Good Governance and Poverty Alleviation in Jalingo LGA: An Assessment of Vocational Training and Skills Empowerment in Taraba State

This study examines the nexus between good governance and poverty alleviation with specific reference to vocational training and skills empowerment programmes in Jalingo Local Government Area (LGA) of Taraba State, Nigeria. While poverty remains a critical challenge in Nigeria despite successive intervention efforts, the role of local governance in mediating the success or failure of these initiatives has not been sufficiently interrogated. This research adopts a descriptive survey design to investigate how principles of good governance such as transparency, accountability, participation, and responsiveness affect the implementation and outcomes of vocational training programmes targeted at poverty reduction. Data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to 400 respondents; selected using stratified random sampling to ensure representativeness. The instrument's reliability was confirmed using Cronbach’s Alpha (α = 0.87), and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation), alongside Chi-square tests to evaluate hypotheses. The results revealed that good governance significantly influences the effectiveness of poverty alleviation efforts, particularly when programmes are inclusive, transparent, and supported by efficient institutional frameworks. Vocational training was also shown to improve employability and household income but suffers from weak follow-up support and limited accessibility. The study concludes that enhancing governance capacity and strengthening vocational infrastructures are essential for sustainable poverty reduction in Jalingo LGA.