Analysis of Government Policy on Street Begging in South Eastern States of Nigeria

Abstract

The study is titled; Analysis of government policy on street begging in South Eastern States of Nigeria. Descriptive survey research was adopted for the study, which was carried out “ex post facto”. The population for the study comprised of beggars found in various rehabilitation and destitute homes in the south east states of Enugu, Imo, Abia, Anambra and Ebonyi States, totaling 25, 976. A multi stage random sampling method was used in selecting a sample of 2600, comprised of male and female beggars. Questionnaire was used for data collection. The instrument was validated by two lecturers in the Department of Public Administration, ESUT. The Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient Statistic was used to obtain the reliability index of 0.84, which was considered adequate for the study. Data analysis was aided by SPSS version 16 using frequency distributions, mean scores, pooled mean and standard deviation (SD) while the hypotheses were tested using Z-Test statistics at 0.05 level of significance. The decision rule for interpreting the mean scores was put at mean of 3.0 and above interpreted as agreed while mean scores below 3.0 interpreted as disagreed. For the hypotheses, the decision rule was that when the z- calculated is equal or greater than the z- critical, the null hypothesis will be rejected. Otherwise, it will be accepted. The findings show that there is high prevalence of street begging  in South East urban centres especially around market places; church premises; within major streets and road junctions. There are government policies aimed at rehabilitation, empowerment, resettlement, employment generation and outright banning of street begging in some major cities in the South East zone of Nigeria. But these government policies have not had serious positive outcome in ameliorating the high prevalence of street begging in South East Nigeria. Thus challenges associated with the menace of street begging still remained phenomenal resulting in criminal activities of all forms. In conclusion the study recommended policy synergy among the governments of the five states in the South East zone in effective rehabilitation, empowerment, resettlement and employment for the poor and disabled street beggars in the area.