Unemployment, Social Exclusion and Emerging Social Vices in Nigeria

Abstract

Unemployment in Nigeria is alarming, and the active workforce is lamenting. The oversaturation of the Nigerian labour market, the socio-economic and political policies seem to make employment a mirage, causing emotional and physical distress, and subjective feelings of social exclusion. This paper assesses the effects of unemployment and social exclusion on the emerging social vices in Nigeria. The paper uses secondary data from the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Annual Report on unemployment, and the various reported crimes and social vices attributed to unemployment and the survival strategies of the unemployed. The results show that unemployment has very damaging effects on the subjective perception of social integration, access to economic resources, mental health, life or psycho-social goal fulfilment and higher self-efficacy of the unemployed. It was discovered that social vices like fraud, drug trafficking, kidnapping, ritual killing, armed robbery, banditry, fuel-pipe vandalism, prostitution, and desperation for offshore migration among others are the survival strategies of many of the unemployed. The paper suggests social inclusive policies that will improve the socio-economic and political situation of the country, which will reduce unemployment and the emerging social vices, enhance talent re-orientation, and utilization of the youth for individual fulfilment and national productivity.