EFFECT OF VITAMINS C AND E INTAKE ON BLOOD ... - EuroJournals

International Research Journal of Finance and Economics – Volume 2, Number I (2006)
Table 4: Poverty Situation in Osun State
Monthly Income Access to Good Infrastructures (per cent)
Water Power Road Education
Group =,N Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No
Farmers 2500 - 5000 27.5 72.5 37.5 62.5 30.0 70.0 25.0 75.0
Artisans 2000 - 10000 30.0 70.0 37.5 62.5 35.0 65.0 20.0 80.0
Petty Traders 1000 - 5000 40.0 60.0 32.5 67.5 30.0 70.0 30.0 70.0
Civil
Servants
5000 - 35000 87.5 12.5 52.5 72.5 50.0 50.0 50.0 50.0
Small Scale
Industrialists
5000 - 25000 75.0 25.0 45.0 55.0 52.5 72.5 62.5 37.5
Transporters 3500 - 10000 25.0 75.0 37.5 62.5 25.0 75.0 12.5 87.5
(NURTW)
Youths NA 50.0 50.0 60.0 40.0 60.0 40.0 90.0 10.0
Handicapped - 80.0 20.0 75.0 25.0 50.0 50.0 40.0 60.0
WOCDIF NA 75.0 25.0 50.0 50.0 65.0 35.0 55.0 45.0
Total in % 54.4% 45.6% 47.6% 52.4% 44.2% 55.8% 42.7% 57.3%
Source: Survey Data (2004)
As shown in Table 4, monthly income of group members were below the subsistence level.
The small scale industrialists and petty traders generally had low profit margin with losses in most
periods and this scenario has compelled many of them to wind down their businesses. Income of the
members who were civil servants was between=,N 5000 and=,N 35000 per month while that of other
target group members were far below this range. The income was generally low and not adequate to
meet the basic needs of life. Except for the handicapped, youths and educated groups, majority of
members were self-employed. Their income generating ability was low hence, the prevalence of
poverty among them.
Women, handicapped and youth can be said to form the majority of the unemployed in the
state. For instance, less than 2.0 per cent of the qualified unemployed youth were employed in the last
five years while it was less than 1.0 per cent for the handicapped group. Survey data in Table 4 clearly
shows that women have fewer job opportunities and since 1999, women labour has just risen by at least
5.0 per cent. Women's participation in the state development has been slow because they are mostly
illiterates and this is partly due to their role as housewives. Up to two-third of women's group are
illiterates. There exists marginalization and discrimination against women in job preferences in recent
times in Osun state. One major reason as to why majority of women are poor and could not get job
placement is attributed to "limited education". This according to them prevents women from getting
civil service jobs and force them to go into petty trading. The same reason goes for members of
National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). Most people end up in this group because of
limited education and for the fact that its skill acquisition requires very little appreciation. However,
some members of NURTW in the state have received assistance of new vehicles and motorcycles.
Government had in recent times donated a sizeable number of buses to the union, but the effort is yet to
have impact on a larger proportion of this group as we have a large number of them who are
unemployed that parade themselves as conductors and touts. In some cases, touts are even more in
number than the drivers.
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