Social Welfare Programs and Poverty Alleviation at the Local Government Level in Niger State: A Study of Minna Local Government Area

This study evaluates the role of social welfare programs implemented through local government channels in alleviating poverty among vulnerable populations in Minna Local Government Area of Niger State, North Central Nigeria. Niger State hosts a substantial population of orphans, widows, elderly citizens, and persons with disabilities who require targeted social protection from government institutions, yet local government social welfare departments remain chronically underfunded and understaffed, limiting their capacity to effectively reach and support these populations. The study adopts a descriptive survey design, collecting primary data from 180 respondents including social welfare program beneficiaries, social workers, local government officials, and community-based organization leaders. The Social Protection Floor Framework and the Human Needs Theory provide the conceptual basis for the research. Secondary data includes Niger State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development reports, National Social Investment Program records, and academic literature on social protection in North Central Nigeria. Descriptive statistics are employed to analyze the data. Findings are expected to reveal inadequate funding, poor targeting of beneficiaries, and limited staff capacity as the primary barriers to effective social welfare delivery in Minna. Recommendations include increased budgetary allocation to local government social welfare departments, introduction of digital social registry systems, and structured partnership with faith-based organizations in welfare delivery. Keywords: Social welfare, poverty alleviation, local government, Minna, Niger State.