Unemployment in Nigeria

THE DEVASTATING EFFECT OF UNEMPLOYMENT


Please if I don’t say, “welcome,” don’t forget that you’re highly welcome. Such necessary and very important approach (welcome) could easily skip one’s mind due to the mood of this edition. Though going by the caption of the edition, any full-fledged Nigerian might decide to overlook the context because it’s no longer news. But believe me, it sounds horrible to the ears of those who know where we’re from and where we’re actually heading to.

Barely two days ago at about six thirty in the morning (6:30 am), I received a phone call from a good friend of mine after saying my usual morning prayers. After our usual phone interactions coupled with some jokes, he hurriedly informed me that the Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan lacked adequate advisory crew; thereby, had failed Nigerians. He added that, as the President of the country, he (Jonathan) was visionless. Still on the phone conversation, I tried to understand the angle he was coming from by asking him to expatiate his hypothesis. You know as an analyst, you shouldn’t expect me to be informed in a hurry.

My friend went further to back-up his antagonistic theory with few facts. Though he concluded by telling me that, he loved Goodluck Jonathan, as a person, with tremendous passion; stating that he had been following his foot-steps right from his (Jonathan’s) class/lecture room days. In his opinion, one of the vital points he made was that he anticipated that, Mr. President’s primary aim would be to revive the education sector since he had been in the system. He said that if the issue of education decay and power instability could be adequately tackled, the reoccurring scene of unemployment would be a thing of the past. He added that, from his imagination or experience, there would be no time Nigeria as a country could boast of employing all youths/graduates in the country because the available manpower or labour force will continue to supersede the existing industries (ventures) due to overpopulation and rapid increase of immigration. From his view, the only answer to our plight is self-reliance which could only be actualized by sustaining adequate education coupled with skill acquisition, and above all, power stability. Due to time frame, he promised that there would be a second phase of the discussion in regard to unemployment.

Injecting antagonism/criticism in any existing system may not mean that you’re against any individual rather, a particular administration or policy just like that of my friend as stated above. Thus, a certain criticism could be positive/constructive or negative (destructive). If the former becomes the case, mind you, it helps to strengthen a given system or administration; and that is the angle where most activists are, or had been, coming from. So don’t be myopic. At this juncture, I wish to begin my analysis based on the context of this edition.

Unemployment is a situation or circumstance in which people are willing and able to work, but there is no available job for them. In a concise sentence, someone who is unemployed wants to work but cannot get a job. For over the years, Nigeria has been singing this chorus that is detrimental to the health of her citizenry. In other words, a deadly catastrophe.

As a patriotic analyst, my optimum interest in any existing societal ill which I’m deliberating on lies in the cause(s), and the remedial measure(s) that ought to be taken. On this note, I wish to unequivocally state that, the basic causes of the aforementioned disease/phenomenon are lack of adequate education or skill acquisition and insufficient (inadequate) power supply. I quite agree with my friend; he was really coming in the same direction with me. Brethren, many had spoken on this issue (unemployment), many are still speaking, while many are yet to speak. It’s my time to analyze. Yes, I had been watching like a watch dog or mere onlooker; it’s high time I spoke as an Apostle of God.

On one fate occasion, I was privileged to interact with one of the participants who happens to be my old time friend right from my university days. Along the line, we ventured into the issue of unemployment. From his point of view, nepotism is one of the major factors that have been posing threats the Nigerian labour market. He further stated that if nepotism is not duly eradicated, the issue of unemployment would generate an untold scene in the nearest future. As an analyst, I wasn’t meant to disprove him, rather, give him a listening ear and as well create a cordial and harmonious relationship throughout the discussion.

Yes, nepotism has been a cankerworm in our labour market. But frankly speaking, it should not in any way be considered as one of the causes of unemployment in Nigeria; needless to say, it’s the major cause as it was viewed by my dear friend. Because, if there’re millions of job opportunities available for the unemployed youths/individuals, unemployment would never in any way be attributed to nepotism. The only avenue it (nepotism) affects the economic system or our labour market is that, most time jobs meant for qualified individuals/graduates are being provided for less qualified applicants thereby promoting quackery.

Due to over-population and its consistent tremendous increase in Nigeria, the only answer to the reoccurring question(s) on unemployment is nothing but ‘self- reliance’. Yes, if every able and reasonable youth in the country can boast of being an employer of labour instead of an employee, then the problem of unemployment has been solved. Making individuals to be job creators rather than hunters is the best and simplest way the above economic predicament could be put to stop, because the actualization of concentration (establishment) of industries/firms owned and managed by the government remains a mirage. Even in the advanced or western nations, it has never worked. For instance, about seventy-five (75%) of the industries in Germany are owned and maintained by the citizens or individuals. But how can this be actualized in Nigeria? Let’s ride on!

For one to be self-employed, he/she must acquire a certain skill. And if such skill leads to possession of a certain venture or enterprise, it can’t be adequately or effectively managed if instability of power supply is experienced in the system. Believe me, total overhaul is required in the Nigerian educational and power sectors. And, complete revolutionary theory must be applied or adhered to, to ensure that tangible result is yielded. On this note, I recommend the book, 'Scentic Scenarios' by Fred Nwaozor to the concerned authorities/agencies. The book gives an insight on the most suitable avenues that ought to be followed by the Nigerian government to ensure that Nigeria witnesses a better and developed socio-economic state/arena.

Nigeria ought to tell herself the truth and embrace a worthwhile scenario that would lead to the nation’s paradise that is long overdue. Most importantly, a collective effort is intensely and drastically required to insert a full stop to this persistent jaundiced appellation that has caused many to live far below the poverty line, one dollar per day, as was stipulated by the United Nations (UN). Think about it!

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COMR. FRED NWAOZOR

frednwaozor@gmail.com