Impact Assessment of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

The National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) was created in 2015 to alleviate poverty and improve the economic wellbeing of Nigerians. This study assesses the performance of the policy in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. The study employed Key Informant  Interview (KII) and obtained data from 10 purposively selected stakeholders of the programme in Makurdi to elicit data to answer the  research questions. Evidence from the study indicated that only three of the programmes: N-power, National Home-Grown School  Feeding Programme and Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme are currently operational in the Makurdi. Evidence from the study indicates  that the scheme has impacted the lives and improved the livelihoods of beneficiaries. Although the study shows that the programme has  performed well as opined by stakeholders, evidence indicates that the scheme also encountered challenges which includes paucity of  funds, material and personnel, lack of proper planning, delayed payment, corruption, and communication gaps. The study recommends that proper planning, adequate budgetary provisions, expansion of the scheme to other classes in the schools covered, timely payment  of staff employed by scheme, improvement in the recruitment process should be put in place to improve the performance of the  programme.