Title: Re-imagining Social Safety Nets and Civil Society Humanitarian Interventions: A Catalyst for Sustainable National Development in Nigeria
Authors: Ibraheem Adewale ADEFABI
Volume: 9
Issue: 8
Pages: 91-97
Publication Date: 2025/08/28
Abstract:
Over the years, Nigeria has been plagued with developmental challenges arising from inequality and vulnerabilities. Social safety nets are a range of public-spirited policies and programmes designed by the Government and non-for-profit organisations such as Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to safeguard and protect individuals and families from internal and external economic shocks and social exclusion effectuated by government policies such as subsidy removal regime. The social safety measures being adopted in Nigeria include; food and financial support to vulnerable populations to access essential services as health care, housing and education. The paper notes that while these measures have brought temporary succour to the needy households, however, they often fall short in promoting sustainable solutions to the country's socio-economic crises. The paper argues the need for a paradigm shift towards reimagining social safety nets and civil society humanitarian interventions in Nigeria in curbing the incidence of vulnerabilities which affect sustainable national development in the country. It recommends the need to ensure partnerships between the government, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), private sectors and international agencies towards addressing poverty, inequality and vulnerabilities that impede sustainable development in Nigeria while also making sure that programmes such as Social Safety Nets (SSNs) designed to promote sustainable development are depoliticised.