Hon. Afolabi Afuape, Member representing Abeokuta South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has called for a more sustainable approach to government empowerment programmes, stressing the need to move beyond short-term distribution of items and cash to initiatives that promote skills acquisition, education and long-term economic self-reliance.
Afuape made the call during the latest edition of Perspectives with Simiat Abaru, where lawmakers, civic leaders, policy analysts and constituents examined the effectiveness of government empowerment programmes and constituency interventions across Nigeria.
The discussion focused on whether the distribution of items such as sewing machines, tricycles, POS terminals and cash grants is sufficient to create lasting economic independence or whether such interventions should be complemented by structured skills development and stronger institutional support.
Need-Based Empowerment
Speaking on the effectiveness of empowerment programmes, Afuape defended targeted welfare interventions as necessary responses to the socio-economic challenges facing Nigerians.
He stressed that empowerment items should not be distributed through a blanket approach but should instead be matched with the existing livelihood, skills, interests and capacity of individual beneficiaries.
According to him, giving a person an empowerment item that does not align with their experience or ability could undermine the purpose of the intervention.
Afuape also acknowledged concerns that some beneficiaries sell items received through government empowerment programmes.
However, he argued that public policies should be designed to achieve the highest possible success rate rather than be judged by the expectation that every intervention will produce a perfect outcome.
‘My Responsibility Is to Everyone’
Addressing concerns over alleged political bias in constituency interventions, Afuape maintained that his responsibility as an elected representative extends to every resident of Abeokuta South Federal Constituency.
“My responsibility is to serve the entirety of Abeokuta South Federal Constituency, regardless of political affiliations,” he stated.
He said constituency interventions should be focused on addressing genuine community needs rather than rewarding political supporters.
Subsidy Removal and Public Spending
Afuape also defended the Federal Government's decision to remove the fuel subsidy, describing the policy as a necessary step towards reducing government expenditure.
He argued that resources previously committed to subsidising petrol could be redirected towards areas capable of delivering broader benefits to Nigerians, including education, critical infrastructure and social services.
Stakeholders Demand Accountability
Other participants on the programme raised concerns about the implementation and monitoring of constituency projects, calling for greater transparency in the use of public funds.
They advocated stronger mechanisms for tracking projects from planning through completion to ensure that government interventions deliver measurable benefits to the communities they are designed to serve.
Stakeholders also criticised the amount of public resources sometimes devoted to elaborate commissioning ceremonies and political branding.
They argued that such expenditure could instead be channelled towards expanding the coverage of projects and increasing the number of beneficiaries.
Beyond Handouts
The discussion concluded with a call for a broader approach to empowerment that combines immediate assistance with long-term investments in human capital and economic opportunity.
Participants advocated greater emphasis on technical and vocational education, youth reorientation, entrepreneurship development and local government financial autonomy.
They maintained that while material assistance remains necessary for vulnerable members of society, sustainable empowerment requires equipping beneficiaries with the knowledge, skills and opportunities needed to become economically independent.
Afuape encouraged Nigerians to submit formal proposals for legislative interventions to his office, reiterating his commitment to grassroots development and policies capable of delivering lasting impact.
The edition of Perspectives with Simiat Abaru ultimately highlighted the need for government empowerment programmes to evolve from simple distribution of items to a more sustainable model built around skills, education, accountability and economic independence.
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