POVERTY AND ITS EFFECTS

 

Poverty is a situation whereby an individual is unable to provide adequately for his/her basic needs. Poverty is one of the major problems of developing nations, including Nigeria. The high level of poverty in the country has placed Nigeria as one of the poorest nations in the world.

 

EFFECTS OF POVERTY

1.      Poverty can lead to increase in crime rate in the society.

2.      It can lead to break up in marriages.

3.      It can make an individual to be irresponsible in the society.

4.      It reduces the level of savings and investment in the nation.

5.      It increases the level of dependency in a country.

6.      It leads to low standard of living.

7.      It can cause political apathy.

8.      It can heighten social vices in the society.

9.      It can lead to increase in government spending in trying to attend to social needs.

10.    It can cause school dropout of children.

 

IMPORTANCE OF EMPLOYMENT

Employment is a situation whereby an individual is engaged in a legal and economic venture that enables him/her to provide for the basic needs of life. Employment is important in the direct or indirect alleviation of poverty. Below are the importance of employment in the reduction of poverty in the society.

1.      Employment helps to boost savings and investment in a country.

2.      It enables the individual to provide for his basic needs.

3.      It promotes economic growth and development.

4.      It promotes the standard of living of the people.

5.      It increases government revenue through tax payment.

6.      It reduces crime rate and social vices in the society.

7.      It reduces dependency rate in the society.

8.      It encourages popular participation.

9.      It enhances responsible family life.

10.    It promotes good planning.

 

POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROGRAMMES IN NIGERIA.

Over the years Nigeria has made several attempts by initiating various poverty alleviation programmes to ensure rapid growth and development of the nation. Whether or not these programmeshave performed up to expectation remains a question seeking for an answer. Highlighted below are some of the poverty alleviation programmes in Nigeria.

a.     National Accelerated Food Production (NAFP) 1972.

b.    Operation Feed the Nation (OFN) 1976.

c.     Green Revolution (GR) 1980.

d.    Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) the foundation of Better Life Programme (BLP) 1986.

e.     Family Economic Advancement Programme (FEAP) 1997.

The inability of the above programmes to deliver full result led to the formulation of National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) in 2001. NAPEP was subdivided into specific schemes:

i.       Youth Empowerment Programme (YES)

ii.    Rural Infrastructure Development Scheme (RIDS)

iii. Social Welfare Development Scheme (SOWEDS)

iv. National Resources Development Scheme (NRDS)

In order to ensure performance of this programme, a council was established to monitor the progress of the various schemes. The council is ‘National Poverty Eradication Council’ (NAPEC).

 

FACTORS THAT PROMOTE GUARANTEED EMPLOYMENT

1.      Provision of Qualitative and Functional Education: There should be a shift from certificate-based education to practical-oriented education. This will enable school leavers to engage in economic productive ventures without waiting for jobs that are not available in the first place.

2.      Provision of basic infrastructural facilities that will enable businesses to thrive e.g. electricity, good road network, etc.

3.      Investment in Agricultural Sector: Many young people are willing to engage in agriculture provided it is made attractive like other sectors of the economy. Farmers should be allowed some level of subsidy in seedlings and be assured of ready market for their products.

4.      Skill Acquisition: People should be engaged in skills acquisition programmes such as fashion designing, plumbing, baking, hair dressing, etc. These skills acquisition programmes can guarantee employment any time any day.

5.      Provision of Credit Facilities to SMEs: Access to soft loan facilities by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) will encourage and enhance sustainability of their businesses.

6.      Good Governance: Good governmental policies and programmes that are directed at business growth will ensure guaranteed employment. People will be willing to get engaged when they are sure that public policies will favour their businesses.

 

AUTHORITY

 

Authority refers to the right to command or direct others and enforce obedience. The power of authority is derived from one’s office and from the consent of the people. It implies the acceptance by the people of someone’s right to rule.

This is why even military governments try to legitimize its authority by seeking the consent of the people. In a democratic society, the electorates are the primary source of power and political authority.

Sources of Political Authority

Max Weber, a German sociologist identifies three sources of political authority. They are:

1.    Traditional Authority: This is the right to rule based on customs and traditions. It is hereditary and it is based on norms, customs and tradition of a particular society. It is through this source that Obas, Emirs and Obis derive their political power.

2.    Legal Authority: This type of authority is derived from the body of rules and regulations governing a society. This is called the constitution and could be written or unwritten.

3.    Charismatic Authority: This is derived from the extraordinary qualities, which a person has that enables him to lead others. Charisma is an extraordinary quality, which a person possesses and gives him the right to rule.

Types of Authority

1.    Political Authority: This is the right of political office holders to command, make and enforce policies. The constitution confers such powers.

2.    Military Authority: This refers to the rights of the armed forces to use force to maintain law and order and security in the state.

3.    Traditional Authority: This is the power legitimized by the customs and tradition. This type of authority is acquired through inheritance.

4.    Delegated Authority: This is authority conferred on a subordinate to carry out certain powers on specified matters.

5.    Technical Authority: When a person’s authority is accepted because he is an expert in a recognized field, he has technical authority.

6.    Judicial Authority: This is the authority which the courts and judges have to issue fines or other punishments to individuals, groups or governments.

7.    Administrative Authority: This is the right of the professionals like civil servants and managers to make decisions in their respective offices and secure obedience.

SOVEREIGNTY

Sovereignty is the full right and power of a governing body over itself, without any interference from outside sources or bodies. It may also be defined as the supreme power of a state to exercise full legal authority over its own affairs within its territory without any form of external control. It is the absolute power of a state to make and enforce laws within its territory without any external influence.

 

Location of Sovereignty in a State

1.    In a Unitary Government: It is possible to locate sovereignty in the central government or authority because it has the supreme power above any institution in the State.

2.    Location in a Federal State: Powers of government are shared between the central, regional or State government. As such the ultimate sovereign power of a State is derived from the constitution.

3.    Location in the Electorate: According to Albert Venn Dicey, sovereign power can be located in the people (electorate) because every democratic system tends to derive its legitimacy from the people.

4.    Location in the Monarchy: In Britain, sovereignty can be located in the Queen in parliament as such the queen has the absolute supreme power.

Location in a Military Regime: In a military rule, sovereignty can be located in the Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC) presided over by the president. The power of AFRC is unlimited. It is both executive and legislative organ of government

Types of Sovereignty

Legal Sovereignty: this is the power, which a state has to make laws and enforce them. The body responsible for making and enforcing the laws of the state is known as the legal sovereign.

 

Political Sovereignty: in this type of sovereignty, the supreme power is vested on the electorate (the people) to establish their own government through voting. The people’s mandate through the ballot box forms the power of government.

Internal Sovereignty: this is the power of the state to exercise power over its nationals within its territorial areas.

External Sovereignty: in a simpler form, this is defined as freedom from external control. The government has the power to conduct its affairs without external influence.

De-facto Sovereignty: this refers to a body that acquires its sovereignty of a state through force. This is evident through the forceful seizure of government through military invasion or revolution. It uses force to ensure total obedience to its will.

De-jure Sovereignty: in this type of sovereignty, that is acquired in accordance to the laws of the land. It is opposed to the use of force.

 

Characteristics of Sovereignty

1.    Indivisibility: the powers of a state are final and cannot be shared or divided.

2.    Permanence: Sovereignty of a state is permanent as long as the state exists. Government may change but a state’s sovereignty cannot change.

3.    Absoluteness: this means that a state gives order to all and receives order from none. The powers of a sovereign state cannot be limited.

4.     Absence of Foreign control: the powers of a sovereign state are supreme in its own territory and are very free from external influence.

5.    Comprehensiveness: the power of a sovereign state extends over all persons, organizations and associations within its territory.

6.    Inalienability: this means that the powers of sovereignty of a state cannot be transferred. If it is given away, it cannot be regained.

 

Limitations to the Sovereignty of a State

a.     Treaties: Treaties entered into by different states are a limitation to such states. They must respect the terms of the treaty.

b.     International Laws: Every country must abide by the international laws and convention. U.N.O has the capacity of imposing sanctions on any country that defaults.

c.     International Organisations: States that belong to international or regional organisations like U.N.O, OAU, etc, must be ready to abide by the rules governing these organisations. This is a limitation.

d.    Military and technological might of some powerful states: These powerful states can easily influence the economic and political policies of smaller or weaker states.

e.      Resources of States: States with poor resources depend on richer states for different kinds of assistance.

f.       Public Opinion: The opinion of the people, whether internal or external, is powerful and is not what any reasonable government should ignore.

g.     The electorate: The electorate possess political or popular sovereignty in modern states. They have the power to elect and remove political leaders from office or government.

Customs and traditions of the people: In order to obey the customs and traditions of the people, sovereignty of the state may be limited.

a)