THE IMPACT OF NATIONAL POVERTY ERADICATION PROGRAMME NAPEP ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF NIGERIA
ABSTRACT
This premise of this
research is based on the
Impact of National Poverty
Eradication Programme
(NAPEP) on Economic
Development of Nigeria.
The research adopted a survey research design. A well structured questionnaire was designed and administered to
respondents. A sample size of one hundred (100) was drawn from the population of study. The sampling was made
based on a simple random sampling technique.
The data gathered were presented in tables and analysed with simple percentages. The hypothesis formulated was
analysed with the use of Chi-Square technique. It was concluded that – National Poverty Eradication Eradication
Programme (NAPEP) has impacted positively on the economic development of Nigeria. Recommendations were
proffered that; all funds ear-marked for any programme should be made complete before embarking on such
programmes, this is aimed at reducing the rate of abandoned programmes on the bases of inadequate funding.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The concept of poverty and material deprivation is a critical one in contemporary social discussions. Social Sciences’
literature is replete with attempt by Economists and other Social Scientists to conceptualize the phenomenon. Poverty
has economic, social and political ramifications. The poor are materially deprived, socially alienated and politically
excommunicated. Basically, Poverty has been conceptualized in the following ways:
a. Lack of access to basic needs/goods and
b. Lack of or impaired access to productive resources.
Poverty as lack of access to basic needs/goods is essentially economic or consumption oriented. Thus the poor are
conceived as those individuals or households in a particular society, incapable of purchasing a specified basket of
basic goods and services. Basic goods as used here include; food, shelter, water, health care, access to productive
resources including education, working skill and tools, political and civil rights to participate in decisions concerning
socio-economic conditions (Ajakaiye and Adeyeye 2001 in Gbosi, 2004). It is generally agreed that in conceptualizing
poverty, low income or low consumption is its symptom.
The level of poverty in Nigeria since the implementation of SAP in the 1980s has tremendously increased (UNDP
Nigeria, 1998; FOS, 1999; World Bank, 1999).
The poverty profile in Nigeria showed that the incidence of poverty increased from 28.1% in 1980 to 43.6% in 1985
but declined to 42.7% in 1992 and rose again to 65.6% in 1996 (FOS 1999). Since 1990 the country has been
classified as a poor nation. The UNDP Human Development Indices (HDI) for 2001 ranked Nigeria the 142nd with
HDI of 0.40 among the poorest countries.
From 1980-1996, the population of poor Nigerians increased four folds in absolute terms. The percentage of the core
poor increased from 62% in 1980 to 93% in 1996 whereas the moderately poor only rose from 28.9% in 1992 to
36.3% in 1996 (FOS, 1999). The analysis of the depth and severity of poverty in Nigeria showed that rural areas were
the most affected. Several reasons accounted for the situation viz;
a. the large concentration of the populace in the rural areas,
b. many years of neglect of the rural areas in terms of infrastructural development and lack of information on the way
government is being run.
The CBN/World Bank study on poverty Assessment and Alleviation in Nigeria (1999) attested to the fact that the living
and environmental conditions of those living in the rural areas have worsened. Urban poverty is also on the increase
in the country. This has been attributed to the under provision of facilities and amenities which are already inadequate
to match the growing demand of the urban populace as well as the rural-urban movement which has caused serious
pressure on the existing infrastructural facilities.
Concern about this problems as well as efforts made to eradicate or at least reduce it cannot be said to be new. While
major reductions in poverty level have been made in developed countries, developing countries, Nigeria inclusive,
have been battling with poverty, from one poverty alleviation programme to another eradication programme, but all to no avail.
The concern over increasing poverty levels in Nigeria and the need for its eradication as a means of improving the
standard of living of the people has led to the conceptualization and implementation of various targeted or nontargeted poverty eradication and alleviation-programmes. Both the Nigerian government and donor agencies have
been active in efforts in analyzing and finding solutions to the increase of poverty level. Government programmes and
agencies designed to impact on poverty include:
a. The Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (D.F.F.R.I).
b. The National Directorate of Employment (NDE)
c. The establishment of the Peoples Bank of Nigeria in 1989.
d. The Better Life Programme (BLP)
e. The Family Support Programme (FSP)
f. The Agricultural Development Programme (ADP)
g. National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA).
h. The Nomadic and Adult Education Programme established in 1986.
And most recently, with the return of democracy on May 29, 1999 the Federal Government embarked on poverty
reduction programme specifically, the government put up the National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) in
the year 2000 which took off in 2001. It was aimed at eradicating absolute poverty and it consist of four schemes namely;
a. Youth Empowerment Scheme, Rural Infrastructures and Development Scheme
b. Social Welfare Services Scheme
c. Rural Resources Development and
d. Conservation Scheme.
To implement thus programmes, the government placed emphasis on complementation, collaboration and
coordination between the various tiers of government on the one hand and between government, Donor/Agencies,
non-governmental organizations and local communities on the other. A multi-agency implementation structure with
coordination, monitoring and evaluating organ was introduced in order to ensure cost effective delivery target with
optimal social benefit. Particularly this programme, NAPEP is being implemented in Nigeria till date. The questions
arising from the implementation of NAPEP include:
a. Is poverty eradicating programe appropriate for Nigeria?
b. How has government’s concept of NAPEP affected its success?
c. How has NAPEP’s activities impacted on poverty reduction as a boost to economic development?
In spite of all the laudable efforts at addressing poverty, the problem still persist in Nigeria.
THE IMPACT OF NATIONAL POVERTY ERADICATION PROGRAMME NAPEP ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF NIGERIA