Research Paper
ABSTRACT
Poverty is an enemy of man, it humiliates and dehumanises its victim. The paper examines poverty alleviation policies and programmes of government and came to the conclusion that these policies failed to alleviate, instead elevated poverty in the country. The reasons for these include corruption in government and neglect of the target group – the poor, who were never considered during the formulation of these policies. The paper suggests that government should intensify the war against corruption and carry along the target group – the poor, in formulation of its programmes by making ‘pro-poor’ policies its focus as a basis for poverty alleviation. Introduction Poverty has been a serious challenge to governments in Nigeria. Its effect, which includes lack and deprivation in the basic necessities of life, is worrisome. Poverty humiliates and dehumanises its victim. As Ukpong (1996) rightly noted: …poverty has earned recognition in the extent of its ravaging society and the affairs of humanity at the international, national and local levels…the need exists now for urgent actions towards its eradication and control…indeed, poverty is a snare. It is dehumanising…It must be eradicated… (cited in Obadan, 1996). In a bid to overcome poverty, governments initiated different policies and programmes between 1986 and 2004 to alleviate it. These programmes include: Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DFFRI), Better Life Programme (BLP), Directorate of Employment (NDE); People’ Bank of Nigeria (PBN); Community Bank (CB); Family Support Programme (FSP); Family Economic Advancement Programme (FEAP); Poverty Eradication Programme (PEP); National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP); and National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy (NEEDS) whose aim were to ameliorate the suffering of the people by providing them employment opportunities and access to credit facilities to enable them establish their own businesses. Scholars and
Poverty is an enemy of man, it humiliates and dehumanises its victim. The paper examines poverty alleviation policies and programmes of government and came to the conclusion that these policies failed to alleviate, instead elevated poverty in the country. The reasons for these include corruption in government and neglect of the target group – the poor, who were never considered during the formulation of these policies. The paper suggests that government should intensify the war against corruption and carry along the target group – the poor, in formulation of its programmes by making ‘pro-poor’ policies its focus as a basis for poverty alleviation. Introduction Poverty has been a serious challenge to governments in Nigeria. Its effect, which includes lack and deprivation in the basic necessities of life, is worrisome. Poverty humiliates and dehumanises its victim. As Ukpong (1996) rightly noted: …poverty has earned recognition in the extent of its ravaging society and the affairs of humanity at the international, national and local levels…the need exists now for urgent actions towards its eradication and control…indeed, poverty is a snare. It is dehumanising…It must be eradicated… (cited in Obadan, 1996). In a bid to overcome poverty, governments initiated different policies and programmes between 1986 and 2004 to alleviate it. These programmes include: Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DFFRI), Better Life Programme (BLP), Directorate of Employment (NDE); People’ Bank of Nigeria (PBN); Community Bank (CB); Family Support Programme (FSP); Family Economic Advancement Programme (FEAP); Poverty Eradication Programme (PEP); National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP); and National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy (NEEDS) whose aim were to ameliorate the suffering of the people by providing them employment opportunities and access to credit facilities to enable them establish their own businesses. Scholars and