POVERTY ALLEVIATION STRATEGIES AND THE CHALLENGE OF GOVERNANCE IN NIGERIA: THE WAY FORWARD FROM LEGION OF FAILED POLICIES.

The major challenge every responsive and responsible government must contend with is to make life better and more meaningful to the citizenry irrespective of whether such government is a democratic one or a military dictator if the regime is to have relevance and continue to enjoy legitimacy in the eyes of the governed. Every successive government since independence has put up one strategy or the other aimed at alleviating the sufferings of the people and put smiles on the faces of the governed. The objectives of this paper amongst others are (i) to critically examine the various poverty alleviating programmes, reforms and strategies, which had been undertaken by successive Nigerian governments and the reasons behind the success/failure of these programmes. (ii). To articulates and profound useful strategies that if faithfully implemented would lead the nation out of the present dungeon of poverty and set the nation on the right map of sustainable economic development and not just on economic growth which it has persistently witnessed over the years. Such programmes include Direct government participation to be tagged “The Youth Agricultural Revolution,” Dedication and Commitment on the part of successive governments to faithfully implement good policies; continuity of good government programmes such as Peoples’ Bank, DFRI and if Nigeria must bear good fruits, it must return to its source which is God; amongst others