Alleviating Poverty in Nigeria
By Anthony Maduagwu, published on Africa Economic Analysis.org
Linked with Hadizatou Issa Iyayi – Niger.
The Nigerian government is once again embarking on another attempt to alleviate poverty. This present one looks like it is heading the same way the past ones headed and subsequently failed. Amongst the reasons why the past poverty alleviation attempts failed were – (1) the politics of personal rule - a distinctive type of political system in which the rivalries and struggles of powerful and willful men, rather than impersonal institutions, ideologies, public policies, or class interests, are fundamental in shaping political life. It is a monopolistic politics as against pluralistic or multiparty politics. It is usually a civilian one – party state or a military dictatorship (There is overwhelming believe that Obasanjo’ PDP government is shifting towards a full blown one – party state). It is the politics of Big – Men who are a considerable distance from the ordinary people. Politics of no accountability, transparency and responsibility. (long full text).