EVALUATION OF NATIONAL POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROGRAMME IN EDO STATE

ABSTRACT

The study examines Evaluation of National Poverty Alleviation Programme in Edo State. Poverty alleviation programme in Edo State geared towards lowering the prevalence and rate of poverty in the Edo State. A deliberate action been taken in order to ensure that people who are unable to meet up with the basic necessities of life are supported and assisted to achieve possible eradication of poverty.  Descriptive survey research design was utilized in the research with questionnaires as the method of data collection. The sample size for this study is three hundred ninety-nine and fifty-five (399.55) was drawn purposively from the population. A Sample size of four hundred (400) questionnaires was drawn randomly from the population. Based on the findings, the study therefore made the following conclusion that poverty, if not reduced or totally eradicated will expose the society to other social deviance acts and cause crime among its citizenry such as stealing, child trafficking, child abuse and maltreatment, pick pocketing, burglary and house theft and the likes within the state which is a microcosm of the larger society(Nigeria). Governmental programmes in the state have hit several walls as many people claimed to either not be aware of the programme, cannot access the programme or after benefitting from this programme (NAPEP), have claimed to be hit by the high level of tax by the agency in-charge. Based on the findings the following recommendations were made that government should ensure that there is enough enlightenment on its programme in the state, this is to ensure that all citizens should be carried along in this scheme of things. Government in all its capacity should ensure that there is a full implementation of all its policies and programmes. This is to guarantee that all the citizens within and outside the state can benefit in small or adequate measure from the dividend of good governance in the state, Policy makers should enact policies that will curb corrupt practices in the state. This is done to create a good platform for equal and even sharing of the benefits of governmental programmes in the state for all her citizens, Community leaders should guard and protect government properties within their jurisdiction as government is for everyone and its properties came up as a result of the tax payers’ money, so they should be handled with utmost care and sincerity.