SOCIAL INVESTMENT PROGRAMME AND SUSTAINABLE POVERTY REDUCTION IN NIGERIA: AN EVALUATION OF N-POWER PROGRAMME IN AKWA IBOM STATE
Michael Effiong Ukpong 1 & Welson Amgbiri Erekake 2
Department of Public Administration, University of Uyo 1& 2
Corresponding Email: mikeukpong20@gmail.com 1
Abstract
The concept of poverty alleviation is one of the recurring concepts in the study of the political economy of developed and developing economies. This is why modern reform initiatives embarked upon by various countries are characterized by approaches aimed at tackling the menace of poverty. In cognizance of the debilitating effects of poverty, the government of Muhammadu Buhari in 2016 launched the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) with n-power as a component to provide safety nets for the poor. This paper examined social investment programmes and the possibility of achieving sustainable poverty reduction in Nigeria through the N-power scheme. The elite theory was adopted as a theoretical underpinning to provide an empirical guide in the study. Using historical and descriptive analysis of documentary data, the paper contended that the n-power programme which was adopted to cushion the impacts of poverty has failed to meet such noble objective due to some glaring factors such as; poorly articulated policies, corruption, and lack of accountability, policy inconsistency and incessant conflicts. The paper recommended among others that Government should ensure that its social investment programmes, particularly the n-power is not politicized. This will guarantee and ensure the sustainability of the programmes. Also, poverty alleviation programmes should be given their pride of place through adequate budgeting and prompt release of funds by the government and its supervising agencies to ensure adequate implementation.
Keywords: N-power, Social Investment, Sustainability, Poverty, Poverty Reduction & Elites.
