PROBLEM OF UNEMPLOYMENT FACED BY NIGERIA GRADUATES IN THE LABOUR MARKET (EDUCATION PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS)
CHAPTER ONE
- INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Nigerian has the potential for rapid economic growth and development, given her rich human and material resources. Yet, the economic performance of the country has been described as erratic, dismal, truncated and largely unimpressed (Ajayi, 2002; Iyoha and Oriakhi, 2002; Kayode, 2004; Ekpo, 2008). The poor growth performance of the economy is depicted in the rising incidence of poverty, massive and graduate unemployment, skyrocketing inflation, worsening balance of payments disequilibrium, monumental external debt burden, widening income disparity and growing fiscal imbalances, which taken together constitute Nigeria’s crises of underdevelopment.
Gbosi (2006) defined unemployment as a situation in which people who are willing to work at the prevailing wage rate are unable to find jobs. A more encompassing definition is provided by the International Labor Organization (ILO) as cited in Akintoye (2008) thus: “ the unemployed is a member of the economically active population, who are without work but available for and seeking for work, including people who have lost their jobs and those who have voluntarily left work” (p.98). Unemployment assumed a doomsday scenario in Nigeria a decade after political independence.
Of all the problems facing Nigeria in recent times which are being reported daily in some national newspapers and magazines, such as insecurity challenges, assassination of political opponents, feud over chieftaincy affairs, bunkering, willful vandalization of pipelines, interreligious crisis, armed robbery, kidnapping, bribery and corruption, examination malpractice, cultism in educational institutions, incessant strike by workers over poor conditions of service and high rate of unemployment among Nigerian graduates, none is as virulent, persistent and agonizing as the problem of high rate of unemployment among Nigeria graduates. The number increased to thirteen in 1977, while eight additional Universities were established in 1983. Moreover, based on the recommendations of the Longe Commission (Longe Report, 1991); and the promulgation of Act No.9 of 1993, the Federal Government decided to lift ban on the establishment of private Universities in the country. This Act repealed the abolition and prohibition of the private Universities upon satisfying the laid down regulations and guidelines and getting government approval. Moreover, the legal support for the establishment of the private Universities in Nigeria was provided by the Act. In September, 1993, the Federal Regulatory Agency, the National Universities Commission started issuing application forms to prospective proprietors of the private Universities.
