KWASSIP: ₦10,000, ₦20,000 grants insufficient to tackle poverty

Hon. Yusuf Saka Eletu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Ilorin East/South Federal Constituency, has criticised the reliance on small cash grants under the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP), saying such interventions alone may not provide sustainable solutions to poverty.

Eletu made the remarks while speaking with PDP members, support groups and community stakeholders in Magaji Are 2 Ward, Ilorin East, where he questioned the long-term impact of ₦10,000 and ₦20,000 grants on beneficiaries.

According to him, while financial assistance may provide temporary relief, government empowerment programmes should focus more on helping residents build sustainable livelihoods, grow businesses and achieve economic independence.

He argued that repeated dependence on small cash interventions could leave beneficiaries reliant on periodic government support without adequately addressing the underlying causes of poverty.

Eletu therefore called for a broader approach to social investment, including skills development, access to productive capital, business support and programmes capable of creating sustainable employment opportunities.

He also urged residents to pay closer attention to the quality of representation they elect, stressing that elected officials should understand the challenges confronting their constituents and support policies that create lasting economic opportunities.

KWASSIP, according to information published on its website, was established to address poverty, unemployment and economic inequality in Kwara State through financial assistance, skills development and entrepreneurial support.

Its programmes include youth empowerment, artisan grants, petty trader support and public workfare.