GOOD GOVERNANCE AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION: A CASE STUDY OF SELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN EKITI STATE

GOOD GOVERNANCE AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION: A CASE STUDY OF SELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN EKITI STATE

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Background of the study

Poverty in Nigeria has escalated to become a destructive force. Like a malignant canker worm, it has been consuming and continues to consume the very essence of the population of this nation. The relationship between good governance and poverty reduction in Nigeria has been a prominent topic in the country's development literature over the last several decades (Oke and Oluwale 2015). Poverty is a worldwide problem. Approximately 3 billion people, which is almost half of the world's population, live on less than $2.50 a day (Ekundayo, 2017). The GDP of the 41 Heavily Indebted Poor Countries, with a population of 567 million people, is lower than the combined wealth of the world's 7 wealthiest individuals. According to Oke and Oluwale (2015), around one billion individuals lacked the ability to read a book or write their names when the 21st century began. Less than one percent of the annual global expenditure on weapons may have been sufficient to provide universal education for all children by the year 2000, but this goal was not achieved.

Oke and Oluwale (2015) said that 1 billion children, which is equivalent to half of the world's children, live in poverty. 640 million need proper housing, 400 million lack clean water, and 270 million lack health care. 10.6 million children died in 2003 before reaching the age of 5, which is about 29,000 children every day. Sub-Saharan Africa is plagued by several types of poverty. The poverty situation in Sub Saharan African nations is critical due to the high number of individuals living below $1 per day. Socio-economic indices such as per capita income, life expectancy at birth, access to health care services, clean water, education, and sanitation facilities reflect the level of poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa (Ekundayo, 2017). The Human Development Index (HDI) ratings in most nations of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have remained unchanged or decreased since 1990, making the area the most impoverished in the world. 28 out of the 31 nations with poor human development are located in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNDP, 2016).

Approximately 126 million out of Nigeria's projected population of 168.8 million in 2012 live on less than N220.00 or USD1.25 per day. The substantial riches in the nation has not had a good effect on the residents' well-being (Oke and Oluwale 2015). Despite Nigeria's average GDP per capita, a significant portion of the population in this growing African country experiences acute poverty. In 2004, Nigeria was placed 151st out of 177 nations in the United Nations Development Index. Nigeria was placed 158th on the United Nations' Human Poverty Index, with almost 50% of the population living below $1 per day. In 2010, Nigeria was placed 159th out of 177 nations in the Human Development Index (Berg, Ostry, Tsangarides, & Yakhshilikov, 2018). The difference in GDP per capita and the number of individuals living below $1 per day highlights the significant income inequality in the nation. The 2015/2016 Harmonised Nigeria Living Standard Survey (HNLSS) data, a continuation of the 2009/2010 Nigeria Living Standard Survey (NLSS) undertaken by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), shows that attempts to reduce poverty were not successful. Relative poverty and absolute poverty rates rose to 69.0% and 60.9% in 2016 from 54.4% and 54.7% in 2016, as reported in the 2017 Annual Performance Report. The National Bureau of Statistics reports that 112.519 million Nigerians live in relative poverty, whereas another poverty measuring standard, the absolute measure, indicates that the country's poverty rate is 99.284 million or 60.9% (Onuba, 2017).

Despite the substantial income generated by oil, 69% of over 100 million Nigerians were living below the poverty line. Nigeria has not been able to effectively use its abundant natural resources to enhance the living standards of its population. Ezekwesili (2015) stated that Nigeria has not successfully used its abundant resources to raise the living standards of its citizens, resulting in 69 percent of over 100 million people living in poverty. Poor governance has been linked to the increasing poverty levels in the nation. The evidence of very inadequate governance in Nigeria is clearly seen. The manifestation was evident in the corrupt and inefficient political leadership, weak civil institutions, crumbling infrastructure, insecurity, and widespread poverty among affluence.

Various governments have recognised our situation and have sometimes created "home-grown" projects that need significant time and financial resources to develop. Nigeria stands out from other emerging nations due to its complete lack of success in implementing effective governance practices, executing plans honestly, and establishing robust institutions capable of supporting and maintaining fast growth. Ezekwesili (2015) said that Nigeria exemplifies the African dilemma of abundant natural riches coexisting with widespread poverty. She identified weak governance as the root cause of widespread poverty, noting that corruption and economic mismanagement have led to 69 percent of the population living in poverty, whereas Asian countries have progressed rapidly. Effective governance is becoming a crucial topic in discussions about poverty. Governance establishes the institutional, legal, and political structure for creating poverty reduction programmes and empowering the poor to effectively address and increase their material well-being. Effective governance involves including the impoverished in choices that impact them and enabling them to have their opinions considered in policy-making (Adejumobi, 2016).

The UNDP's "Poverty Report" for the year 2000 highlighted governance as a crucial factor in combating poverty. Governments may formulate effective strategies for poverty alleviation, get funding for implementation, set specific goals, yet still struggle to achieve significant results in reducing poverty. The crucial element that is absent is the presence of responsive and responsible institutions bridging anti-poverty initiatives and poverty reduction. For poverty reduction to be a priority in public policy, strong governance is essential to improve the government's ability to provide services and be responsible for the resources it has (Onuba, 2017). It is within the above context that this study seeks to examine Good governance and poverty alleviation selected local governments areas in Ekiti State as a case study.

1.2 Statement of the problem

Although strong governance is acknowledged as crucial for promoting development and reducing poverty, there is still a lack of information about how efficient governance systems at the local government level influence poverty alleviation initiatives, especially in areas such as Ekiti State, Nigeria. Specific governance techniques that aid in reducing poverty within local governments in Ekiti State are not clearly defined (Onuba, 2017). This uncertainty obstructs the development of specific policies and initiatives.Local governments' current poverty alleviation methods may not adhere well to good governance principles, leading to inefficiencies, mismanagement, or inadequate resource distribution. Although the theoretical link between good governance and poverty reduction is well-known, there is a lack of empirical research on this connection specifically among local governments in Ekiti State. This lack of information hinders the ability to make educated decisions and develop policies (Breunig & Majeed, 2019).
Ekiti State, similar to other areas in Nigeria, has notable socioeconomic inequalities and susceptibilities, which worsen the difficulties of reducing poverty. It is essential to comprehend how governance practices impact these inequalities in order to create fair and comprehensive poverty alleviation measures. Limitations in capacity and institutional structures: Local governments in Ekiti State may have limitations in capability and institutional structures that impede their effectiveness in implementing poverty reduction programmes. Recognising these limitations is crucial for creating specific capacity-building programmes and enhancing institutional structures (Breunig & Majeed, 2019).

Resolving these issues will not only advance the scholarly comprehension of the relationship between governance and poverty reduction but also offer practical guidance for policymakers, development professionals, and local communities to improve poverty alleviation initiatives in Ekiti State and comparable contexts.

Therefore, the study seeks to examine good governance and poverty alleviation using some selected local governments areas in Ekiti State as a case study.

1.3 Objective of the study

The broad objective of the study is to investigate good governance and poverty alleviation in some selected local governments areas in Ekiti State. The specific objectives is as follows:

1. To examine the relationship between governance practices and poverty levels within selected local governments in  Ekiti State.

2. To assess the effectiveness of governance policies  in addressing poverty alleviation within selected local governments within selected local governments in  Ekiti State.

3. To identify the key challenges hindering the implementation of poverty alleviation programs within selected local governments within selected local governments in  Ekiti State.

4. To propose recommendations for enhancing good governance practices aimed at improving poverty alleviation efforts in selected local governments in  Ekiti State.

1.4 Research Questions

The following questions have been prepared to guide the study

1. Is there a relationship between governance practices and poverty levels within selected local governments in Ekiti State?

2. How  effectiveness are governance policies in addressing poverty alleviation within selected local governments in  Ekiti state?

3. What are  the key challenges hindering the implementation of poverty alleviation programs within selected local governments in Ekiti State?

4. What are the strategiesfor enhancing good governance practices aimed at improving poverty alleviation efforts within selected local governments in Ekiti State?

1.5 Research hypotheses

The hypothesis will be tested in this study:

H0: Good governance will not aid in the poverty alleviation within selected local governments in  Ekiti State.

Ha: Good governance will aid in the poverty alleviation within selected local governments in  Ekiti State.

1.6 Significance of the study

The findings of the study will be significant to the following:

Policymakers: By examining the relationship between good governance practices and poverty alleviation efforts at the local government level, the study can inform policymakers about the effectiveness of existing policies and identify areas for improvement. This knowledge can guide the development and implementation of more targeted and impactful poverty alleviation programs.

Findings from the study can be used to advocate for policy reforms aimed at strengthening governance structures and enhancing poverty alleviation efforts at the local level. By highlighting successful strategies and areas needing improvement, the research can influence decision-makers to enact changes that promote more inclusive and effective governance practices.

Academia: The study adds to the body of academic literature on the intersection of governance and poverty alleviation, particularly within the context of a specific region like Ekiti State. It provides a foundation for further research and academic discourse on the subject, facilitating a deeper understanding of the dynamics involved and potential avenues for future inquiry.

1.7 Scope of the study

The study focuses on good governance and poverty alleviation: a case study of selected local governments in Ekiti State. Hence, the study will examine the relationship between governance practices and poverty levels within in Ekiti State, assess the effectiveness of governance policies  in addressing poverty alleviation within Ekiti state, identify the key challenges hindering the implementation of poverty alleviation programs within Ekiti State and propose recommendations for enhancing good governance practices aimed at improving poverty alleviation efforts in Ekiti State. Hence, the study is delimited to only four LGAs which are Ise/Orun, Ijero, Ekiti West, and Emure LGAs of Ekiti State.

1.8 Limitation of the study

Like in every human endeavour, the researchers encountered slight constraints while carrying out the study. The significant constraint are:

Time: The researcher encountered time constraint as the researcher had to carry out this research along side other academic activities such as attending lectures and other educational activities required of her.

Finance: The researcher incurred more financial expenses in carrying out this study such as typesetting, printing, sourcing for relevant materials, literature, or information and in the data collection process.

Availability of Materials: The researcher encountered challenges in sourcing for literature in this study. The scarcity of literature on the subject due to the nature of the discourse was a limitation to this study.

1.9 Definition of terms

Good governance: the process whereby public institutions conduct public affairs and manage public resources in a manner that promotes the rule of law and the realization of human rights.

poverty alleviation: aims to improve the quality of life for those people currently living in poverty.

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