The Politics of Poverty Alleviation Programmes in Imo State

This study analyses the politics underlying poverty alleviation programme design and implementation in Imo State, examining how political calculations shape the targeting and distribution of social protection interventions. Despite the proliferation of federal and state poverty reduction initiatives in Nigeria, poverty rates in the South East have remained persistently high, raising questions about the political economy of welfare provision. Using a mixed-methods design, the study reviews programme documentation for the National Social Investment Programme and Imo State Government welfare schemes, supplemented by interviews with programme beneficiaries, local government officials, and civil society monitors in four local government areas. The political economy of social policy framework is applied to examine how electoral incentives, patronage networks, and bureaucratic interests influence programme targeting decisions. Findings indicate that poverty alleviation resources in Imo State are frequently distributed through politically loyal networks rather than to the most vulnerable populations, resulting in significant leakages and coverage gaps. The study further documents a pattern of programme discontinuation following changes in state government, reflecting the absence of institutionalised social protection frameworks insulated from short-term political pressures. Recommendations include the development of legally mandated beneficiary identification systems, independent programme monitoring mechanisms, and multi-year funding commitments that insulate social protection from electoral cycles. Keywords: poverty alleviation, political economy, Imo State, social protection, programme targeting