ABSTRACT
         The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of National Directorate of Employment and Small Scale Enterprises in reducing unemployment in the economy. Emphasis was placed on the role of government agencies like the National Directorate of Employment and related policies in curbing the menace of unemployment in the economy. The methodological approach adopted was the survey method. The literature reviewed the works done by eminent scholars, professionals, government gazette on small scale enterprises, unemployment and other management practitioners. Secondary and primary data were used for this study. The primary data were questionnaires administered and oral interview conducted on the target population. The data collected were tabulated and analyzed using chi-square statistical tools. The findings of this research show that, The activities of National Directorate of Employment contribute to the reduction of unemployment rate in the economy, Government agencies and policies in Nigeria provide a reasonable solution, to an extent in tackling the unemployment problem, The existence of Small Scale Enterprises in no mean measure, boast employment generation in Nigeria, There should be a re-appraisal of government aids to Small Scale Enterprises and maintenance of agencies set up to support the programmes, There should be motivation and incentives to Small Scale Entrepreneurs and government agencies to boast the fight against unemployment, There should be a proper maintenance and establishment of a data bank on unemployment and vacancies in the country with a view of acting as a clearing house to link job seekers with vacancies in collaboration with other government and non government agencies. Â
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page – – – – – i
Certification – – – – – ii
Approval Page – – – – – iii
Dedication – – – – – iv
Acknowledgment – – – – – v
Abstract – – – – – vi
Table of Contents – – – – – vii
List of Tables – – – – – x
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 Introduction – – – – 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem – – – – 4
1.3 Objectives of the Study – – – – 6
1.4 Research Questions – – – – 7
1.5 Research Hypotheses – – – – 7
1.6 Significance of the Study – – – – 8
1.7 Scope of the Study – – – – 10
1.8 Limitations of Study – – – – 11
References
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Small Business in Nigeria: An Overview – – 14
2.2 Definition of Small Scale Business – – 17
- Historical Development and Orientation of Small
Scale Industry in Nigeria – – – – 21
2.4 What Is Unemployment – – – – 24
2.5 Unemployment in Nigeria – – – – 26
2.6 Types of Unemployment – – – – 32
- Government Policies to Reduce Unemployment – 37
2.8 Effects of High Rate of Unemployment – – 44
2.9 The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) As
a Guide Towards Enhancing Small Scale Industries
in Nigeria – – – – 45
2.9.1 Mission and Vision of NDE – – – – 46
2.9.2 Service Delivery – – – – 48
2.9.3 Obligations/Expectations – – – – 48
- Existing Limitations – – – – 49
2.9.5 NDE Collaboration with Stakeholders – – 50
References
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction – – – – 58
- Research Design – – – – 59
3.3 Sampling Procedure – – – – 60
3.4 Sampling Technique – – – – 60
3.5 Validity & Reliability Test of Instrument – – 62
3.6 Operational Measure – – – – 63
3.7 Data Analysis Techniques – – – – 64
References
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
4.1 Introduction – – – – 66
4.2 Data Analysis – – – – 66
4.3 Test of Hypotheses – – – – 77
4.3.1 Test of Null hypotheses – – – – 78
References
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Introduction – – – – 87
5.2 Discussion of Research Findings – – – 87
5.3 Conclusion – – – – 88
5.4 Recommendations – – – – 89
5.5 Suggestions for Further Research – – – 90
Bibliography
Appendix
LIST OF TABLES
Table 4.2.1: Response Return Rate and Distribution
(Demographic Data of Respondent) – 66
Table 4.2.2: Distribution of Questionnaire among Six
Business Types and Response Rate – 68
Table 4.2.3: Motives for Establishing Small Scale
Business. – – – – 69
Table 4.2: Source of Finance for Small Scale
Enterprises – – – – 70
Table 4.2.5: Contribution of Small National Directorate
of Employment toward the Reduction
of Unemployment in the Economy. – 72
Table 4.2.6: The General Assessment of the Government
Policies toward the Reduction of
Unemployment in the Economy. – 73
Table 4.2.7: Contribution of Government Incentives
to Small Scale Enterprises toward
the Reduction Of Unemployment
in the Economy. – – – 74
Table 4.2.8: Contributions of Small Scale Enterprise
to Employment Generation – – 75
Table 4.2.9: Contribution of Small Scale Enterprises
Generate Revenue – – – 76
Table 4.2.10: Contribution of Small Scale Enterprises
in Consonance with Government Policies 76
Table 4.2.11: Contribution of Government Policies
in Tackling the Problem of Unemployment
in the Economy – – – – – 77
Table 4.3.1: Calculation of Chi-Square for Hypothesis
One – – – – 79
Table 4.3.2: Calculation of Chi-Square for Hypothesis
Two (H02) – – – – 81
Table 4.3.3: Calculation of Chi-Square for Hypothesis
Three (Ho3). – – – – 83
Table 4.3.4: Calculation of Chi-Square for Hypothesis
Four = H04
– – – – 84
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 INTRODUCTION
The population of every economy is divided into two categories, the economically active and the economically inactive. The economically active population (labor force) or working population refers to the population that is willing and able to work; including those actively engaged in the production of goods and services (employed) and those who are unemployed. Whereas, unemployed refers to people who are willing and capable to work but are unable to secure suitable and paid jobs.
The next category, the economically inactive population refers to people who are neither working nor looking for jobs. Examples include: house wives, full time students, and invalids, those below the legal age for work and retired persons. The unemployment rate is expressed as a percentage of the total number of persons available for employment at any given time. Unemployment is a problem that each society faces, and each society must find a way of reducing it to the nearest minimum. Thus the involvement of government in setting up employment agencies to aid and enhance the operation of small scale entrepreneurs in reducing the rate of unemployment.
A business whether big or small, simple or complex, private or public is created to provide competitive prices. Small scale business is also seen as one which is owned, managed, controlled by one or two persons, it is family influenced in decision making, has an undifferentiated organizational structure, has relatively small share of the market and employ les than 50 people. Big businesses can hardly survive without the Small Scale Enterprises as they give the important links between the big business and the consumers.
Before the advent of Small Scale Business enterprises Nigerian economy from 1970-1979 was grossly over dependent on crude oil. The oil boom of the 1970’s offered an opportunity for true national economic development. Despite the oil boom, there was massive corruption, deficient policies, poor policy implementation, favoritism and total lack of sensitivity on the part of government.
The oil boom could not alleviate poverty or reduce unemployment especially graduate unemployment, due to the mismanagement that engulfed the resources which would have been used to tackle the menace of unemployment. But this research work will show the role of Small Scale Enterprises and government agencies in reducing unemployment in the economy. There were genuine attempts by the federal government to make sure that Nigerian’s play active and important role in the development of the economy, thus, special attention was paid into the development of Small Scale Enterprises in the 1970-74 national development plan. This was in recognition of their role sin the development of the economy. In an attempt to fight the unemployment crises-unemployment, under employment, law wage employment and outright social exclusion which have resulted in human resources wastage, several attempts have been made by the government, which to a large extent have not yielded the much expected results. Among these includes the Green Revolution, Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) the National Directorate of Employment, which was established in 1986 and launched in 1987 and the current seven point agenda born out of the vision 20-2020 of the present administration.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Unemployment is one of the development problems that face every developing economy in the 21st century. International statistics shows that industrial and service workers living in developing region accounts for about two-third of the unemployed population.
Small Scale Enterprises and other governmental agencies are expected in every economy, community or society to play vital role towards the reduction of unemployment rate, among the roles include:
