature keynote speeches and presentations by experts in the sector, while the panel discussions will focus on specific topics such as accountability and social safeguards.

“The event will target representatives of mining host communities, governance duty
bearers, mining companies, artisanal mining groups and other core stakeholders working in the solid minerals sector.

“Participants will be drawn from different states across the country, including those with significant solid mineral resources.

“The Expected Outcomes is Increased awareness and understanding of the importance of fiscal justice and social safeguards in the solid minerals sector, Increased awareness on collective action to address environmental injustices caused by unethical mining practices, Identification of practical strategies for promoting transparency and accountability
in the sector, Development of actionable recommendations for improving solid mineral governance in Nigeria, Strengthened networks and partnerships among stakeholders in the sector” it said.

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