THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN POVERTY ALLIVIATION IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT: Poverty, either as a plague or cause of other specific under development ailments, afflicts Nigeria as it does other Nations of the World. The high level of prevalence in the country, which has attained an endemic nature is becoming worrisome. Poverty has made Nigeria to attain an unenviable status such that no Government (no matter the level), Organisation, Community, Clan or Family can survive effectively without introducing one kind of poverty reduction effort or the other. Despite the various poverty alleviation programmes by successive governments, and the huge budgeting outlays attached to these programmes, the people have remained poor. The importance of this Project the role of Government in poverty alleviation in Nigeria cannot be overemphasized. This is a very active field of research that interest private individuals, international Bodies and the Government. In the course of the study, related literature on poverty and poverty reduction efforts (strategies and programmes) were intensively and extensively reviewed and relevant information and ideas obtained for the research. The study also utilised the survey approach and chi-square to collect, collate, analyse and present data respectively. The findings reveal that poverty reduction strategies currently adopted in oyo include: Provision of micro credits, Healthcare delivery; Capacity building; Resource development through promotion of improved production technology; Provision of agricultural supports such as seedlings, fertilizers, etc.

We also found that sufficient fund was not available to poverty reduction agencies to implement their programmes as the findings reveal that insufficient funding was listed as the severest problem by the respondents. It was further revealed that such insufficient funding is even aggravated by duplication of efforts. In effect, funds available were spread too thin amongst the agencies and programmes.