Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Social Welfare Policy has increasingly attracted the attention of researchers, regulators, and practitioners concerned with wellbeing of persons with disabilities. This growing interest reflects the recognition that social welfare policy does not operate in isolation, but interacts with a wider set of institutional and market conditions found within Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria.

Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria presents a useful setting for examining this relationship precisely because the conditions there — structural, regulatory, and behavioural — differ from those typically assumed in the broader literature, most of which draws on evidence from more developed economies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite a growing body of literature on social welfare policy, there remains limited consensus on the precise nature of its relationship with wellbeing of persons with disabilities, particularly within Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria. Many organizations continue to make decisions about social welfare policy without a clear, evidence-based understanding of how those decisions ultimately affect wellbeing of persons with disabilities. This gap between practice and empirical understanding is the central problem this study seeks to address.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Social Welfare Policy on wellbeing of persons with disabilities in Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria.
2. To assess the extent to which social welfare policy influences wellbeing of persons with disabilities within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with social welfare policy in relation to wellbeing of persons with disabilities.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing social welfare policy in order to improve wellbeing of persons with disabilities.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of social welfare policy on wellbeing of persons with disabilities in Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria?
2. To what extent does social welfare policy influence wellbeing of persons with disabilities within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with social welfare policy in relation to wellbeing of persons with disabilities?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize social welfare policy in order to improve wellbeing of persons with disabilities?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to a range of stakeholders. For policymakers and regulators, the findings offer evidence to guide the design of frameworks that support healthier outcomes around wellbeing of persons with disabilities. For managers and practitioners within Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria, the study provides practical insight into how social welfare policy can be better managed. Finally, it contributes to the academic literature on social work by extending existing knowledge into a specific empirical context, and offers a reference point for future researchers.

1.6 Scope of the Study

In terms of scope, this study confines itself to Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria, focusing specifically on how social welfare policy relates to wellbeing of persons with disabilities within that setting. Findings are interpreted within these boundaries rather than as universal claims applicable to every organization or market.