FG Begins Registration of Unemployed Persons in Lagos

The Nigerian government has begun a registration exercise for unemployed individuals in Lagos State.

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) will conduct the exercise for a period of ten days, from April 18 to April 28, 2023, in the 20 local government areas of Lagos State.

The aim of the exercise is to provide accurate data on the number of unemployed individuals in the country, which will help policymakers in addressing Nigeria’s unemployment challenges.

Purpose of the exercise

Unemployment data is an essential macroeconomic indicator used to measure a country’s economic performance and formulate macroeconomic trends.

The registration exercise will provide the required data for relevant government agencies to calculate the number of unemployed individuals in Lagos State.

The exercise is also taking place in other states such as Abia and Niger, with the promise of spreading to other states in Nigeria.

Procedure of the exercise

The registration exercise will take place at the NDE Directorate in Onike, Yaba, Lagos State.

The NDE Coordinator in Lagos State, Serana Edward, has urged all unemployed individuals in Lagos to avail themselves of this opportunity and register at their designated local councils.

The registration exercise is open to all unemployed individuals in the state, irrespective of their age, gender, or educational background.

Nigeria’s unemployment statistics

Nigeria currently ranks fourth in the world among countries with the highest youth unemployment rate.

The National Bureau of Statistics reports that Nigeria’s unemployment rate is about 33.8%, though analysts argue that the figure could be higher.

The Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) has predicted that Nigeria’s unemployment rate will reach 37% by the end of 2023.

Background of the NDE

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) was established in 1986 by the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida.

Its mandate is to formulate a workable organizational framework to address Nigeria’s unemployment challenges.

Conclusion

The registration exercise for unemployed individuals in Lagos State is a step in the right direction towards addressing Nigeria’s unemployment challenges.

The accurate data provided by the exercise will help policymakers in formulating policies that will create jobs and reduce the unemployment rate in the country.

It is hoped that this exercise will be extended to other states in Nigeria to provide a comprehensive database of the unemployed population in the country.