The federal government is set to launch a social investment programme where unemployed Nigerians will be trained to serve as teachers. The initiative, called “The N-Power,” will run for two years and is proposed to train and engage over 500,000 young unemployed graduates. Half a million young Nigerian have been advised to register and train as teachers, while earning a total of N23,000. This initiative will “help to address the problems of inadequate teachers in public schools.”
Unemployment in Nigeria has increased steadily since 2009, however, the highest rate was recorded this year. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in the first quarter of the year, unemployment rose to 12.1 percent from 10.4 percent in the past year. In January, a survey by Jobberman.com revealed that 45 percent of Nigerian graduates are unemployed and lack the required skills for assimilation into the labour market. With almost 2 million Nigerians unemployed and 78.4 million actively seeking work, the future of the country is gloomy.
Apart from the direct impact of unemployment on the economy, one has to consider the impact on the young people of Nigeria. After investing millions of Naira (and Dollars in some cases) to receive quality education, they are thrown into an oversaturated job market. Due to the fierce competition, ineffective labour laws and other socio-economic problems, graduates are either underemployed or face the risk of working more for less pay.
Although, employers have cited a ‘dearth of skills’ among graduates, the bigger issue is Nigeria and its perpetual problem with corruption. Despite being one of the fastest growing economies in the world, Nigeria has very little to show in terms of the quality of life of its citizens. Gross mismanagement of resources by Nigerian leaders, both past and present, is responsible for the current miserable economic outlook in the country. The government refused to diversify its economy during the oil boom while corruption alongside a lack of accountability did not help the nation prepare for its ‘rainy days.’
Many Nigerian graduates will register on the government’s portal for its promise of N23, 000, because, they have been left with no choice. As bleak as the situation looks now, the worst is yet to come. Experts have predicted a surge in Africa’s youth population beyond 2030. Therefore, without a proactive and effective line of action which extends beyond “schemes/initiatives,” Nigeria risks systemic poverty. This is because unemployed youth will be available for anti-social criminal activities which will scare potential investors and in turn grind the economy to a halt.
Tighisti Amare, the manager of the Africa programme at the Chatham House, offers a useful solution to combat youth unemployment. She noted that governments need to address the systemic issues behind the problem through transformative economic policies and social sector spending.
