Abstract
It is generally claimed that in the past, poverty reduction programmes in Nigeria failed because the beneficiaries were not involved in the programme design and formulation. However, LEEMP was designed to be community driven and thus it was expected to record a level of success. This study, therefore, attempted to assess LEEMP in Benue and Katsina states. It was hypothesized among others, that LEEMP has reduced unemployment and poverty in Benue and Katsina states. The study used both primary and secondary data. The data obtained were presented in tabular form. T-test and cumulative percentages were adopted for analyzing and testing the hypotheses formulated. The study revealed among others, that LEEMP has not significantly reduced unemployment and poverty in the areas of study. In the same vein, the benefits of the LEEMP activities in the limited geographical coverage were subsumed by the general social infrastructural decay, hence no significant effect. It was suggested that LEEMP should be reviewed and expanded to ensure wider coverage.
Highlights
Poverty pervades in Nigerian society today. World Bank (1996) described Nigeria as a startling paradox given prevailing extent of poverty and statistics obtained in the country
The identifiable approaches to empowerment and development through poverty eradication featuring in the national development plans were the economic growth, which manifests in the trickling down of the benefits of growth to the poor
In Katsina State, the results indicate that a 1.00% increase in funds disbursement by LEEMP led directly to a 0.820% increase in the provision of development infrastructures, which in turn stimulated economic development in Katsina State
Summary
Poverty pervades in Nigerian society today. World Bank (1996) described Nigeria as a startling paradox given prevailing extent of poverty and statistics obtained in the country. World Bank (1996) described Nigeria as a startling paradox given prevailing extent of poverty and statistics obtained in the country. Instead of recording remarkable progress in national socio-economic development, Nigeria retrogressed to become one of the 25 poorest countries at the threshold of twentieth century, whereas she was the 50th richest in the early 1970s (Obadan, 2001). The National Poverty incidence steadily increased over the period. The initial national development plans in Nigeria did not target empowerment/development via Poverty reduction. The identifiable approaches to empowerment and development through poverty eradication featuring in the national development plans were the economic growth, which manifests in the trickling down of the benefits of growth to the poor. The second strategy is that of rural/agricultural development where efforts were made to enhance development of social and economic infrastructure
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