Poverty reduction has been a long concern fol' all African co1mtl'ies since independence. The high incidence of po1·crty in Nigcl'ia has been a greatest obstacle to the development of the nation at large. This research work examined the role of the government in Poverty Alleviation Programmes in Nigeria in orde!' to reduce poverty to its minimum barest level. Questionnaire 111as used as instrument for gathering data for the research. The data collected were ana�y:::.ed using simple percentage computation. Chi-square was used as an instrument for the test of hypotheses. The study finds among others that NEEDS is instrumental to national growth and development in }./igeria, more support is needed .from the government, the masses and even private sectors for its effectiveness. The study concludes that government needed to show more commitment to the alleviation of poverty in Nigeria through its overall policy strategies. Recommendatfons were made in the research that the government, private sector, project planners and executor as well as masses should vvork together for the effectiveness of NEEDS.