The PDP candidate for Ilorin East and South Federal Constituency, Hon. Yusuf Saka Eletu, has criticised aspects of the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP), arguing that small cash grants alone are insufficient to address the economic challenges facing vulnerable residents.
Speaking during his engagement with PDP members, support groups and community stakeholders in Magaji Are 2 Ward, Ilorin East, Eletu questioned the impact of grants of ₦10,000 or ₦20,000 on beneficiaries, describing such interventions as inadequate to provide sustainable economic empowerment.
According to him, government social intervention should go beyond short-term financial assistance and focus more on initiatives that enable people to build sustainable livelihoods, expand businesses and become economically independent.
Eletu argued that repeated reliance on small cash handouts could leave beneficiaries dependent on periodic government support rather than addressing the underlying causes of poverty. He therefore called for a more sustainable approach to social investment and empowerment in Kwara State.
He also urged residents to pay close attention to the quality of representation they elect, saying elected leaders should demonstrate awareness of the challenges facing their constituents and prioritise policies that create lasting opportunities.
The KWASSIP website describes the programme as an initiative established to address poverty, unemployment and economic inequality through financial support, skills development and entrepreneurial resources. Its listed programmes include youth empowerment, artisan grants, petty trader support and public workfare.