The continuous increase in the incidence of poverty in Nigeria is not only a
serious problem but also an indication of the failure and decay of the existing
institutional framework for poverty reduction and therefore, requires a total
overhauling. It is in the light of this failure of the existing frameworks for poverty
reduction and the widespread scourging poverty that this paper appraises
previous and current initiatives at poverty reduction in Nigeria. The study mainly
utilizes secondary data through the analysis of books, journals, reports and
electronic sources. Data collected were analysed using simple descriptive
statistics. Results indicate that poverty reduction programmes are geared towards
the delivery of social services. However, only very little impact has been made in
terms of social services delivery by these institutions. Flawed policy, poor
targeting of interventions programmes, lack of policy continuity and noninvolvement
of programme beneficiaries, corruption among others were identified
as the major challenges facing poverty reduction programmes in the delivery of
social services in Nigeria. Among other issues, the study calls for policy alignment,
targeting of intervention projects to reach the poor and involvement of project
beneficiaries in the design and implementation of projects.