Many concerned Nigerians who spoke with correspondent,
expressed worries over the alarming rate of poverty amid joblessness
among Nigerians, especially the youths.
According to the Labour Statistics Report released by the National
Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday, Nigeria’s unemployment rate
increased to 33.3℅ in the fourth quarter of 2020.
“The number of persons in the economically active or working-age
population (15 – 64 years of age) during the reference period of the
survey, Q4, 2020 was 122,049,400. This is 4.3% higher than the figure
recorded In Q2, 2020, which was 116.871, 186,” NBS said.
NBS added that in the case of unemployment by state, Imo state
reported the highest rate of unemployment with 56.64%, followed by
Adamawa and Cross River States with 54.89% and 53.65% respectively.
The States with the lowest rates were Osun, Benue, and the Zamfara States with 11.65%, 11.98% and 12.99% respectively.
Meanwhile, a publication by Bloomberg, reveals that unemployment in
Nigeria, the Africa’s largest economy has surged to the second-highest
on the global list.
The publication stated that Nigeria surpassed South Africa on a list
tracked from 82 countries, revealing that Namibia still leads the list
with 33.4%.
An On-Air Personality, Jude Adanu who spoke to our correspondent from
Benue State, said the report indicated that Nigeria is rather
retrogressing instead of making viable progress like other nations of
the world.
“The question is, where are going to, back or front? There is hardship in the land, and it seems no one cares.
“People are dying of hunger on a daily basis due to lack of jobs.
While you are trying to assume your responsibility as a father and
husband, your grown-up siblings who are supposed to be established with
their own family, still depend on you for common feeding,” he added.
recalls a desperate move by a young man identified as
Ogebe Abutu who took to the street of Abuja in 2020 with a banner seeking for a job.
In a video that circulated on social media, the desperate job seeker
said he had no form of job and was ready to work if provided with any.
Displayed on the banner was his mobile number and a ‘mini CV.
Abutu who ignored peers’ opinion, stormed the street begging for help in what can be concluded as frustration.
According to the inscription on the banner, the young man also
promised to provide jobs for another unemployed person if given a loan.
The banner read, “Somebody please help me with a job or a loan. I will create a job, help others. Trust me.”
In an interview with , the State Coordinator, African
Youths Union Commission (AYUC), Benue State Chapter, Mr Aguredam Keghter
Moses, said President Muhammadu Buhari’s promise of annual creation of
job opportunities has failed.
According to him, “Just like this federal government recently advised
the people to look for modus of protecting themselves, yes security is
everyone one’s business, but it is more of the governments business than
any other person because the primary function of the government is the
protection of her citizenry.
“Secondly, making sure that people have jobs and are catered for. I
clearly remember when this Government came on board with the promises of
job creation yearly. Today, what is the situation like?
“To say the fact, many have lost hope in this present administration and I don’t think there is more they can offer.
”Youths are, therefore, advised to look for legitimate means of
survival, like venturing into agriculture, and skill acquisition for
their daily upkeep.
“I express worry because, much of the problem of insecurity is the
result of unemployment. Now, the most flourishing business is kidnapping
and banditry because they get rewarded, so what is the government
saying indirectly?”
A job seeker, Mr Onome James who said he completed his one-year
mandatory service under the National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, in
2010, told our correspondent that the Nigerian Government is reluctant
on job creation.
“They will announce recruitment but when you apply, its either they
tell you it’s cancelled or just like that. You will not hear from them
again.
“For instance, the Nigerian Security And Civil Defence Corps
announced recruitment in 2019 which we participated in the registration
exercise but till this moment, no reasonable response.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, announced
recruitment last year and we quickly applied without any form of
hesitation but till now, nothing has been heard about it.
“Sometimes in 2020, we applied for the Nigerian Youths Investment
Fund (NYIF) with the belief that we can get capital to start up a small
business but our hope has been dashed as the government seems to have
forgotten, ” he stated.
Similarly, a security personnel who pleaded not to be mentioned for
fear of victimization attributed the rising insecurity across the
country to lack of employment opportunities.
“They said ‘an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.’ Someone who is not
engaged in any work would always think of the crime to commit.
“A man who has a job will not relocate to the forest to look for how to launch mayhem on innocent people.
“If the government can solve the issue of unemployment in this country, criminality will drastically reduce,” he said.
Meanwhile, a fashion designer, Miss Monica Olalekan, told our
correspondent in Abuja that, “in the face of an employment crisis like
this, entrepreneurship is the only way forward”.
She told that she acquired her designing skill during her
NYSC days, adding that she initially took it for granted but the
country’s employment reality forced her to pick it as a career.
According to her, “In Nigeria, it doesn’t matter your academic
qualification. If you don’t embrace handwork, you may have to wait for
your whole life.
“We all know that it is the responsibility of the government to make
jobs available for the youths, but sometimes it is good that we help
ourselves when they fail to help us.”
When asked if she still applies for a Federal Government job, she
said, “I don’t think I need any other job as I am now. I only need
capital to enlarge my business”.
