Ogun State-born social protection expert, Segun Tekun, has described Nigeria’s social protection framework as too weak to effectively combat poverty, citing chronic underfunding, poor programme design, and lack of accountability as major setbacks undermining progress.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Tekun, a former UNICEF and ILO Social Protection expert, drew attention to the findings of a November 2025 World Bank report, which revealed that Nigeria’s spending on social protection accounts for only 0.14 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a figure he described as “insignificant in the fight against poverty and a clear indication of under-investment.”
He noted that the country faces a looming crisis if international donors withdraw their support, as foreign funding accounts for about 60 percent of Nigeria’s social protection expenditure, with the World Bank alone contributing nearly 90 percent of that amount.
“This statistic is a disturbing truth about the state of social protection in Nigeria,” Tekun said
He added that despite multiple social intervention schemes such as conditional cash transfers, the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, and the National Social Safety Nets Programme, poverty levels continue to rise.
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Citing additional data from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Tekun revealed that between 2010 and 2021, Nigeria’s average budgetary allocation to social protection stood at just 0.45 percent of GDP, far below the international benchmark.
He added that only 14.8 percent of Nigerians currently benefit from any form of social protection, despite it being recognized as a fundamental human right under international law.
According to him, government-funded programmes have failed to significantly impact vulnerable populations due to poor design and benefit dilution.
He explained that the practice of distributing flat cash transfer amounts per household under the National Social Safety Nets Programme fails to consider larger family structures, leaving poorer households even more disadvantaged.
The World Bank, he said, also faulted the limited reach of the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, which targets only pupils in grades one to three and covers a restricted number of schools, despite its good intentions.
Referencing the World Bank’s October 2025 poverty outlook, Tekun warned that Nigeria’s poverty levels are projected to hit 61 percent in 2025, with 139 million people living below $3 per day, up from 129 million in 2024.
“Between 2019 and 2023, average consumption fell by 6.7 percent while poverty rose from 40 percent to a projected 61 percent, with three-quarters of the increase occurring before 2023,” he noted.
To reverse this trend, Tekun called for increased budgetary support, especially in ensuring full implementation of allocated funds. He also urged the government to expand and regularly update the national social register, extend the school feeding programme to reach more pupils, and redesign safety net schemes to better cater to large households.
He further emphasised the importance of transparency and integrity in programme delivery, urging anti-corruption agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ensure that relief materials and funds reach the intended beneficiaries.
“With the right reforms and political will, poverty can be reduced through effective planning and deliberate implementation of social protection programmes,” he said.
Tekun also stressed that while social protection alone cannot eradicate poverty, it serves as a crucial foundation.
“To address poverty, we need a combination of interventions including livelihood support to existing beneficiaries. These interventions must be sequenced and layered carefully to ensure they produce maximum results, and that is where accountability and transparency on the part of Government officials and the intervention programme officials come into the conversation,” he said.
