THE IMPACT OF POVERTY REDUCTION PROGRAMME IN RURAL COMMUNITIES IN NIGERIA

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

Everyone now acknowledges the fact that poverty is a global phenomenon threatening the survival of humanity, with more than one billion people living in a state of abject poverty. Now it is generally accepted that dangers posed by poverty must be addressed and reduced in the short run and eliminated in the long-run (UNN: 2005.30). Consequently, they have come out with such term like “Poverty Alleviation”, poverty Eradication. All these have been a policy, I intended to programmes on rural community in Nigeria, which have adopted over the years by successive Nigeria Government aimed at lacking the problems of poverty in the country. Before stepping into this, I will to examine hoe poverty is measured.

Poverty can be conceptualized and measured in different ways. The conventional approach focuses on the quantifiable poverty line based solely on consumption and expenditure pattern (World Bank 2006). While the Poverty line is an important measure of poverty in a country over time poverty goes beyond income level. It comprises access to health care and education, respect, status, isolation within communities and feelings of powerlessness and hopelessness. Poverty is meet-dimensionally and many of its dimensions are often hidden.

(Revelation 2005, Moser 2005). Secondly, the United Nation Development Programmes (UNDP), Uses the human development index (HDI) to measure human progress or retrogression. This is done by utilization data Purchasing Power Party (PPP) or real GBP per-capital adjustment for the local of diving. As of 2004, the UNDO ranked MIFEN 146 country in its HDI. This shows that the level of poverty is high in the country (UNDP 2005:3). However, poverty in Nigeria can be viewed from the dimensions, Urban-rural individual poverty.

Urban poverty deals with the aggregation of the poor as social forms of urban poverty is evident in such term as slims, ghettos, or shanty town, these firms described certain area of the city by its stage of physical deteriorate and are occupied by individuals experiencing various rounds of social deprivation that include level of unemployment and inadequate, social welfare services.

In addition to these policy and programmes, reduction of poverty calls for the provision of conducive environment for heavy investment. These include goods and accessible road network, simple and affordable transportation, low and medium housing for the populace portable water supply, agricultural and industrial development.

In a quest to achieve these, the Nigerian Government had in the past and present constituted policies, programmes and bodies to see to a speedy result. These Poverty Reduction Policies and Programmes include operation feed the Nation(OFN in 1976), Green Revolution of 1978, Structural Adjustment Programmes ( SAP 1980's), Directorate for Food, Road and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI 1988), National Directorate of Employment (NDE) better life and family support programme education for all by the year 2000, the economic advancement programme which is the brain child of former President, Olusegun Obasanjo in his regime, electricity by the year 2010 and other self help programmes like KEKE NAPEPE, needs seven point agenda, micro finance schemes etc.

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1.2 Statement of the Problem

Problem of the study boil down to what constitutes the policies and programmes in rural communities in Nigeria. Just like the cause of poverty, the problems bedevil Poverty reduction policies and programmes on rural communities in Nigeria reference to Owerri Municipal of Imo State are many and dimensional.

First, Poverty Reduction Programmes (PRP) in Nigeria communities suffers from inadequate co-operation. There is known umbrella Organization that co-ordinates the activities of PRP's in the country. This is the main reason why some PRP get themselves involve in the duplication of function and that is caused by poor co-operation.

Secondly, problem confronting PRP in the rural communities is inadequate fund given the wide spread nature of the poverty in the country it would have been expected that adequate consummate amount of money have been released for care by PRN such as NDE, to combat via mass employment creation. Meanwhile, what Government most often make available to PRP is not enough to enable them take the magnitude of Poverty in the country.

Thirdly, there is also lack of comprehensive policy framework of poverty reduction. This is supposed to articulate ways by which various manifestation of poverty can be effective and efficiently tackled so as to ensure sustainable growth and development in the country.

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1.3 Objective of the Study

The main objective of this study is to examine the impact of Poverty Reduction Policies and Programmes on rural communities in Nigeria with a view to suggest strategies that will promote the standard of living of the rural dwellers.

The specified objectives are:

1. To identify the impact of poverty reduction policies and programmes on rural communities in Owerri Municipal.
2. To identify the remote course of rural poverty especially in rural areas.
3. To examine Government efforts in curbing Poverty in Nigeria in general.
4. To examine the areas in which poverty reduction policies and programmes have improved the lives of Owerri Municipal people.
5. To make suggestions and recommendation towards policies on Poverty reduction.

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1.4 Research Questions

• Does Poverty affect every Nigeria?
• Is every average Nigerian suffering poverty?
• What are the negative effects of poverty to rural communities?
• What are the ways forward to Poverty reduction in rural communities?
• Does Nigeria Programmes bring effective change to the rural communities in the term of reducing poverty to its minimal level?

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1.5 Significance of the Study

The significant of the study has to do or reflects both in theoretically and practical importance of the study.

Theoretically, the study will serve as information for other researchers who are interested in carrying out research on the areas of poverty reduction on the rural communities in Nigeria. Past Government has engaged in the past time of glorifying poverty reduction on the pages of newspapers and news conference but has failed to deliver. The earliest poverty reduction policies and programmes were the 1972, Gen. Yakubu Gowon's national acceleration. Food production programme and the Nigeria Agricultural and Co-operative Bank entirely devoted to finding agriculture. The (NAPPP) turned out to be a colossal waste and nothing was achieved.

Then operation feed the Nation came to limelight by military initiation. Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo which expanded to go to the rural area to teach the peasant farmers how to farm. The scheme only success was in creating awareness of food storage and the need to tackle the problem.

Apart from all the policies been initiated by past military and civilian government, my question goes in this way. “Would this measure by President Yar'Adua be any different”? “Would there be seen at least for the poor masses”? The previous measure all started like today's own and now the ruling of President Goodluck Ebele Johnathan. The better life for rural women, the family support programme, fuel subsidy etc and the people's bank were particularly interesting because they were all directed for the betterment of the poor masses.

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1.6 Scope of the Study

This research work is on the effect on poverty reduction programme of Federal Government on rural communities in Owerri Municipal. There are poverty in Nigeria that affect the rural communities in Nigeria but due to the requirement for the award of National Diploma in Public Administration the researcher will base its work on rural communities in Owerri Municipal.

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1.7 Limitation of the Study

In the course of carrying research on this work, the researcher encountered various limitations ranging from economic underdevelopment on Owerri Municipal, low productivity of the people in communities in Owerri Municipal, inadequate commitment to programme.

Implementation in Owerri Municipal, also the researcher uncounted difficulties while, carrying out its survey through the sharing questionnaires. So many interviewers were reluctant to answer the question given to them; it took researcher time to convince them.

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1.8 Definitions of Terms

Some of the terms are used in this research study are:

Poverty:

The state of being poor, abject poverty and lacking and interior.

Economy:

The Administration of the material resources of an individual community or country, the state these resources.

Affluent:

In flouring, abounding wealthy.

Alleviation:

This is the act of lessen pain or distress for the poor mass in country.

Constraint:

Something that limits the range of a person's action or freedom.