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

Inibehe Nya

doi: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.

Highlights

The world economies mostly that of the developing countries, had over the decades, been plagued with myriads of socio- macroeconomic problems such as unemployment, poverty, income inequality, and rising debt profile
The period, 1985- 1999, before the implementation of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) witnessed a stable rate of unemployment in Nigeria, with the highest unemployment rate of 7.1% in 1987 while the average rate for the referenced period stood at 3.74%
MDGs were introduced in the year 2000, in which year unemployment rate jumped from 3.0% in 1999 to 13.1%, representing an increase of over 300%

Summary

Introduction

The world economies mostly that of the developing countries, had over the decades, been plagued with myriads of socio- macroeconomic problems such as unemployment, poverty, income inequality, and rising debt profile. Others include inadequate food and shelter, poor access to medical facilities, low literacy level, and environmental degradation. Two of these problems- unemployment and poverty constitute twin developmental challenges that have endured in the developing economies with Nigeria as a reference point. The Nigerian economy during the 1960s was primarily an agrarian economy, providing about 70% of the employment opportunities to the Nigerian populace. During this period, there were forward and backward linkages between agriculture and the manufacturing sector, and employment policies at this time favored labor mobility from the agricultural to the manufacturing sector. As stated by Onwioduokit [15], this appeared to be a natural path of economic growth and development, following the experience of the developed countries

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