ABSTRACT
Poverty reduction has been a long concern fol' all African co1mtl'ies since
independence. The high incidence of po1·crty in Nigcl'ia has been a greatest
obstacle to the development of the nation at large.
This research work examined the role of the government in Poverty Alleviation
Programmes in Nigeria in orde!' to reduce poverty to its minimum barest level.
Questionnaire 111as used as instrument for gathering data for the research. The
data collected were anay:::.ed using simple percentage computation. Chi-square
was used as an instrument for the test of hypotheses. The study finds among
others that NEEDS is instrumental to national growth and development in
}./igeria, more support is needed .from the government, the masses and even
private sectors for its effectiveness. The study concludes that government
needed to show more commitment to the alleviation of poverty in Nigeria
through its overall policy strategies. Recommendatfons were made in the
research that the government, private sector, project planners and executor as
well as masses should vvork together for the effectiveness of NEEDS.
