WILBERFORCE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES (WJSS)
ISSN: 2504 – 9232
Volume 6, No. 1, March 2021
Pages 87-116
DOI: 10.36108/wjss/1202.60.0150
TACKLING POVERTY AND RETHINKING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE NATIONAL SOCIAL PROTECTION PROGRAMME IN NIGERIA
GODWIN UYIOJO
Abstract
The paper critically reviews the sustainability of the national social protection programme in Nigeria. It is a qualitative research which draws from empirical data towards rethinking development within the recent Federal Government National Social Investment Programme. Additionally, it deploys a political ecology perspective focusing on inequalities and the underlining factors of poverty. The main findings revealed that by: (i) presenting strategies to accelerating social protection schemes and (ii) seeking genuine partnership with the states’ governments that will allow them coordination and implementation at the state levels to avoid the spiraling cycle of poverty in Nigeria. It concludes that there is the need to restore confidence, match budgetary allocations to actual disbursements, and awareness raising to improve on delivery.
Keywords: Poverty, Devolution, Social Investment, Sustainable Development.