Social welfare services

• Social welfare is a government policy aimed at providing assistance to the needy and less privileged families in society
• Social welfare focuses on the quality of those governed and the provision of a conducive environment for the governed
• Essential social services provided include financial assistance to the aged and unemployed youths, healthcare for the sick, and education for those who cannot afford it
• Social welfare policy consists of laws enacted by the government to improve the livelihood of disadvantaged members of society
• Social welfare services in Nigeria have roots in the missionary and colonial periods
• The Salvation Army and the Roman Catholic Church initiated welfare programs in Nigeria during the missionary period
• During the colonial period, social welfare programs were strengthened, with Mr. Faulkner being a dominant figure
• Social welfare programs spread from the Lagos Region to the Western, Eastern, and Northern Regions when Nigeria was divided into regions
• Social welfare programs were located in the Social Development Division in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare during the colonial period
• Present social welfare schemes in Nigeria include the School Feeding Programme Initiative, N-Power program, Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme, Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme, and Micro Credit Scheme
• The School Feeding Programme Initiative aims to provide one decent and nutritious meal per day to public and primary school pupils
• The N-Power program provides job opportunities for graduates in teaching, health, and agriculture
• The Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme funds beneficiaries with a monthly stipend in selected states and local government areas
• The Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme offers interest-free loans to market women, traders, and artisans
• The Micro Credit Scheme promises to give a loan to artisans, market women, and men, and free tertiary education to students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
• Before the current administration, the past administration provided social welfare services through the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P)
• SURE-P provided employment to unemployed graduates, funds for small and medium-scale businesses, and a Midwives Scheme to reduce maternal mortality