Democracy, Good Governance and Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria, 2015–2025

The period from 2015 to 2025 reflects a crucial decade in Nigeria’s democratic journey, marked by efforts to entrench good governance while combating widespread poverty and economic insecurity. Successive administrations of Muhammadu Buhari (2015–2023) and Bola Ahmed Tinubu (2023–present) pursued governance reforms and social investment programmes intended to address unemployment, inequality, and multidimensional poverty. Yet, the country continues to rank among the world’s poorest populations, with over 133 million Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty as of 2022 (National Bureau of Statistics, 2022). This study critically examines the relationship between democracy, good governance, and poverty alleviation in Nigeria within this ten-year period, evaluating political accountability, institutional performance, and policy outcomes on welfare improvement. Using a qualitative research design supported by secondary data analysis, the paper finds that while democratic structures and poverty-reduction initiatives expanded, governance challenges—corruption, weak institutions, policy inconsistency, insecurity, and elite capture—circumvented positive gains. The study concludes that democracy alone does not automatically translate to poverty alleviation without strong governance reforms and inclusive socioeconomic policies. Key recommendations include strengthening institutional accountability, expanding social safety nets, and prioritizing human capital development.