Examples of Agencies for Poverty Alleviation include NAPEP, NDE, HIV/AIDS, and the Economy
National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP)
With the return of democracy on May 29, 1999, the Federal Government embarked on a 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 consists of four schemes namely:-
(a) Youth Empowerment Scheme, Rural infrastructures, and development scheme.
(b) Social welfare services scheme
(c) Rural resources development
(d) Conservation scheme
To implement these programmes, the government placed emphasis on complementation, collaboration, and coordination among the various tiers of government on the one hand and among 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 efficiency delivery target with optimal social benefit.
In 1999, President Obasanjo indicated that the poverty situation in which over 60% of Nigerians live below the poverty line requires concerted efforts to prevent it from becoming worse. The government introduced a number of programmes and measures aimed at tackling poverty. These include the launching of the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS); which has poverty reduction as one of the four primary goals.
The introduction (in early 2001) of the National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) in Nigeria, data has it that over N25 billion from 2001 till date has been received by NAPEP for the fight against poverty in Nigeria. Unfortunately poverty level seems to be unresponsive to these windfalls of resources to address the fight. In spite of these huge resources devoted to NAPEP; fall in fiscal discipline, corruption, and inconsistent policies which had undermined past efforts still make poverty eradication in Nigeria a paradox.
In a reaction to an allegation of mismanagement of funds meant for the war against poverty in Nigeria, by the Nigeria Senate, NAPEP said that it has generated funds from other sources and expended N21.725 billion on the programme from 2001 to 2008. The National Coordinator of the Programme and Special Assistant to the President Dr. Magnus Kpakol explained that since 2001, the Programme has received N11.8 billion as budgetary allocation, N4 billion for procurement of Keke NAPEP, N10 billion from state government and commercial banks for the multi-partnership programme and N8.2 billion from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This total N34 billion.
The NAPEP boss explained that about N21.7 billion has been spent so far (Daily Champion, Wednesday, February 18, 2009, Pg. 7). In a motion titled “Dismal Performance of the NAPEP”.
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