Over 50 per cent of the Nigerian youth population is unemployed. A recent survey puts the figure at 54 per cent.
This figure was reduced by about 16 people over the weekend, not as a result of job provision, but by the claws of death at the recent Nigerian Immigration Service recruitment exercise. Blame it on unemployment, experts say, and they could not be farther from the truth.
A Press release signed by the National President of Education Rights Campaign (ERC), Mr. Hassan Soweto, said that ERC was outraged at the avoidable wastage of the lives of scores of unemployed Nigerian youths during Nigeria Immigration Service recruitment test over the weekend. “The ERC believes it is the social responsibility of the government as the custodian of society’s commonwealth, to provide a decent job for every citizen.
“All talks about young graduates becoming employers of labour is nonsense especially in a society where public infrastructure like electricity, water and transportation needed to support self-employment, are lacking,” said Soweto.
Dr. Ifeduba Emmanuel, a lecturer at Redeemer’s University (RUN) frowned at the mishap by saying: “By now we should have passed that stage, as there was no adequate arrangement for the exam to be written in a decent way. The way the exam was conducted is primitive, it is a big shame. The bigger picture here is that of unemployment, and I believe that the Federal Government should be blamed for that.
“National Universities Commission (NUC) accredits courses and schools produce more people that the economy is not prepared to absorb. Government should emphasise on agriculture. The rate of unemployment in Nigeria is unacceptable in all ramifications. People in government are voted to provide solutions and not to create problems.”
Another educationist, Mr. Adelabu Omowale said: “Government at all levels should put measures in place to reduce poverty drastically, provide social security for the unemployed youths instead of budgeting and giving money only to those holding public offices who already have money.
“Government should also diversify the economy, reduce importation when we can create means of producing them here. Imagine things like toothpick and matches being imported!”
