THE ROLE OF NATIONAL DIRECTORATE OF EMPLOYMENT ON THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

1.0       INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

The International labour organization (ILO) define ’unemployed ‘workers” as those who are currently not working but are willing and capable to work for pay. ( ILO REPORT 2001)

        Fajana (2000) and standing (1983) opined unemployment can be described as the state ofworklessness experience by person who are members of the labour force, who  perceived themselves and are perceived by others as capable of working.

        Unemployed people can be categorized into those who have never worked after graduating from the University and those who have lost their jobs thereby seeking new employment

        Being employed helps individuals gain sense of belonging and duty in their collective effort to contribute to the growth of their nation.

        Nigeria as a case study has fared judging from all parameters,  create the enabling environment for various sectors of the economy to be expanded to allow fresh entrants.

        According to the population research African has the fastest growing and most youthful population in the World. Over 40 percent (40%) of it population is under 15. African high fertility rate is responsible for this. This demographic finding portends challenges and opportunities, the challenges are economic and social both are highly connected. As the population expands jobs must be created. If these jobs are not enough there will be many young people unemployed. According to the International Labour Organization, 3 out of 5 unemployment people in African are African are young;

The World Bank Report (2008) titled “Youth Employment in African” the youth employment is more prevalent in urban areas worsening conditions in the rural areas lead to rural-urban migration. This compounds the unemployment challenges in the urban centers.

This is clearly evident in many big cites in Nigeria including Lagos, Ibadan ,Aba, Zaria, Asaba and Port Harcourt just to mention a few.

        The National Directorate for Employment  (NDE) was established in (1986) to combat mass unemployment among Nigerians arising from the apparent inability of macro-economic policy measure to open up job opportunity as the size of the jobless made up to school leavers graduates of tertiary institution and other able-bodies.Nigeria constitute serious threat to the stability of the Nation. The enabling Act (AP) 250 of the (1989) empowers the directorate, to design and implement articulate politices aimed at developing work programme with labour intensive

        The business training programme being provided by the NDE

covers entrepreneur development, which introduces NYSC members to the opportunities for self employment and business improvement programme. Recently, basic business training was introduced to cater for school leavers and artisan (NDE 2007).

        An average of 100,000 corps members undergo Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) every year in two batches. The sensitization takes places the orientation programme for fresh youth corps members. Motivated to go into self employment as well as retired private/public sector were trained under the start-your-own-business (SYOB) programme (Odunayo; 2009).

        Employment counseling is a service designed by the directorate facilitates self-employment and to ameliorate the difficulties faced by young graduate during the transition from education to work. The centre provides the stimulus for the development and sharpening of entrepreneurial skill for the assessment of the new realities of the labour market and the adoption of relevant responses. It is a strong complement to the NDE’S training and employment promotion programmes. The service of the centre are targeted at graduate of tertiary institution whohas earlier stated, constitute a vital segment of the labour force.

        The ultimate, aim of the NDE’S training programme is to make the beneficiaries self-employed through the establishment of their own enterprises. However, these beneficiaries who are fresh graduates and school leavers do not possess the needed security  to enable them access fund from financial institution. It is also possible that family members who may have funds to assist may not do so because they lack confidence in the ability of the benefactor to establish and successfully manage an enterprises.

        Therefore, in order to demonstrate and the same time check the effectiveness of the directorate’s training a resettlement scheme has been instituted. This involves unemployed person to enable them established enterprises on pilot basis (NDE 1998).

        It is expected that the success of those pilot projects would encourage family members who have needed funds and even financials institution to assist other beneficiaries with funds to realize their entrepreneurial ambition. A total of 1635 trained youth benefited from the resettlement scheme during the period under review. Due to the national spread of the NDE, S activities and the massive member of beneficiaries involved in the programme. Project deliveries have been facilitated through the network of challaborative activities with local artisans, local communities as well as local government.  Furthermore, the NDE collaborate with agencies such as national youth service corps (NYSC), The Federal Office of Statistic and National Manpower Boar (Adebayo,2000).

1.1statement of the Problem

Unemployment is one of the most serious problem facing Nigeria today the bad situation has been exacerbated by mass production of graduates and school leavers from primary schools, secondary schools, college of education polytechnics and universities without commensurate. Creation of employment opportunities. Although the Nigerian federal government in 1068 established the NDE with a view to alleviating unemployment, the rate unemployed Nigerians keep increasing daily. They focus of this paper is to assess the extent to which NDE training programme meet the needs of trainees and to which extent the programmes have alleviated unemployment situation in the country.

1.2 Objectives of the Study

        The objective of the study includes:

(1)  To assess the role of national directorate for employment (NDE) on the unemployment rate in Nigeria.

(2)  To evaluate the level at which the NDE training programmes meet the needs of trainees.

(3)  To determine the extent to which NDE training programme has alleviated the unemployment situation in Nigeria

(4)  To make recommendation on how the employment programme implemented in the state can be made more effective in addressing youth unemployment.

1.3 Research Question

        In the light of the stated ejectives therefore the questions to guide this research include the following.

(1)  What are roles of NDE in combating the menace of unemployment in Nigeria?

(2)  Has the entrepreneurship training organized by NDE meet the need to the trainers?

(3)  To what extent has NDE training alleviated unemployment in Nigeria?

(4)  What are the ways the NDE can effectively address the issues of unemployment in Nigeria?

1.4 Scope of the Study

        The research work is targeted at assessing National Directorate for Employment (NDE) and relevance of its training programmes   in combating youth of unemployment.

1.5 Significance of the Study

        This study is significant in many ways. Its finding will help the government to determine whether it has adopted the right strategies or done enough to reduce youth employment in Nigeria. The recommendations will be very useful as well.

        The study will be useful for academic purpose. It will provide useful information for those who want to carry out related studies in the future.

1.6 Definition of Terms

Employment

        Employment is a situation of have a job or work due to earn income.

Unemployment

        Unemployment can be defined as what occurs when people are without work, and actively seeking work (International Labour Organization)

Labor

        This is the aggregate of human physical mental effort used in creation of good and services.

Entrepreneur

          This refers to an individual who creates a new business and continues managing it until it succeeds.

Vocation

        This is an occupation which a person is especially drawn to for which she/he is suited, trained or qualified.

Entrepreneurship

        This is the phenomenon of creating a new business fermenting and managing it, taking risk and making losses or profits.