ABSTRACT
The study examined the impact of unemployment on the economy of Nigeria. It was established in the study that before the introduction of appropriate employment were grossly mismanaged, high occurrence of corruption in Nigerian public sector which has lead to high unemployment in the economy. Since unemployment has been seen as an unimportant instrument tool to be used by the government to control the economy, the social, economic, and political effect on unemployment leaks to inappropriate government forcast which have weakened all sectors in Nigeria economy and increase the incidence of corruption and nepotistic.
Relevant literature was reviewed in chapter two to fill the existing gaps in the area of study. It was deduced that scanty studies have been done in this line of research. In chapter three, it was stated that the study employed the descriptive survey design in conjunction with the stratified sampling technique to select 100 staff in Ministry of Finance, Lagos. A well-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. The data obtained were analyzed using the descriptive statistic technique and the chi-squared technique was adopted to test the two stated hypotheses.
The study revealed: The social effects of unemployment is significant on the Nigerian economy. The economic effects of unemployment is significant on the Nigerian economy. The political effects of unemployment is significant on the Nigerian economy.
The study conclude that there is social, economic, and political effect of unemployment on Nigeria economy within the time frame.
The study suggested; The harmonization of monetary and fiscal policy, vocational education and low or the absence of interest on loans to young graduates, the diversification of the economy and the provision of key economic infrastructure; Emphasis should be made to curb the surging rate of unemployment by making dedicated efforts to put in place labour intensive method of production instead of concentrating on capital intensive methods which will eliminate jobs that can be done by individuals; There must be concrete efforts to ensure that our porous borders are well managed to forestall leakages which is very pivotal for the reduction of unemployment and inflation; thereby improving the level of local production; The need by the government and relevant agencies to formulate policies to encourage self-employment and reduce cost of doing business in the country so as to achieve a high, rapid and sustained economic growth; There is need to formulate policies to ensure relative price stability which may likely improve the welfare of Nigerians; More effort should be channel toward reducing unemployment than stabilizing prices.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Unemployment is a common phenomenon in the global economy. It is a major challenge bedeviling developing economies from attaining economic development. Developed economies are also bedeviled with the challenge of unemployment, although in little magnitude. The state of unemployment intensifies the needs of those who are willing to get job but unable to find one (Sulaimon, 2015). Unemployment occurs as a result of the inadequacy of jobs failing to correspond with growing population. Those who are employed sometimes develop the fear of being unemployed as a result of job insecurity and employee retrenchment due to poor demand for labour especially in recessionary situation (Akiri, 2016). Unemployment can be linked to any productive factors which is idle and improperly utilized for maximum productivity. With respect to labour, enthusiastic to work (Anyanwu, 2010). Unemployment can be classified in two forms namely voluntary and involuntary. Voluntary unemployment connotes the situation when there are available jobs when an individual chooses not to work because he has means of support or aspiring for a better job with higher remuneration. On the other hand, involuntary unemployment exists when individuals who are able and willing to work at the ongoing wage rate cannot find decent jobs.
Unemployment has been regarded as an economic monster and hinders social and economic progress in a country. Unemployment indicates wastage of human resources of a country. Unemployment results in reduced productivity thereby leading to lower income and standard of living (Raheem, 2009). One of the major concerns of successive governments in Nigeria is the rising rate of unemployment in the country. Reducing unemployment to the barest minimum has been the policy focus of the government over the years. Omotosho (2009) averred that the soaring trend of employment and output of South-east Asian countries, especially the Asian Tigers is attributable to their impressive economic performance. The absence of such necessary economic blueprint to boost employment and productivity in Nigeria is the chief cause of unemployment in Nigeria (Sulaimon, 2015). The problem of unemployment in Nigeria going unabated and there is a likelihood of it growing correspondingly with the high rate of unemployed persons per annum.
Looking at the trend of unemployment in African economies, Nwokwu (2013) observed three causes of unemployment which are poor quality of education, the choice of technology which can be either be labour or capital intensive and inadequate attention to capital. The use of machines to replace work done by labour and technological advancement has contributed to the problem of unemployment. The trend of unemployment in Nigeria has adverse effect on the youths and the entire community. A notable feature of unemployment in Nigeria is that it was more severe in the early 1980s than any other period (Akiri, 2016). The major factor that contributes to the poor living standard in developing countries is inefficient utilization of labour relative to advanced countries. Adebayo and Ogunriola (2012) observed that unemployment trend in Nigeria affects job seekers within the ages of 20-24 and 25- 44 years more while there is less prevalence of unemployment on people between 15-19 years, 55-59 years and 65 years and above. This indicates that unemployment has severe impact on young Nigerian graduates. Unemployment does not only impede economic progress, but also social progress. Unemployment fuels political instability and constitute a multidimensional problem and its threat has been regarded as a key developmental challenge facing the country.
Unemployment has been acknowledged as a major hindrance to sustainable development in virtually all developing countries. Unemployment reduces the total productivity of an economy and represents poor utilization of manpower resources. The task of reducing the unemployment has been one of the main policy targets of developing countries. The issue of real output and employment in developing nations is indispensable for poverty alleviation and equitable distribution of income and wealth (Omotor & Gbosi, 2006).
1.2 Significance of the Study
The findings of this study would be useful to policy makers, international organizations and the academic community. Policy makers would realize the intensity of unemployment and the adverse socioeconomic effects it has on the economy. Policy makers would be prompted to formulate sound policies that would effectively tackle the menace to the least possible minimum. International organizations such as United Nations (UN), International Labour Organization (ILO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), Organization for African Unity (AU) etc, would be keen to assist the country in fighting unemployment. This study also serves as a body of reserved knowledge for academic and students wishing to take further studies on unemployment and economic growth.
1.3 Statement of Problem
The incidence of unemployment is alarming and scaring because of the implications that accompany it. The rise in the unemployment rate indicates that the measures designed and implemented by past and current government are not producing positive results. It is worrisome to see Nigerian graduates who are educated, qualified and willing to work cannot find job. The situation is becoming hopeless as unemployment continues to rise unabatedly. The National Bureau of Statistics once reported that approximately four million people lost their jobs between 2015 and 2017. This corroborates the assertion that the government is handling the issue of unemployment with levity. A look at the state of the nation, portend more danger with declining likelihood of young graduates become gainfully employed, going with the trend of events in the country, most especially reduced oil prices, slow rate of growth, political instability, insecurity among other factors. The prevalence of unemployment in Nigeria in recent times is getting deeper and more pathetic, affecting all age groups, educational levels and geographical spread (Sulaimon, 2015). Apart from its economic effect of declined national productivity, its social effects includes increase in rural-urban migration, waste of manpower, high dependency ratio, poverty, insecurity, depression, frustration and results in increase in criminal activities such as drug abuse, armed robbery, kidnapping, prostitution, drug trafficking, unwanted pregnancy and cybercrimes (Adepegba, 2011; Akiri, 2016).
Unemployment according to the International Labour Organization (ILO) is among the biggest threat to economic and social stability in many countries (Nigeria inclusive). Nigeria’s unemployment situation is more severe than other African countries like Ghana and South Africa. As pointed out by Subair (2013), South Africa’s unemployment averaged 25.2% over the decade, Ghana -14%, while Nigeria is around 37%. Recent statistics by the World Bank put unemployment rate in Nigeria at 22% and youth unemployment rate at 38% (Asaju, Arome & Anyio, 2016). The International Labour Organization in 2014 stated that the age bracket of 15-35 years accounts for about 60% of Nigeria’s population and 30% of the country’s labour force.
The absence of reliable data on unemployment in Nigeria complicates the problem. No organization so far produces statistics on unemployment in Nigeria (Udu & Agu, 2013). Often times, the figures released by World Bank and National Bureau of Statistics negate each other. Raheem (2009) stated that the inconsistency in employment statistics is attributed to the fact that official statistics recognizes only open unemployment. It is therefore necessary for government to devise strategies to combat unemployment as no economy can develop with high rate of unemployment.
1.4 Research Questions
The study attempts to provide answers to the following questions:
- What are the social implications of unemployment on the Nigerian economy?
- What are the economic implications of unemployment on the Nigerian economy?
- What are the political implications of unemployment on the economy of Nigeria?
1.5 Research Objectives
The broad objective of the study is to examine the impact of unemployment on the economy of Nigeria. However, the specific objectives are:
- To determine the social implications of unemployment on the economy of Nigeria.
- To investigate the economic implications of unemployment on the economy of Nigeria.
- To determine the political implications of unemployment on the Nigerian economy.
1.6 Research Hypotheses
The operational hypotheses guiding this study are stated as follows:
Hypothesis One
H0: The social effect of unemployment is not significant on the Nigerian economy.
H1: The social effect of unemployment is significant on the Nigerian economy.
Hypothesis Two
H0: The economic effect of unemployment is not significant on the Nigerian economy.
H1: The economic effect of unemployment is significant on the Nigerian economy.
Hypothesis Three
H0: The political effect of unemployment is not significant on the Nigerian economy.
H1: The political effect of unemployment is significant on the Nigerian economy.
1.7 Justification for the Study
The seemingly rising rate of unemployment, the negative effect it poses on the country and its devastating impact on Nigerian graduates prompted the need to undertake this study. There has been inconsistency on the impact of unemployment on economic growth in Nigeria in empirical literature. For instance, studies such as Akeju and Olanipekun (2014), Akiri (2016), Enejoh and Tsuani (2017) reported that unemployment has positive impact on economic growth in Nigeria. On the other hand, Yelwa, David and Omoniyi (2015) and Jajere (2016) discovered that unemployment exerts negative impact on economic growth in Nigeria. This represents a sort of confusion on the actual economic impact of unemployment on the Nigerian economy.
Furthermore, virtually all previous studies concentrated on the economic effect of unemployment, i.e., its impact on economic growth, and neglected the social and political effects. It should be noted that the implications of unemployment is not limited to economic effect. This study contributed to literature by examining the social and political effects of unemployment on the Nigerian economy. Thus, the need to re-assess the economic effect of unemployment because of inconclusiveness in previous findings, and explore the political and social effects of unemployment on the Nigerian economy motivated this study.
1.7 Scope of the Study
The study covers the 22-year period ranging between 1996 and 2017. The choice of this time frame arises because the study intends to explore the subject matter in recent periods.
