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Tag: Unemployment

  • “World’s Highest Unemployment Rate: Time to help this government, help Nigeria – Atiku

    “World’s Highest Unemployment Rate: Time to help this government, help Nigeria – Atiku

    I have never felt so bad at being proven right, as I am by the report from Bloomberg Business on Saturday, March 27, 2021 that Nigeria is to emerge as the nation with the highest unemployment rate on Earth, at just over 33%.

    We warned about this, but repeated warnings by myself and other patriots were scorned. And now this.

    “How did Nigeria get here? We got here by abandoning the people centred leadership and free trade and deregulatory policies of the Obasanjo years (which saw us maintain an almost single digit unemployment rate), and implementing discredited command and control policies that have led to massive capital flight from Nigeria.

    “And even with the paucity of funds, we continue to ramp up government involvement in sectors that ought to be left to the private sector, with the latest being the ill-advised $1.5 billion so called rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery that has failed to turn a profit for years.

    “What this government must realise is that the unprecedented insecurity Nigeria is facing is the result of youth unemployment. Idleness is the worst feature of unemployment because it channels the energy of our youth away from production, and towards destruction, and that is why Nigeria is now the third most terrorised nation on Earth.

    “Now, how do we address this challenge?

    In 2020, I recommended that to immediately and drastically bring down youth unemployment, every family in Nigeria with at least one school-age child, and earning less than $800 per annum should receive a monthly stipend of 5000 Naira from the government via their BVN and NIN on the condition that they verifiably keep their children in school.

    “My recommendation still stands, and stands even stronger now that we have crossed the rubicon in youth unemployment. If we can get the 13.5 million out of school Nigerian children into school, we will turn the corner in one generation. If we do not do this, then the floodgates of unemployment will be further opened next year, and in the years to come.

    “As a nation, we are better off privatising our refineries and the NNPC through the time-tested LNG model in which the FG owns 49% equity and the private sector 51%. Recall that in 20 years ending 2020, the NLNG had delivered $18.3 billion dividends to government irrespective of taxes and other benefit accruals to the country. This will not only free the government of needless spendings, but also clean up the infrastructure mess in the petroleum downstream sector.

    “I say this because the fastest way to bring down a world record unemployment rate is via incentivised education. An educated citizenry are more employable and more self employable.

    “Increased education has been scientifically linked with lower rates of crime and insecurity, along with lower infant and maternal mortality, and a higher lifetime income.

    “We must then incorporate those youth who are above school age into a massive public works programme. There was talk of 774,000 Special Public Works jobs for the youth, which was to have started in January of 2021. This is a commendable step, but it must be done with proper agenda, rather than propaganda.

    “Perhaps we may want to consider the Malaysian model, whereby with the exception of very few highly specialised jobs, foreign contractors are not allowed to import labour into the country.

    “And we also need to do three things urgently to encourage capital inflow and foreign direct investment.

    “First, Nigeria must move towards a single exchange rate to be determined by market forces.

    “Secondly, the federal and state governments must reduce taxes, to make Nigeria more business friendly.

    “And finally, financial and monetary institutions, like the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the Securities and Exchange Commission, must be free from the type of political influence that resulted in the prohibition of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

    “We are at a precipice as a nation and the truth is that all stakeholders and elder statesmen have to speak up on time, while there is still a Nigeria to save. This government obviously lacks the capacity to address our current challenges, and we must help them, not because of the government, but because of our people.

    “In a situation where we are simultaneously the world headquarters for extreme poverty, the world capital for out of school children, and the nation with the highest unemployment rate on Earth, there is a very real and present danger that we might slip into the failed states index – God forbid!”

  • Alarming! Nigeria’s unemployment rate jumps to 33.5%, world’s second highest

    Alarming! Nigeria’s unemployment rate jumps to 33.5%, world’s second highest

    Nigeria’s unemployment rate has jumped from 27.1% in the second quarter of 2020 to 33.5% in fourth quarter of the same year, Nigeria Bureau of Statics said.

    NBS, in the report published on its website, put the underemployment rate at 22.8% in Q4 2020 (28.6% in Q2 2020) while the total of unemployment and underemployment was put at 40% in Q4 2020 (35.2% in Q2 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,” NBS said.

    “This is 4.3% higher than the figure recorded In Q2, 2020, which was 116.871,186.”

    In a survey of countries monitored by Bloomberg, Nigeria’s unemployment rate is second highest o the global list.

    NBS put the number of persons in the labour force, that is people within ages 15 -64, who are able and willing to work at 69.675,468.

    “This was 13.22% less than the number persons in Q2, 2020. This number, those within the age bracket of 25-34 were highest. with 20,091_695°r 28.8% of the labour force,” NBS said.

    “The total number of people in employment (people with jobs during the reference period was 46.488.079. Of this number. 30.572.4.40 were full-time employed (i.e.. worked 404 hours per week), while 15,915,639 were under-employed (Le., working between 20-29 hours per week) this figure is 20.6% less than the people in employment in Q2.2020.”

    The unemployment rate among rural dwellers was 343%, up from 28.2% in Q2, 2020, while urban dwellers reported a rate of 31.3% up from 26,4%.

    In the case of underemployment among rural dwellers, it declined to 26.9% from 313%, while the rate among urban dwellers decreased to 16.2% from 23.2% ing2,2020.

    “The unemployment rate among people aged 15- 34years was 42.5% up from 34.9%, while the rate of underemployment for the same age group declined to 21.0% from 28.2% in Q2, 2020. These rates were the highest when compared to other age groupings.

  • COVID-19: 50 percent of world’s pilots now unemployed

    COVID-19: 50 percent of world’s pilots now unemployed

    More than half of the world’s airline pilots, including those in Nigeria, are no longer flying airplanes, according to the first worldwide survey of the profession since the outbreak of the COVID – 19 pandemic.

    The pandemic, according to the survey, has pushed pilots to consider other ways and means of earning a living.

    The Pilot Survey 2021 – carried out by specialist aviation and pilot recruitment agency, GOOSE, with aviation publisher FlightGlobal, captured the devastating effect COVID-19 has had on airline pilots, with 30 per cent describing themselves as currently unemployed, and a further 17 per cent furloughed.

    Six per cent of the affected pilots said they are employed in aviation in non-flying roles.

    Another four per cent said they are working, but in different industries, leaving just 43 per cent of pilots doing the job they trained for.

    The poll of almost 2,600 flight crew painted a picture of a community devastated economically and psychologically by the pandemic

    Of those who identify as unemployed, two thirds said they are actively looking for new positions as pilots. In normal times, a high number of job-seekers might indicate a buoyant jobs market. However, the opposite is the case.

    Only three per cent are currently in an interview process, and more than eight in 10 said they would happily take a pay cut for a new cockpit opportunity.

    The online report comes 12 months after a previous survey by GOOSE and FlightGlobal revealed that pilots, though admitting occasional challenges of stress and achieving a better work-life balance, were enjoying a strong global demand for their services.

    The latest survey, carried out during October 2020, polled pilots flying in every region of the world.

  • Unemployment: Akwa Ibom Governor cries foul of NBS rating

    Unemployment: Akwa Ibom Governor cries foul of NBS rating

    Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has challenged the protocols and parameters used by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to arrive at the conclusion that the State was the second largest in terms of unemployment.

    Emmanuel, in an interactive session with Akwa ibom people in Uyo on Sunday, asked that he should be spared the distraction from NBS as he remains focused in the discharge of quality and excellent services to Akwa Ibom people.

    Recall that the NBS said that Imo state with 48.7 per cent unemployment rate was the highest in the country, followed by Akwa Ibom with the second highest unemployment of 55.2 percent in its recent report on August 14.

    The bureau said that Anambra recorded the lowest rate of unemployment at 13.1 per cent.

    According to the Governor, Akwa Ibom is second in foreign direct investment, noting that every part of the State is a construction site, and he wondered what people would describe as employment.

    “It is the same statistics they reeled out before the 2019 elections; may be NBS had forgotten that the elections are over.

    “Statistics has procedures and approaches. How did they arrive at their sample size. They don’t even know the population of Nigeria.

    “It is questionable to see an Igbo state have the highest level of unemployment. The fastest way to stimulate the economy is investment in industries.

    “Do you know how many workers we have under Ibom Air, both direct and indirect?,” Emmanuel asked.

    The Governor also acknowledged the feedback received from members of the public in the fight against COVID 19, as well as the distribution of palliatives to the people of the state.

    He, however, urged Akwa Ibomites to continue observing all the COVID 19 protocols.

    On the demand by the people for the reopening of schools, the governor said, the Federal Government had the final say on reopening of schools.

    “Once they give the go ahead on that, we will ring the bell and schools will open,’’ the governor said.

    Emmanuel denied plotting a third term in office through a surrogate and vowed never to allow any cultist take over the reins of governance from him in 2023.

    “I am not interested in third term through a surrogate; the only thing you can help to do is to ensure that no cultist is allowed to emerge as Governor of the state.

    “Some Council areas are highly volatile, so if they nominate a cultist, we shall not permit such. Any cultists arrested would not be released,” Emmanuel said.

    He observed that the only way to ensure peace was to eradicate cultism and if you want to ensure peace, look up to God in order to embrace peace.

    “Some cult groups are clashing in some parts of the state and we have tried to make sure we crush them. We will stop at nothing in ensuring we crush cultism in the state.

    “It is not our intention to deploy soldiers to volatile areas and you are forcing us to do so. Please let parents talk to their children, as they stand to gain nothing from cultism.

    “It can’t be that because of one man the whole village would run away. It is time to go the right way. Most armed robbers and kidnappers are cultists and we will crush them,” he said.

    Emmanuel also explained why he is opening up more internal roads in Akwa Ibom, saying that it would allow for ease of transport and movement of goods and services.

    He admitted that the lockdown caused by COVID 19 had affected the completion time of these projects but stated emphatically that the roads would be completed in good time as government and governance was a continuum.

    The Governor maintained that the intervention of his Administration in every sector of the state was wholesale.

    He assured that pensions and gratuities would continue to receive the rapid attention they are presently receiving.

  • Nigeria’s unemployment rate increases to 27.1% -NBS

    Nigeria’s unemployment rate increases to 27.1% -NBS

    The National Bureau of Statistics has released statistics on the country’s unemployment rate.

    The bureau of statistics noted that after a 20-month interval, the unemployment rate rose to 27.1 per cent in the second quarter of 2020 from the 23.1 per cent recorded in Q3 2018.

     

    The NBS made this known via its ‘Labor Force Statistics: Unemployment and Underemployment Report’ released on Friday.

    It said underemployment rate increased from 20.1 per cent in Q3 2018 to 28.6 per cent in Q2 2020.

     

    “For the period under review, Q2 2020, the unemployment rate among young people (15-34 years) was 34.9 per cent, up from 29.7 per cent, while the rate of underemployment for the same age group rose to 28.2 per cent from 25.7 per cent in Q3 2018.

     

    “These rates were the highest when compared to other age groupings.”

     

    The NBS report stated that the number of persons in the economically active or working age population (15 – 64 years of age) increased to 116,871,186 from 115,492,969 in Q3 2018.

     

    “The number of persons in the labour force (i.e. people within ages 15 -64, who are able and willing to work) was estimated to be 80,291,894. This was 11.3 per cent less than the number persons in Q3 2018.

     

    “Of this number, those within the age bracket of 25-34 were highest, with 23,328,460 or 29.1 per cent of the labour force.”

     

    It added further that the over-all number of people in employment in Q2 2020 fell by 15.8 per cent 58,527,276, compared to Q3 2018.

  • Pay stipends to unemployed Nigerians, Senate tells FG

    The Nigerian Senate has urged Federal and state governments to declare state of emergency on the rising cases of unemployment in the country.

    The Senate also asked the federal government to initiate a sustainable unemployment fund to pay stipends to Nigerians who could not secure employment.

    his was part of the senate resolutions after consideration of motion sponsored by former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, titled “Escalating rate of unemployment in the country”.

    Leading his debate, senator Ekweremadu lamented that the large number of graduates from higher institutions of learning in the country yearly without jobs was a “time bomb waiting to explode”.

    The lawmaker, who quoted Minister of labour and productivity, Chris Ngige that unemployment rate will reach 33.5 per cent by 2020, said it was dangerous to the country’s existence.

    “Any nation with such number of unemployed but employable youths is only sitting on a keg of gun powder. “The most pressing demand on the hand of every legislator and public officer is the rising number of curriculum vitae and application for employment from constituent Nigerians.

    “A situation where every school graduate has to queue up for job only in government offices is an indication of the breakdown of private sector which is the major driver of world economies.

    “Unemployment is one of the major reasons why insurgency, kidnapping, armed robbery, Cybercrimes and other vices are on the increase.

    “These energies and potential talents that are lying idle and wasting away are usually misdirected toward many unprofitable and harmful ventures and lifestyles,” he said. In his contribution, Smart Adeyemi (APC, Kogi West), said unemployment was an issue that should be taken seriously.

  • How slash in lawmakers’ jumbo pay can reduce unemployment – Kukah

    The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Dr. Matthew Hassan Kukah, says no fewer than 76, 000 Nigerian youths stand the chance of getting gainfully employed if only members of the National Assembly can agree to a reduction of their salaries and allowances by half.

    Kukah made the projection on Friday while speaking at the 3rd annual conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) in, Ikeja, Lagos.

    Drawing inspiration from the economic theory propounded by the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi ,the vocal cleric said: “A Senator earns N36m. Half of the salary, N18million can create 200 jobs, with a salary of N92,000. If you multiply it by 109, that means 21, 800 million Nigerians can (be gainfully employed).

    “Members of the House of Representatives receive N25m. Again, half of that can employ 135 Nigerians earning N92,000. Multiply by 360 will give 48,600 Nigerians jobs.”

    He added: “If you have a sound economy, you are guaranteed security, and if you have sound security, then you can be guaranteed sound development.

    “How does all this impact on development? Are these crises a cause or a consequence? Why has Nigeria remained in this state?

    “We are told it is, as Chinua Achebe would say, fairly and squarely, corruption.

    We are told the Political class is inefficient etc. There are as many reasons as there are Nigerians of all classes and ages. But, those who lead us have not been sleeping. They have tried.

    Every government has had an initiative to develop a sound economy, to alleviate poverty and to take our people out of poverty. No, we have not been governed by wicked men who are just thieves.”

    Providing answers to some of the questions raised in his paper, Kukah added: “Will Nigeria ever be safe or develop? It is hard to say but we have to change direction.

    “We do not seem to manage resources well. Too much wastage and too much cost for governance that is delivering almost nothing.”

    Kukah was the keynote speaker at the event themed: ‘Economy, Security and National Development: The Way Forward’.

  • Akwa Ibom, Rivers top states with highest unemployment rate in Q3 2018 – NBS

    Akwa Ibom, Rivers top states with highest unemployment rate in Q3 2018 – NBS

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Akwa Ibom reported the highest unemployment rate of 37.7 per cent in third quarter 2018.

    NBS said this in its Labour Force Statistics – Volume 2: Unemployment and Underemployment by State for Third Quarter, 2018 posted on its website.

    The bureau said that Rivers was the second highest reported unemployment rate with 36.4 per cent followed by Bayelsa with 32.6 per cent.

    Also, Abia recorded 31.6 per cent and Borno reported 31.4 per cent unemployment rate in the quarter under review.

    The report said the top five states with the highest unemployed population were Rivers (1,673,991), Akwa Ibom (1,357,754), Kano (1,257,130), Lagos (1,088,352) and Kaduna with (940,480).

    It said among these five states with the highest unemployed population, Lagos state reported the lowest rate of 14.6 per cent during the quarter.

    Meanwhile, the bureau said Katsina State, Jigawa, Kaduna State and Yobe recorded the highest underemployment rates of 39.5, 38.1, 31.0 and 30.0 per cent.

    It said the national unemployment rate for the quarter was 23.1 per cent while the underemployment rate was 20.1 per cent.

    The report said between third quarter, 2017 and third quarter of 2018, only nine states recorded a reduction in their unemployment rates despite an increase in the national unemployment rate.

    The states included: Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Imo, Kaduna, Kogi, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ondo and Rivers; the same states recorded reduction in their combined unemployment and underemployment rates.

    The report said six states recorded the highest gains in net full-time employment between third quarter, 2017 and second quarter, 2018.

    The states were Lagos adding 740,146 net full-time jobs, Rivers (235,438), Imo (197,147), Ondo (142,514), Enugu (122,333), Kaduna with 118,929 jobs.

    The report presents the state breakdown of the results of the Labour Force Survey earlier published by NBS.

    According to NBS, unemployment and underemployment rates vary across states due to the nature of economic activity predominant in each State.

    States with higher focus on seasonal agriculture tend to have higher rates of underemployment compared to unemployment.

    This may swing from high full-time employment during periods of planting and harvest, when they are fully engaged on their farms to periods of high underemployment and even unemployment at other periods in between.

    Meanwhile, states with a higher propensity for women to be housewives or stay home husbands or that have negative attitudes to working tend to have lower unemployment rates.

    The women tend to have lower unemployment rate as they are not considered part of the labour force in the first place and as such have no bearing on the rate of unemployment.

    On the methodology for arriving at the figures, the bureau said the total population in Nigeria was divided into labour force (currently active) and non-labour force (not currently active).

    The labour force population covers all persons aged 15 years to 64 years who are willing and able to work regardless of whether they have a job or not.

    The definition of unemployment, therefore, covers persons (aged 15–64 years) who during the reference period were currently available for work, actively seeking for work but were without work.

    The non-labour force includes population below 15 years or older than 64 years as well as those within the economically active population.

  • Nigeria in dire need of skillful youths to address unemployment challenges – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday said that Nigeria at this point requires the youths to be highly skillful in order to solve the problem of unemployment, security and youth restiveness.

    The President, who was a Visitor at the 31st Convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), stated that the era of handing certificates to graduates without self-sustaining skills is no longer sustainable.

    Buhari who was represented by the State Minister of Education, Prof. Anthony Anwuka, observed that the growth and establishment of new industries to absorb the graduates is rather too slow.

    According to him, “there is a need to re-double efforts in turning out graduates with self-sustaining, globally competitive skills and talents for the realization of national goals of building a free, democratic, just and egalitarian society, a united, strong and self-reliant nation”.

    He continued that, “our universities are also challenged to key into modern trends in Computing and Information Technology, Cyber security, artificial intelligence, solar and alternative energies and modern biomedical technology, which is where the future is headed”.

    The President assured that, “on our part as government, we remain committed to changing the negative narratives of our universities by making effective and efficient policies that will place our higher education at the right pedestal”.

    He disclosed further that the Federal Government has completed the energy audit of 37 Federal Universities and is set to award the contracts for the commencement of Independent Power Plants in those Universities, “when completed, it will put an end to the perennial problem of power challenge in all Federal Universities in Nigeria”.

    Earlier in his speech, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Francis Eze, said that the University within the available resources has continued to provide facilities and equipment for effective teaching, learning and research.

    He however noted that the University urgently needs a befitting Senate building, staff quarters, a sustainable power supply and refurbishment of existing old buildings and other facilities.

    Meanwhile, 2,506 were awarded with degrees with 42 bagging First Class Honours.

  • 2019: Atiku releases new year message, attacks Buhari over rising unemployment, poverty index

    The 2019 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has taken a swipe at the Buhari administration, saying it has brought more hardship to Nigerians.

    In a Facebook post via his verified Twitter handle @Atiku, and entitled, ‘My New Year Message To Nigerians,’ sent from Abuja, and dated 31 December, 2018, Atiku wrote:

    My dear fellow citizens,

    As 2018 comes to an end and 2019 beckons, on behalf of my family and I, let me wish you and your family a very happy New Year in advance.

    In 2018, we became the world headquarters for extreme poverty, however, I am convinced that in 2019, if we chart a new course, we can become the world headquarters for hope and extreme devotion to the cause of lifting our people out of poverty.

    2019 is as yet a blank page. As a nation, we must not settle for whatever it brings. Rather, we must take collective action, through our choices, in making it a year where we revive national hope, with visionary leadership that sees our economy and institutions working again as they did in our golden era.

    We can chart a new course and open a new chapter that sees every Nigerian living in peace and prosperity with their neighbour. It can be the year when our youths finally get a job instead of being unfairly tagged as lazy. With purposeful leadership, it can also be the year when we put an end to terrorism and usher in a golden age of peace.

    But it will not just happen by itself. We have to make changes from the top all the way to the bottom. We already have the vision, the vision of a nation that is a beacon of hope for the Black Race and the world at large, what we lack and what 2019 can provide, is the leadership that has the capacity to translate that vision into reality.

    In 2019, Nigerians need a leadership that is 100% for 100% of Nigerians, 100% of the time. We have seen where division and sectionalism has led us to. Now let us try unity and patriotism.

    Don’t lose heart and hope. Nigeria is no stranger to overcoming difficulties. In fact, we have an uncanny ability to perform our best when the worst is upon us. I urge my fellow countrymen and women to remember how we became the first nation in the world to defeat and overcome the Wild Ebola Virus, when even First World nations were struggling with the scourge.

    That resilience is domiciled in our national psyche and together we shall win forever. We shall win over forces of disunity. We shall win over forces of poverty and backwardness.

    But more importantly, in 2019, I want Nigerians to know that it is possible to have a leadership that is compassionate and that this does not equate to weakness. A leadership that is bold but not domineering. A leadership that is intelligent, but not arrogant.

    Indeed, that is the only type of leadership that can navigate the difficulties currently facing our dear nation and lead us to Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress, which are our national motto and which are the hope of all Nigerians.

    Once again, I wish you all a Happy New Year and may 2019 be the year of Nigeria.

    Atiku Abubakar
    Waziri of Adamawa
    Presidential Candidate of PDP & Vice President of Nigeria, 1999-2007