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An Assessment of Unemployment in Nigeria Before and During Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): Lessons for Post- 2015 Global Development Agenda

Received: 2 April 2021     Accepted: 16 April 2021     Published: 21 June 2021
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Abstract

The paper assessed the rate of unemployment before and during the millennium development goals (MDGs). The purpose was to ascertain the extent to which MDGs strategies and programs have assisted in the reduction of unemployment in Nigeria. Secondary data gathered between 1985 and 2018 was used in the evaluation. Findings showed the unemployment rates before the implementation of the MDGs program (1985-1999) were relatively stable at one digit, with the highest rate being 7.1% in 1987 while the average rate for the referenced period stood at 3.74%. The contrast was the case when MDGs were introduced in the year 2000, in which year the unemployment rate jumped from 3.0% in 1999 to 26.8% in 2015, representing an increase of over 700%. During the period of the MDGs (2000-2015), unemployment rate assumed two digits, increasing from 13.1% in 2000 to 26.8% in 2015, averaging about 17.7% with its attendant impact on the livelihood of the average citizen. The sharp rise in unemployment rates during the period of MDGs is a piece of evidence that the MDG programs, despite its laudable objectives, failed to reduce unemployment and eradicate poverty. The reasons for this could be attributed to, but not limited to poor and uncoordinated funding of the program, targets mismatch and absence of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of the MDGs projects. The study also revealed that there exists a somewhat positive relationship between unemployment and poverty in Nigeria. The paper recommended among others that MDGs project goals should be measurable, monitored and evaluated, recognize the effect of violence, militancy, and insurgency on development programs and finally, government should vigorously pursue productive employment creation for the realization of its inclusive growth potentials, if the post-2015 Global Development Agenda is to succeed.

Published in International Journal of Economics, Finance and Management Sciences (Volume 9, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijefm.20210903.14
Page(s) 119-127
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Unemployment, Poverty, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Debt Relief

References
[1] Adebayo, A. (1999). Youth Unemployment and National Directorate of Employment: Self Employment Programmes. Nigerian Journal of Economics and Social Studies, 4 (1).
[2] Adedipe, B. (2004). The Impact of Oil on Nigeria Policy formulation. Paper presented at a conference on Nigeria: Maximizing Pro-poor growth organized by Overseas Development Institute in conjunction with Nigeria Economic Summit Group, June 16th-17th.
[3] Akinboyo, G. B. (1987). Job Creation as a Productivity Measure for Employment Problems in Developing Countries: The Nigeria and Holland Experience, Increasing Productivity in Nigeria. Lagos: National Productivity Centre, p 404-411.
[4] Anyanwu, T. V. C (2014). 2014 Budget and Job Creation: Perform or Resign, Sahara Reporters, January 20.
[5] Clinton, B. (1993). President Bill Clinton’s Promising Speech. New York Times, November 17, p. 26.
[6] Englama, A. H. (2001). Unemployment Concept and Issues: CBN Statistical Bulletin, Vol. 2 5 (4).
[7] Gbosi, A. N. (1997). Chronic Unemployment in Nigeria. International Journal of Employment Studies, 5 (1), pp. 155-159.
[8] Grunewald, R. (2006). The Connection between Poverty and the Economy. The Economist, November 01 issue.
[9] Jhingan, M. L. (1999). Macroeconomic Theory, Vrinda Publication Limited, India. 10th Edition, P. 237.
[10] Jonathan, G. (2013). 2013 Budget Speech. Proshare, December 13.
[11] Marlar, J. (2012). Global Unemployment at 8% in 2011. Gallup Surveys, April 17.
[12] Marx, K. (1863). Theory of Surplus Value. In: Levroro, E. S. Marx on Absolute and relative Wages. MPRA, September, 2000.
[13] Ohale, L. and Onyema, J. (2001). Foundation of Macroeconomics. Spring Field Publishers, Owerri.
[14] Okechukwu, O. A. (2012). Rising Youth Unemployment and Violent Crime in Nigeria. American Journal of Social Issues and Humanities. 2 (5), pp. 315-321.
[15] Onwioduokit, O. A. (2006). The Character of unemployment in Nigeria and its Link with the Macroeconomy. NES Conference on Employment Generation in Nigeria.
[16] Peter, P. (2013). SURE-P Swings into Action to Reduce Unemployment, Vanguard Newspaper, May 1.
[17] Raheem, M. I. (1993), Nigeria for Africa: A case for labour export. In: Oyejide, T. A., Obadan, M. I., editors. Applied Economics and Economic Policy, in Honor of Emmanuel C. Edozien. Ibadan: Ibadan University Press.
[18] Sakong, I. I. (1971). High Capital Intensity, Productive Efficiency and Employment. Philippine Economic Journal, Vol. 10, No. 1.
[19] Sawhil, I. V. (2011). The Connection between Employment and Poverty Rates. Brookings. September 9.
[20] Todaro, M. (1992). Economics for a Developing World. 2nd edition, England, Longman UK.
[21] Umo, U. U. (2012). Escaping Poverty in Africa: A Perspective on Strategic Agenda for Nigeria. Millennium Text Publishers Limited, Lagos.
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  • APA Style

    Inibehe Nya. (2021). An Assessment of Unemployment in Nigeria Before and During Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): Lessons for Post- 2015 Global Development Agenda. International Journal of Economics, Finance and Management Sciences, 9(3), 119-127. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijefm.20210903.14

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    ACS Style

    Inibehe Nya. An Assessment of Unemployment in Nigeria Before and During Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): Lessons for Post- 2015 Global Development Agenda. Int. J. Econ. Finance Manag. Sci. 2021, 9(3), 119-127. doi: 10.11648/j.ijefm.20210903.14

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    AMA Style

    Inibehe Nya. An Assessment of Unemployment in Nigeria Before and During Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): Lessons for Post- 2015 Global Development Agenda. Int J Econ Finance Manag Sci. 2021;9(3):119-127. doi: 10.11648/j.ijefm.20210903.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijefm.20210903.14,
      author = {Inibehe Nya},
      title = {An Assessment of Unemployment in Nigeria Before and During Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): Lessons for Post- 2015 Global Development Agenda},
      journal = {International Journal of Economics, Finance and Management Sciences},
      volume = {9},
      number = {3},
      pages = {119-127},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijefm.20210903.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijefm.20210903.14},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijefm.20210903.14},
      abstract = {The paper assessed the rate of unemployment before and during the millennium development goals (MDGs). The purpose was to ascertain the extent to which MDGs strategies and programs have assisted in the reduction of unemployment in Nigeria. Secondary data gathered between 1985 and 2018 was used in the evaluation. Findings showed the unemployment rates before the implementation of the MDGs program (1985-1999) were relatively stable at one digit, with the highest rate being 7.1% in 1987 while the average rate for the referenced period stood at 3.74%. The contrast was the case when MDGs were introduced in the year 2000, in which year the unemployment rate jumped from 3.0% in 1999 to 26.8% in 2015, representing an increase of over 700%. During the period of the MDGs (2000-2015), unemployment rate assumed two digits, increasing from 13.1% in 2000 to 26.8% in 2015, averaging about 17.7% with its attendant impact on the livelihood of the average citizen. The sharp rise in unemployment rates during the period of MDGs is a piece of evidence that the MDG programs, despite its laudable objectives, failed to reduce unemployment and eradicate poverty. The reasons for this could be attributed to, but not limited to poor and uncoordinated funding of the program, targets mismatch and absence of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of the MDGs projects. The study also revealed that there exists a somewhat positive relationship between unemployment and poverty in Nigeria. The paper recommended among others that MDGs project goals should be measurable, monitored and evaluated, recognize the effect of violence, militancy, and insurgency on development programs and finally, government should vigorously pursue productive employment creation for the realization of its inclusive growth potentials, if the post-2015 Global Development Agenda is to succeed.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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    AU  - Inibehe Nya
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    AB  - The paper assessed the rate of unemployment before and during the millennium development goals (MDGs). The purpose was to ascertain the extent to which MDGs strategies and programs have assisted in the reduction of unemployment in Nigeria. Secondary data gathered between 1985 and 2018 was used in the evaluation. Findings showed the unemployment rates before the implementation of the MDGs program (1985-1999) were relatively stable at one digit, with the highest rate being 7.1% in 1987 while the average rate for the referenced period stood at 3.74%. The contrast was the case when MDGs were introduced in the year 2000, in which year the unemployment rate jumped from 3.0% in 1999 to 26.8% in 2015, representing an increase of over 700%. During the period of the MDGs (2000-2015), unemployment rate assumed two digits, increasing from 13.1% in 2000 to 26.8% in 2015, averaging about 17.7% with its attendant impact on the livelihood of the average citizen. The sharp rise in unemployment rates during the period of MDGs is a piece of evidence that the MDG programs, despite its laudable objectives, failed to reduce unemployment and eradicate poverty. The reasons for this could be attributed to, but not limited to poor and uncoordinated funding of the program, targets mismatch and absence of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of the MDGs projects. The study also revealed that there exists a somewhat positive relationship between unemployment and poverty in Nigeria. The paper recommended among others that MDGs project goals should be measurable, monitored and evaluated, recognize the effect of violence, militancy, and insurgency on development programs and finally, government should vigorously pursue productive employment creation for the realization of its inclusive growth potentials, if the post-2015 Global Development Agenda is to succeed.
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  • First City Monument Bank, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

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