CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
There are some vital issues that we have not failed to know and understand about the topic under discussion. First and foremost, we have succeeded in bringing into cognizance that one of the support agencies which its role deals squarely on unemployment and underemployment in Nigeria is National Directorate of Employment (NDE). It was established by the Federal Government in November, 1986 which is solely dealing with the menace of mass unemployment in the country as it was stated in its four core programmes and it was inaugurated on 30th of January, 1987.
On the other hand, the co-operative societies are not exempted, in so far that the both are promoting the creation of employment opportunities for co-operators. Co-operative itself cuts across every facet of social, political and economic aspects. For instance, Nigeria Agricultural and Co-operative Bank (NACB) which was constituted in 1973 by the federal Government with an initial capital of twelve million naira (N12m). In this direction of co-operative societies in the agricultural sector with the provision of credit facilities.
In furtherance, National Directorate of Employment has the following cardinal objectives to achieve especially in generating employment. Ensuring that co-operators or job seekers become entrepreneurial oriented and pay less attention on government paid employment and thus reducing drastically the high level of unemployment.
Before we round off, the federal government has been making concerted effort to mass unemployment. Currently, Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime is tackling this through National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) as far back as 1999 till date (2005). All is to stamp out unemployment.
Recently, the National Directorate of Employment announced and outlined various training programmes and thousands of job to be provided for the unemployed Nigerians at the middle of August, 2005.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
More often than not, lack of employment has given rise to all kinds of set back, problem in all sectors of our economy. In fat, the high rate of unemployment and under employment has completely raged the socio-economic well – being of our nation, thereby, causing untold hardship, depression, frustration and forceful massive exodus of our teeming brethrens who are seeking for greener pastures abroad.
In other words, the fact remains that the high rate of unemployment problems are getting out of hand and even reached to a worsening level. Day-by – day, it multiplies to an alarming proportion.
Therefore, we still believe that there is a room for absolute alleviation or even eradication of this unemployment scourge who has done more harm than good. Then, what is likely going to be the hope and future of our human and material resources in Nigeria? Is it not the high time for the federal government to introduce practical policies and implement them without any delay; for a stitch in time saves nine? Are we going to create a good atmospheric condition which is conducive for our citizens and possibly discourage them from traveling to overseas? In a sum, your guess is as good as mine. Let us place our hands on deck, to fight this intractable problem of unemployment bedeviling this nation. Government should do their own and the citizens should do theirs as well in order to find a lasting solution to all these problems ravaging the entire fabric of our economy.
1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
It is imperative to outline some of the things that are uppermost in mind which have been given special attention.
Most importantly, the reasons are not far fetched which must and hop0ed to be actualized as far as “Unemployment and Co-operative Societies” is concerned. Thus, these are the overriding purposes of the study, namely:-
1. To design and implement programmes to combat mass unemployment.
2. To articulate policies aimed at developing work programmes with labour intensive potentials.
3. To obtain and maintain a data bank on employment and vacancies in the country with a view to acting as a clearing house to link job seekers with vacancies in collaboration with other government agencies.
4. To discourage in entirely of being over-dependent on government paid employment and non-governmental establishment but rather become innovative and creative.
5. To promote vocational skills acquisition in co-operative societies because it cuts across every sphere of specialization such as thrift and loan co-operative society, Agricultural co-operative society, to mention but a few.
1.4 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
Let us put it clear that an adequate coverage was made in terms of the subjects studied like human beings, issues, period taken and so on.
In essence, our area of focus is within Enugu East Local Government and particularly the Co-operative department.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The significance of this very topic under discussion arises as a result of man’s quest for finding problem – solving to avoid the problem of unemployment and underemployment especially in co-operative societies.
Also, to promote the relevance of spirit of Co-operation which the co-operative societies tends to uplift and maintain.
Then, ensuring that different programmes of creating massive employment is implemented and achieved not only in cooperative societies but throughout the socio-economic and political sectors of the nation.
1.6 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
As its names implies, some of the questions asked in the course of research are listed below:
1. What are the means by which unemployment in cooperative societies could be alleviated or eradicated?
2. What is the department of co-operative doing in particular to raise employment opportunities?
3. What are really the causes of ever increasing unemployment problems?
4. Why is it that nowadays, some people do not want to join co-operative society in your local government area?
5. Lastly, what are the positive contributions of co-operative since its existence in your local government?
