POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN NIGERIA: THE DIMENSIONS OF THE FOURTH REPUBLIC

The prevailing poverty situations in Nigeria and its attendant effects on the poor masses are of particular interest to this research. The paper argued that the abject lack of policy direction, lack of political will by public office holders, lack of responsiveness, transparency, accountability as well as absence of effective institutional mechanism to check-mate this trend is largely responsible for the continuous presence of poverty in Nigeria. It submited that tackling excruciating poverty in Nigeria in the 21st century means involving the people as top priority in government public policy targets. This may guarantee overall growth, progress and sustainable development of the Nigerian economy in all its ramifications. Among others, it was recommended that political office holders must use public funds judiciously to the extent that the same translates to affecting in the positive side the lives of the masses.