CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and seventh

most populous country in the world, (central intelligent agency

(CIA) world fact book; July 2015). With an abundance of natural

resources, there is no doubt that the country is richly blessed.

Yet, it is still plagued with youth unemployment which had been

the major obstacle to Nigerian economy.

In order to generate sustainable growth globally, and

maintain social cohesion, the report noted that the world must

create 600 million productive jobs over the next decade even

though this will still leave 900 million workers below the US $2 a

day, especially in developing countries. This shows that

unemployment as a global phenomenon has differing rates from

one country to another, likewise from one state and local

government as the case may be to another.

Nigeria has been one of the countries of the world that is

mostly affected by crises of unemployment. Alanana (2003)

1
revealed that even when the economy was buoyant in Nigeria,

the following rates of unemployment were recorded: 6.2% in the

1970s, 9.8% in the 1980s, 11.5% in the 1990s. The current rate

of 23.9% by the Bureau of statistics office (2012) indicates poor

economic management and worse employment situation. People

still cast doubts on the current rate of 23.9% believing this was

grossly under-reported.

Chukwuemeka, Okoye, Muo and Anazodo (2012) mounted

that at a time in Nigeria, higher education certificates were highly

honored and viewed as meal tickets enabling holders to live

above poverty line. During the period, many undergraduates

could secure jobs even before graduation as the economy was

flourishing.

In the contemporary times, the situation is no longer the

same most especially the case of Ankpa local government area of

kogi state. It is a tough time in the area concerning the issue of

unemployment and its psycho-social implications on youth. Since

Nigeria is made up of states and local governments all the above

2
discussions and views about the country can never have Ankpa

isolated.

Unemployment is a state where one is unable to gain any

meaningful means of livelihood and unfortunately this state has

become a recurring decimal in Nigeria. Both the government and

private sectors have discussed this issue at several times in

conferences but it has not helped in ameliorating youth

unemployment in the country (Nigeria).

According to National Rolling Plan (1999-2000) in Edegbo

(2009), in year 2000, Nigerian labour force was 45.7 million

persons and only 4.5 million were engaged in productive activities

or sectors of the economy; that is, only one third of the

population was employed. Aside this, about 60% of the Nigerian

population lived below poverty life with 38% without basic access

to primary health care. Federal Government of Nigeria (1999) in

Aku (2010), observed that, unemployment in Nigeria has eaten

deep into the economic life of the nation.

3
 Some able youths who seek for job and could not find job

get frustrated psychologically and economically as they are

unable to feed themselves.

Research has shown that youth unemployment is increasing

geometrically. In such a situation, there will be increase in

vulnerability to malnutrition, illness, mental stress, loss of skills,

loss of self-esteem leading to depression, increasing poverty,

personal hardship, decay of skills and increase in critical as well

as family disputes and broken marriages. Unemployed individuals

become more and more dissatisfied and so, could resort to

violence in order to make ends meet. To them it is either they get

job or they become social miscreants. As a result of this, violence

and crime are on the increase in the country.

It is against this background that this study is on the

psycho–social and economic implications of youth’s

unemployment in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State,

Nigeria.

4
Statement of the Problem

The problem of chronic youths’ unemployment is evident in

Nigeria. Every year, thousands of graduates were out for labour

market and even half of them couldn’t get jobs. The relevant

governmental agencies like the Federal Ministry of Labour and

Productivity and that of Youths Development have particularly

failed to formulate and implement pro-job creation policies to

sufficiently galvanize the innate talents and overwhelming energy

of these young Nigerian University graduates and graduates of

other tertiary institutions. Nigerian streets are unfortunately

littered with youth hawkers who ordinarily would have found

gainful employments in some enterprises and the female younger

street traders are consistently being sexually molested by some

deprived adults.

Youth unemployment in Ankpa Local Government Area is

heart-aching. It is one of the most critical problems confronting

the youths in Ankpa in particular and Nigeria at large which has

resulted from long years of corruption, civil war and bad

leadership e.t.c. Therefore, the problem of this study asked as a

5
question was “what are the Psycho-Social and Economic

Implications of Unemployment in Ankpa? And how can these be

reduced?”

Purpose of the Study/Objective

This study found out the psycho-social and economic

implications of unemployment on youths in Ankpa Local

Government Area of Kogi State. Specifically, the study found out:

i. If Youth unemployment is responsible for political

thuggery in Ankpa.

ii. If Youth unemployment is one of the causes of high rate of

crime in Ankpa.

iii. If the high rate of poverty in the area is caused by youth

unemployment.

iv. If Youth unemployment leads to migration of youths from

the area.

v. If Youth unemployment is the cause of restiveness in the

area.

vi. What are the factors responsible for youth unemployment

in Ankpa Local Government Area?

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Significance of the Study

This study is important in many respects. Since the study

aimed at finding out the psycho-social and economic implications

of youth unemployment on the youths in Ankpa Local

Government Area, knowledge of the implication will go a long way

to touch the heart of the policy makers to proffer a lasting

solutions to youth unemployment and the executives, to muster

more political will at implementing such policies.

Based on this, the Nigerian youths will become effective,

producing resources to develop Nigeria which shall be a desirable

country for all to live in.

The study will also stand to benefit Ankpa youths by

discarding their old and wrong beliefs that when government

does not provide jobs people with this mentality get frustrated

and disappointed. This, if properly adhered to, will encourage

them to acquire entrepreneurial skills that will keep them going

after their graduation from school without much dependence on

government.

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 The study will also equip other researchers to have relevant

information that will lead to more extensive research in time to

come. And more so, it helps to cure crimes.

Research Questions

The following questions were posed by the researcher to

guide the research:

i. Could youths unemployment be responsible for political

troubles (thuggery) in Ankpa L.G.A?

ii. Could youths unemployment be the cause of high rate of

crime in Ankpa Local Government Area?

iii. Could youths unemployment be responsible for high rate of

poverty in Ankpa Local Government Area?

iv. Could youths unemployment be responsible for youth

restiveness in the local government area?

v. Does youths unemployment lead to migration of youths from

Ankpa Local Government Area?

vi. What are the factors responsible for youth unemployment in

Ankpa Local Government Area?

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Scope of the Study/Limitation
The scope of the study was the psycho-social and economic

implications of youth’s unemployment in Ankpa local government

area of Kogi state.

Limitation of this study were the limited time and finance.

In terms of time, the students had their examinations to

write, assignments to complete on schedule and these had their

impacts on the time needed for the research.

In addition, money was a major constraint to this work.

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 CHAPTER TWO

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Einführung

This chapter presents briefly the views of some reputable

scholars’ or writers on the concepts of psycho-social and

economic implications of unemployment on youths.

The issue of psycho-social and economic implication of

unemployment on youths is one of the fields of research that is

widely studied. Social psychology is the study of interaction

between people, the study of human aggression. Many scholars

have written a lot of articles on these concepts in newspapers,

journals, textbooks and so on. Some of the write-ups that are

relevant are worth reviewing. The review here is done under the

following sub-headings:-

 The conceptual framework of unemployment/types

 The theoretical framework of unemployment

 Causes of unemployment.

 The psycho-social and economic implications of youth

unemployment

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Conceptual framework

Conceptual framework is the organization of the conceived

idea about a concept.

The National Bureau of statistics (NBS, 2012) defined

unemployment as the proportion of those who were searching for

work but could not find any for at least 40 hours during the

reference period to the currently active (labor force), population.

Monday (2011) sees unemployment as the situation that

arises when individuals who are qualified or capable and are

willing to work do not find suitable work. In the view of Adam

(2011), unemployment occurs when people who are qualified for

work, willing to work are seeking for work and cannot get the

work.

Kuram (2009), opined that unemployment is a situation in

which those who fall within the working age group and are able

and willing to work cannot find work to do. Sinha (2013) sees

unemployment as the condition and extent of joblessness within

an economic. He further maintained that unemployment is a

11
condition of not having a job often referred to as being “out of

work” or unemployed.

Maji and Akpihi (2008) see unemployment as a situation

whereby a person is professionally qualified, able and willing to

work and is available for work i.e. (the person is actively

searching for work) but is unable to have one.

From the above definitions, unemployment cannot be an

economic indicator that refer to the proportion of people in an

economy who are willing and able to work but are unable to get a

job. Therefore, when people who are qualified by law, capable

and willing to work cannot find work then unemployment arises.

This means that unemployment could be referred to any of the

factors of production which is not being utilized for production.

The International Labour Organization (ILO: 1998), cited in

guidance newspaper (2012) defined the unemployment as

persons who are currently available for work, seeking for work,

but are unable to find work. In this study an unemployed youth is

taken to be a Nigerian of between 18 and 35 years with requisite

educational qualification(s), willing and able to work for salary or

12
wages but unable to find one. Unemployment comes in different

dimensions: a review of the types/forms of unemployment may

be necessary in other to fully comprehend Ankpa situation in

particular and that of Nigeria in general.

History of Unemployment

Omotosho, Idowu, Esere and Arewah (2009) pointed out that

unemployment was never an issue of national concern in the first

two decades of independence in Nigeria of which Ankpa is an

aspect of it. The crises of youth unemployment began to be felt in

the country around 1980s. Prior to this period, agriculture was

the mainstay of the Nigerian economy. Each of the three regions

(North, West and East) was doing well in the core domains of

agricultural sector. Indeed agricultural sector alone generated

about 70% of the nations employment and accounted for about

80% of the gross domestic product (Omotosho, et al, 2009).

During this period, cocoa production was booming in the west,

cotton in the North and rubber plantation in the East.

The discovery of oil in the 70s which should have

complemented success in agriculture drew attention away from it.

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Tacitly, oil proceeds generated attitudinal problems were people

see those involved in agriculture as less privileged. As discussed

earlier, provision was not made to absorb increased number of

school leavers especially in the Southwestern region where there

had been free educational programme since 1976. The

available/existing workplaces were also mainly service-oriented.

The manufacturing sector, which could create ease of managing

recurrent expenditure to maintain workers was and is still not

developed.

Types of Unemployment

One concept that is closely related to unemployment is

underemployment. Maji and Akpihi (2008) see underemployment

as a situation where labour is employed but not working to full

capacity.

In a similar manner, Monday (2011) states that

underemployment is a situation that is associated with individual

who although working but the job is not befitting.

Other forms of unemployment include:

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 Frictional Unemployment: This refers to a situation

where people are unemployed but employment

opportunities exist elsewhere in the economy. This is

because sufficient information about the existence of such

jobs is not available in the economy.

In same vein Maji and Akpihi (2008) state that

frictional unemployment result from time in the

redeployment of labour.

 Disguised Unemployment: This refers to the potential

addition to the labour force which does not reveal itself

unless opportunities are actually available (Maji and Akpihi,

2008). Adam (2011) states that disguised unemployment

refers to the mass unemployment that prevails in the

agricultural sector of the underdeveloped and over

populated country.

 Voluntary Unemployment: Idoko (2009) refers to

voluntary unemployment as those who are offered

employment and refuse to work at the on-going wage rate.

He maintained that full employment therefore exists in the

15
 absence of voluntary unemployment which implies that all

workers are willing to work at the on-going wage rate.

Voluntary unemployment is a situation that arises when

individuals refuse to work or get employed, although they

may be qualified (Monday, 2011). Ande (2008) added that

voluntary unemployment occurs when workers deliberately

refuse to work or take up paid employment even though

employment opportunities are available. The above authors’

views connote that jobs may be available in an economy but

some people may decide not to take a paid job and prefer

to remain without doing anything.

 Involuntary unemployment: According to Maji and Akpihi

(2008), involuntary unemployment is a situation where one

is employed but his job terminated due to reorganization

exercise, dissolution of certain department, agencies, etc.

The affected person will be unemployed for sometimes.

Such individual is recommended to search for a new

employment.

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 Because of excessive savings and weak investment in

an economy, people could be thrown out of work

involuntarily and not be able to find acceptable new

employment (Adamu, 2011). The above author’s view

connotes that involuntary unemployment is a situation

whereby a worker is been retrenched from work while

he/she is still interested in the job.

 Cyclical unemployment: This is the type of

unemployment that results due to a decrease in the

quantity of goods demanded or there is over-production

which results in fall in prices, industries will be affected

which may cause retrenchment of Workers (Anyaele, 2003).

In the same vein, Maji and Akpihi (2008) see that cyclical

unemployment is caused by low level of business activities or a

general fall in demand for goods and services over a period of

years as experienced in the global economic repression of 1929-

1934.

Adamu (2011), cyclical unemployment (also known as

demand-deficient unemployment or keynesion unemployment) is

17
due to the operation of the business cycle. This arises when the

aggregate demand of the economy becomes deficient in relation

to productive capacity of the country.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK OF UNEMPLOYMENT

Several theories have been proposed to explain the psychological

significance of employment, Dambrun, M., and et al. (2006)

proposed a deprivative theory as equally proposed by Jahoda

(1981, 1982). According to her employment (even bad

employment) has five latent functions that are psychologically

beneficial. It provides social contact, it involves people in shared

goals, it gives workers an identity, and it enforces activity. Unlike,

deprivation theory the vitamin model clearly distinguished

between good and bad employment (as well as good and bad

unemployment).

Mcleod, S.A. (2012). Proposed developmental theory as

equally proposed by Erikson’s (1959) developmental theory is

relevant to an understanding of the consequences of youth

unemployment. The theory assumes eight developmental stages

throughout the life span. The main task of the fifth of these

18
stages adolescence is supposed to be the development of identity

(both sexual and occupational). Failure to negotiate successfully

each developmental stage is believed to head to later

psychological problem.

A further reason to suppose that the lack of previous,

successful employment experience may influence a young

person’s response to unemployment is suggested by the theory of

learned helplessness Sullivan, D.R. and et al (2012) and equally

proposed by (Seligma, 1975). This theory assumes that

prolonged failure to control important outcomes will produce

three behavioral deficits. Cognitive, motivational and affective (or

emotional) prediction. First, unemployment; people should tend

to become helpless, showing all three of the associated

behavioral deficits (cognitive, motivational and affective). Second,

young people: Because they lack previous experience of

successful employment will not be immunized against the

implication and should thus be at greater risk than others. Third,

young unemployed people who characteristically attribute bad

outcomes to internal, stable causes and good outcomes to

19
external, unstable causes, should be those most likely to suffer

from depression (Abrahmason, Seligman and Teasdace,

1978,Deterson and Seligman 1984).

The classical case of unemployment as proposed by Ruben

A.R (2015) is premised on the inflexibility of wages. They

(classicalist) argued that unemployment results because

organized activities given wage price flexibility, there are

automatic forces in the economic system that tends to maximize

full employment and produce output at that level, thus full

employment is regarded as a normal situation and any deviation

from this is something abnormal that automatically tends towards

full unemployment.

Unemployment incidence from classical perspective cannot

really be situated in most African economies like Nigeria in

general and Ankpa in particular.

Although, price flexibility is not actually feasible due to trade

union activities, but its existence wouldn’t have efficiently

addressed the problem of unemployment. This is because, in

Nigeria for instance most sectors if not all, and especially the

20
public sector enterprises have the problem of labor redundancy

due to staffing macro-economic models of structural

unemployment assume that unemployed workers are not able or

willing to get job by underbidding the prevailing wages of

incumbent workers. The most obvious microeconomic explanation

of the absence of wage underbidding is perhaps the minimum

wage laws. But, there seems to be rather general agreement

among labor market economists that minimum wages have not

been high enough in recent decades in developed countries

(developing countries alike) to explain much of aggregate

structural unemployment (Lindbeck, 1999). So, the problem is

not that of wage price inflexibility or wage underbidding

declination but that of poor economic growth that is unable to

sustain the population and labor supply growth rates. The

Keynesian economist see unemployment as a situation in which

the number of people able and are willing to work at prevailing

wage exceeds the number of jobs available; and at the same time

firms are unable to sell all the goods they would like (Ruben A.R

2015) gave this theory and also given by (Bannock et al, 1998).

21
When carefully analyzed, the Keynesian unemployment largely

applies to the situation in Nigeria. It can be established that one

of the factors accounting for this ugly trend is the unpatriotic

taste of many Nigeria products, consumers including the

government that indirectly export jobs abroad at the expense of

the domestic economy. By way of the uncontrolled foreign taste

for virtually all commodities, the domestic producers are faced

with the problem of low demand that naturally forces them to

lower output and of course reduce work force. This experience

continues in some firms especially the small scale ones till they

are pushed out of the market resulting in the loss of more jobs.

Causes of Unemployment

The Nigeria economic growth has been stunted by years of

corruption, civil war, military rule and mismanagement. It is

suggested that the main reasons behind unemployment in Nigeria

is underutilization of the available resources. Nigeria has an

abundance of human and natural resources available but

inefficient utilization of these resources in order to get maximum

economic benefit has led to a vast amount of unemployed youths.

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 Adamu (2011) identifies the following as causes of

unemployment:

i) Economic Recession: When the economy is not growing, the

jobs are not being created and unemployment arises.

Combating recession is done through prudent fiscal policies

that include incentives to invest and to spend money including

lower taxation and interest rate. In the same vein,

ii) Skills: To be able to handle a certain job, a person needs a set

of skills. If the person does not have the skills for a job then

he/she either gets training or unable to get that job. When the

type of jobs in an area change their people without the right

skills are either able to move to a different area or they are

unable to find work. In the meantime, these new jobs are filled

up with new people who do not have the skill required. A

technology shift can lead to this sort of unemployment which is

structural in nature.

iii)Lack of Information: The cause of unemployment that

cannot be overlooked is lack of information about available

jobs. If people do not know that there are vacancies

23
 elsewhere, they will not seek for it. It is important that when

people do know about possible employment opportunities they

will gladly seek for the job. Information dissemination is

fundamental in any market and in the job market it is

fundamental as well.

Monday (2011) specifically identifies some causes of

unemployment to include:

i) High population: This means that if the population is high in

a state there will be keen competition among individuals who

want to work.

ii) Poor industrial development: Since the establishment of

industries solve the problem of unemployment to some

extent, if the place of industrial development of any nation is

very low, unemployment is bound to reign.

Faulty Educational System: The Nigerian educational system

has failed to produced the right people to meet the urgent

national development needs.

According to Bala, Akpihi and Yusuf (2012), there was an

aggressive investment in the education industry of both public

24
and private interest at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels.

Unfortunately, this wonderful investment in the education

industry has brought about over pouring of graduates into labour

markets beyond the available job opportunities. The result is ever

increasing rate of unemployment with its attendant high upsurge

in criminality, violence, hostage taking and other forms of social

vices that have to slow down the country’s pace of development.

Maji and Akpihi (2008), say that unemployment is obviously

disequilibrium of the labour market (when there is excess labour

supply over labour demand). They further suggest that

unemployment emanates from both demand and supply sides. On

the demand side they suggest the following causes:

i) Slow Growth in the Industrial Sector: This has not

allowed full absorption of labour. Less than 20% graduates of

the Nigerian educational system are absorbed annually in the

labour market. The slow growth in the industrial sector is due

to difficulties in acquiring inputs.

25
ii) Adoption of capital intensive method of production:

Capital intensive method of production discourages mass

absorption of labour. This will cause unemployment.

iii) Reduction of government expenditure due to fluctuation in

petroleum prices in the international market.

iv) Low tax revenue which hampers execution of several projects

that would have generated more employment opportunities.

On the supply side, they suggest the following causes of

unemployment:

i) Rapid population growth rate: Nigeria are currently

passing through the phase of the demographic transition

model characterized by higher birth rates and declining death

rates. The rate of population growth is higher than the rate of

resources to sustain the population. Thus, excess population

above the absorptive capacity in the labour market results in

unemployment.

ii) Rapid expansion of educational institutions:- Expansion

of educational institution at all levels and the mass graduates

26
 of these institutions do not match with the growth of other

sectors of the economy. This causes unemployment.

iii) Faulty educational system: Nigeria educational system has

failed to produced the right people to meet the urgent

national development needs.

iv) Rural-urban dichotomy: In Nigeria, development efforts of

the government particularly infrastructural development are

concentrated more in the cities and urban centres to the

neglect of the rural areas. This has led to rapid influx of

labour to the towns instead of remaining in the rural areas to

engage in available productive activities. This tends to

compound the existing unemployment situation in the cities.

In the same vein, Adamu (2011) sees change in the demand

and change in supply as causes of unemployment.

a) Change in Demand: If there were to be decrease in the

demand for a product (due to a change in people’s taste or

cheaper import available) and if this change were more

prescient, the supply of such product must be reduced. Fewer

workers would then be required. Retrenched people may not

27
 be easily absorbed into other industries and thus becomes

unemployed.

b) Change in Supply: The faster the change taking place in

people’s tastes and demand/supply the more the structural

unemployment there may be and an industry has to adapt to

changes due to depletion of raw material required.

The psycho-social and economic implication of Youths

Unemployment
Adamu (2011), high and persistent unemployment has

presented major changes for the economy in two major areas.

One, it has eroded the funding base and secondly, it has

increased the demand on the government through the use of

welfare programmes because of the consequences for poverty

and inequality resulting from high unemployment. He maintained

that the analysis of the implication that unemployment has on the

economy or youths include that of social cost. These include

increasing poverty, personal hardship, depression, decay of skills,

and increase in crime among the youth as well as family dispute

28
and broken marriages. Unemployed youths become more and

more dissatisfied and resort to violence, riots and demonstration.

In the same vein, Akor (2010) opines that Nigeria economy

or society has witnessed a lot of poverty, inequality and

unemployment; in such a situation, anti-social behaviour and

violence tends to occur.

The above author’s view connotes that the recent crises in

Nigeria is attributed to poverty and unemployment in the country.

Maji and Akpihi (2008), say that unemployment has

negative implication on the social, economic life of the youths.

 Socially, unemployment causes misery, social unrest and

hopelessness for the youths. It also causes loss of family and

social ties and other attendant vices like divorce, prostitution

and armed robbery.

 Economically, unemployment reduces output of goods and

services as well as aggregate income. It increases inequality

and hence decline in standard of living and waste of human

and non-human resources.

29
 As a result of unemployment and poverty, many electorates

sell their votes easily for a paltry sum of money. When an

electorate sells his votes to wrong politicians, he lacks the moral

right to complain of maladministration (Moses, 2009).

THE PSYCHO-SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF UNEMPLOYMENT

ON YOUTHS IN ANKPA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KOGI

STATE.

One of the psycho-social implications of unemployment on youth

is emotional disorders such as anxiety or depression to disorders

such as hypertension, headaches, ulcer and dermatitis. The

emotional problems if not properly handled may lead to various

forms of anti-social behavior. These are likely to include child

abuse, alcoholism or other forms of drug abuse, as well as

criminal activities such as housebreaking and shoplifting.

It is a widely held popular view that unemployed youngsters

tend to become engaged in delinquent or criminal acts. Some

scholars have expressed the fear that young unemployed people

may engage in various forms of rebellious activities and are more

likely to become isolated, apathetic, and helpless (Coleman and

30
Henry, 1990). A more realistic cause for concern is that

unemployed Youths will develop society undesirable attitudes to

work.

War (1983) lists nine potentially negative features of

unemployment based on findings from a number of empirical

investigations. First, because unemployment usually implies

reduced income, financial anxiety is often observed. Second,

partly due to not having to have home, and partly due to reduced

income, the variety of life tends to be restricted. Third, there are

fewer goals in the life of the unemployed person. Fourth,

unemployment lead to a reduction in the scope of decision

making. Of course, there is endless scope for decision making

with respect to trivial matters such as when to get up, or whether

to watch television, but not with respect to significant decisions

that might have wide or long term consequences. Fifth, the

satisfaction derived from the practice of skill or expertise is

denied. Sixth, unemployment frequently lead to an increase in

psychologically threatening activities seeking unsuccessfully jobs,

and trying to borrow money, for example, are both likely to entail

31
unpleasant rebuffs and interactions with others of humiliating

kind. A seventh associated consequence is insecurity about the

future. The last two consequences affect social life and status.

The number of social contacts for the unemployed person is

clearly reduced, although this does not necessarily imply a

reduction in the amount of social contact. War and Payne (1983),

for example, found that unemployed man reported spending

more time with friends and neighbors since they become

unemployed. Finally, social status is generally related to

unemployment status. Thus an unemployed person will have lost,

or failed to acquire an accepted social position. The unemployed

status is widely regarded as inferior and this is likely to result in

the unemployed person being held in low esteem by others.

Meanwhile, some factors moderate the implications of

unemployment on the unemployed. This may include age, sex,

ethnic origin, length of unemployment, personality, availability of

social support, prevailing unemployment levels, access to

constructive and stimulating leisure activities and attitude

displayed by the unemployed.

32
 When the opportunity to test one in real working conditions

is not given, then anger is the first emotion that arises. This

anger may be aptly expressed in conscious level and with political

mobilization and protest. Since unemployment is an issue with

political dimensions. This anger is healthy and respected and

needs solace to express aptly.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF UNEMPLOYMENT ON

YOUTH IN ANKPA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KOGI

STATE

The socio-economic implications of unemployment on youth in

Ankpa local government area, like most other areas in the states

or countries is very severe and threatening to the citizenry and

the economy as a whole. The unemployment episode has

continued to pose so many challenges to the survival of the

youths in Ankpa local government area of kogi state. These socio-

economic implications that results from unemployment are

discussed below:

33
UNEMPLOYMENT AND PERSONAL WELL-BEING

Unemployment in Ankpa local government area of kogi state has

a very serious negative implications on the personal well-being of

the unemployed (Machin and Manning 1998).Unemployment

dehumanizes the unemployed and could cause partial or total loss

of esteem among peers.

The unemployed feels inferior before his peer group and

sees life as totally demeaning. This is the situation of many of the

youth job seekers in Ankpa local government area

UNEMPLOYMENT AND POVERTY

One of the core causes of poverty in Ankpa local government area

today is the inability of many job seekers to secure gainful

employment. This has further worsened the income inequality

crisis that overwhelmed the area. The increasing level of

unemployment can explain the increasing level of poverty in

Ankpa local government area.

This ugly trend of unemployment rate in the face of rising

cost of living, has conditioned many people to a very low and

34
undignified standard of living in Ankpa area and the state or

Nigeria as a whole.

UNEMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL CRIMES

Unemployment accounts for most of the social crimes perpetrated

by youths in Ankpa area today. The accelerating level of

prostitution, armed robbery, rape and all facets of violence can be

largely attributed to the incidence of unemployment. An

examination of most of the apprehended criminals shows that a

large number of youths that engage in criminal activities are

those without gainful employment. Some of these criminals are

people who have the potentials for gainful employment but have

been denied such opportunity. Unemployment can be seen as one

of the core causes of the rising level of social disorder and

insecurity perpetrating the entire area.

UNEMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

The adverse implication of high unemployment on the domestic

economy cannot be quantified. The availability of abundant

human resources if utilized could serve as great catalyst to

economic growth but if otherwise could exert negative influence

35
on the economy. The unutilized large quantum of human

resources in Ankpa area due to non-availability of employment

opportunities has continued to impede on the prospect of growth

in several ways.

The resulting implication of unemployment such as

perpetration of violence and general insecurity threatens

economic growth and development to a large extent. Therefore,

rather than being a source of growth stimulation, the army of the

unemployed remains a potential threat to the well-being of the

economy. It breeds discontent against the state, and any slight

provocative issue or incident may trigger violent demonstrations

and social unrest, which may result in loss of life and damage to

property, if the situation is not handled properly by the

authorities.

Related Empirical Studies

Adamu (2011) maintained that the analysis of the implication

that unemployment has on the economy or youths include that of

social cost such as poverty, depression etc.

36
Akor (2010) pointed out that as a result of unemployment anti-

social behavior and violence tend to occur.

Maji and Akpihi (2008) declare that unemployment has negative

implication on the social economic life of the youth.

Anyaele (2005) postulated that rural urban migration is part of

the implications of unemployment on youths.

Ande (2005) says that peace and stability of the country will be

threatened due to high rate of unemployment of youths. When an

electorate sells his vote, he lacks the moral right to complain of

maladministration (Moses, 2009)

SUMMARY

In this chapter, it has been observed that many youths do

not consider voting during elections as their right but a means of

acquiring wealth. This has been witnessed in some villages of

Ankpa Local Government Area as many youths refused to

participate in election when there is no money. They vote for

money not the right candidate because of poverty and

unemployment in the country. It is on this background that Aku

(2010) identifies good economic system as a condition under

37
which the rights of citizens can be protected. This shows that in

an unstable economy that is characterized by poverty and

unemployment, the rights of youths cannot be secured.

38
 CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Einführung

This chapter basically deals with the procedure used for the

study by the researcher in carrying out this research on the

psycho-social and economic implications of youth’s

unemployment in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The items covered in this chapter includes the research

design, population of the study, sample and sampling technique,

instrument for data collection, validity and reliability of

instrument, administration of research instrument and method of

data analysis.

Research Design

Survey method was used in this research work in order to

find out the psycho-social and economic implications of youth

unemployment on growth and development of Ankpa Local

Government Area of Kogi State.

39
Area of the study

This study was limited to Ankpa Local Government Area in

the eastern senatorial district of Kogi State, Nigeria. Ankpa is

bounded by Dekina Local Government to the west, Omala to the

North, Olamaboro to the South and Benue State to the East

respectively. The researchers’ choice of Ankpa is borne out of the

fact that it is one of the areas where youth unemployment is

prevalent. Also, the researchers are very familiar with the areas

which would likely ease data collection.

Population of the Study

The study covered the whole Ankpa Local Government Area

of Kogi State. This includes the farmers, businessmen and

women, public workers, graduates and undergraduates from the

area. The estimated population census figure of Ankpa local

government area was 266,176 by 2006 Federal Republic of

Nigeria official gadget (No. 2 volume 96 of 2 nd February, 2009

page: 33).

40
Sample and Sampling Technique

For reasons of time, accessibility and finance to reach the

selected areas, a group of 400 inhabitants of the area were

randomly selected from the farmers, businessmen and women,

public workers, graduates and undergraduates in the area. It is

the view of these people from this area that we analyzed to arrive

at the tentative generalization since all the areas in the study

area and its people share common characteristics.

Instrument for Data Collection

The instrument for data collection in this research was a

questionnaire designed by the researchers.

The structured questionnaire was used to generate data

from the respondents. In the structured questionnaire,

respondents were restricted to a specific option or choice of

yes/no from which they were told to choose as applicable. The

questionnaires were designed to find out the psycho-social and

economic implications of youth unemployment. On the growth

and development of Ankpa Local government area.

41
Validation of the Instrument

The initial draft of the instrument was subjected to face and

content validity by two experts from Economics and Political

Science Departments of Kogi State University, Anyigba, and was

taken to our supervisor for final approval.

Reliability of the Instrument

The instrument was found to be reliable because of the ease

with which few copies were responded to by respondents outside

the study area. There was no problem of ambiguity discovered by

the trial respondents in completing the questionnaire. Hence, it

was deemed reliable for administration in the main study area.

Method of Data Collection/Scoring

Primary and secondary sources of data collection were used for

the study. The primary source of data consists of the

questionnaire that was used to gather information from the

respondents. The reason for the use of questionnaire and not

personal interview include: dispersed and larger population

involved. It is easy and less expensive and less time consuming

42
too. The secondary source of data consist of text books, journals,

newspaper and internet.

The response mode was Yes or No.

Method of Administration of Instrument

All the questionnaires were administered by the researchers

personally. Many of the selected farmers, businessmen and

women were those who understand little English. The questions

were read to them and the appropriate answers were ticked for

them. The questionnaires were appropriately filled and returned.

On the whole, out of the 400 questionnaires administered, some

were returned. This figure represents 93.75% and only 25

questionnaires representing 6.25 could not be retrieved. The

researchers therefore used the returned questionnaires that is,

375 to analyse for the purpose of finding answers to the research

questions.

Method of Data Analysis

In this research work, percentages were used to analyze the

data.

43
 Using this statistical technique, the total response in a

particular group of respondents (Yes/No) is expressed over the

total numbers of respondents and multiplied by 100 as shown

below:-

R x 100
TR 1

Where R = Total responses in group (Yes/No)

TR = Total number of Respondents

100 = Constant

44
 CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

Einführung

This chapter was on the presentation and analysis of the

data elicited through the use of questionnaire instrument on the

psycho-social and economic implications of youth’s

unemployment in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State.

On the whole, 400 questionnaires were prepared and

administered to the respondents to fill their responses but only

three hundred and seventy-five (375) were returned. This stands

at 93.8% returned rate and so considered good enough for

analysis.

PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA

Table 1: Sex of Respondents

Sex Frequency Percentage %

Male 201 53.6%
Female 174 46.4%
Total 375 100%
Table 1: indicate that 201 respondents representing 53.6% of the

entire respondents were male while 174 respondents

representing 46.4% of the total respondents were female.

45
Table 2: Marital Status of Respondents

Marital status Frequency Percentage %

Single 202 53.9%
Married 173 46.2%
Total 375 100%
The above table shows that 202 respondents representing 53.9%

of the respondents were single while 173 respondents

representing 46.2% of the respondents were married.

Table 3: Age of Respondents

Age Frequency Percentage %

20-25 years 150 40
26-30 years 100 26.7
31-35 years 60 16
36-40 years 40 10.7
41 and above 25 6.7
Total 375 100
The table explain that 150 respondents representing 40% of the

respondents are 20-25 years, 100 respondents representing

26.7% of the respondents are 26-30 years, 60 respondents

representing 16% of the respondents are 31-35 years while 40

respondents representing 10.7 of the respondents are 36-40

years while 25 respondents representing 6.7 of the respondents

are 41 and above years

Table 4: Religion of Respondent

Religion Frequency Percentage %
Christianity 210 56

46
Islam 160 42.7
Traditional 5 1.3
Total 375 100
Table above says that 210 respondents representing 56% of the

respondents are Christianity while 160 respondents representing

42.7 of the respondents are Islam and 5 respondents

representing 1.3 of the respondents are traditional.

Table 5: Educational Qualification of Respondents

Educational Frequency Percentage %

qualification
WAEC/SSCE 160 42.7
NCE/OND 90 24
HND 80 21.3
B.sc 40 10.7
Others specify 5 1.3
Total 375 100
The above table shows that 160 respondents representing

42.7% of the respondents were WAEC/SSCE holders, while 90

respondents representing 24% were NCE/OND holders. And 80

47
respondents representing 21.3% were HND holders while 40

respondents representing 10.7% were B.Sc holders, also 5

respondents representing 1.3% were those with other

qualification different from those one on the table.

Table 6: Occupation of Respondents

Marital status Frequency Percentage %

Farmer 100 26.7%
Civil servant 90 24.%
Student 85 22.7%
Self employed 70 18.7%
Business 30 8%
Total 375 100.1%
The table explained that 100 respondents representing 26.7%of

the total respondent were farmer’s while 90 respondents

representing 24% were civil servant. While 85 respondents

representing 22.7 % of the whole respondent were students. Also

70 respondents representing 18.7% of all the respondent were

self-employed and 30 respondents representing 8% of the total

respondent were business men/women.

Data Presentation and Analysis Research Question 1

48
 Could youth’s unemployment be responsible for political

troubles (thuggery) in Ankpa Local Government Area?

Table 7 Youth’s unemployment is responsible for

political thuggery in Ankpa local government

area

Responses No. of Respondents Percentage %

Yes 270 72
No 105 28
Total 375 100
Source: Researcher’s Field Work, 2016

The table shows that 270 respondents representing 72% of

the entire respondents agreed that youth’s unemployment is

responsible for political thuggery in Ankpa Local Government Area

while 105 representing 28% of the total respondents disagreed

that youth’s unemployment is responsible for political thuggery in

Ankpa Local Government Area. It is then the opinion of the

respondents that youth’s unemployment is responsible for

political thuggery in Ankpa.

49
Research Question 2

Could youths unemployment be the cause of high rate of

crime in Ankpa Local Government Area?

Table 8 Youth’s unemployment is responsible for

high rate of crime in Ankpa local government

area.

Responses No. of Respondents Percentage %

Yes 300 80
No 75 20
Total 375 100
Source: Researcher’s Field Work, 2016

The table shows that 300 respondents representing 80% of

the respondents agreed that youth’s unemployment is one of the

causes of high rate of crime prevalent in Ankpa Local Government

Area. However, 75 of the respondents representing 20% of the

respondents said no, that youth’s unemployment is not the

causes of high rate of crime in Ankpa town. We can conclude

from this result that youth’s unemployment is responsible for high

rate of crime in Ankpa Local Government Area.

Research Question 3

50
 Could youth’s unemployment be responsible for high rate of

poverty in Ankpa Local Government Area?

Table 9 Youth’s unemployment is responsible for

high rate of poverty in Ankpa Local

government area.

Responses No. of Respondents Percentage %

Yes 188 50.1
No 187 49.9
Total 375 100
Source: Researcher’s Field Work, 2016

The above table shows that 188 respondents representing

50.1% of the respondent agreed that youth’s unemployment is

responsible for high rate of poverty in Ankpa Local Government

Area while 187 respondent represent 49.9% of the respondents

disagreed with the assertion. This result shows that youth’s

unemployment is partially responsible for the high rate of poverty

prevalent in Ankpa.

Research Question 4

Could youths unemployment be responsible for youth’s

restiveness in Ankpa Local Government Area?

51
Table 10: Youth’s unemployment is responsible for
youth’s restiveness in Ankpa local government area.
Responses No. of Respondents Percentage %
Yes 192 51.2
No 183 48.8
Total 375 100
Source: Researcher’s Field Work, 2016

The table above shows that 192 respondents representing

51.2% of the respondents agreed that youth’s unemployment is

responsible for youth’s restiveness in Ankpa Local Government

Area. On the other hand, 183 respondents representing 48.8% of

the entire respondents disagreed with the position. This result

portrays that youth’s unemployment is one of the major reasons

for youth’s restiveness in the study area.

Research Question 5

Does youths unemployment lead to migration of youth’s

from Ankpa Local Government Area?

Table 11: Youth’s unemployment lead to youth’s

migration from Ankpa Local
Government Area.
Responses No. of Respondents Percentage %
Yes 189 50.4
No 186 49.6
Total 375 100
Source: Researcher’s Field Work, 2016

52
 The table indicates that 189 respondents representing 50.4

agreed that youth’s migration is as a result of youth’s

unemployment in Ankpa Local Government Area. Nevertheless,

186 respondents representing 49.6% disagreed with the

assertion. This shows that youth’s unemployment is one of the

major causes of migration in Ankpa Local Government Area.

Research Question 6

What are the factors responsible for youth’s unemployment

in Ankpa Local Government Area?

Table 12: Factors responsible for youth’s

unemployment in Ankpa local government area.
S/No Factors Responses Total Percentag
e (%)
Yes No Yes No
1 Occupational and 176 199 375 46.9 53.1
geographical
immobility of
labour
2 Absence of 210 165 375 56 44
industries
3 High population 187 188 375 49.9 50.1
growth rate

53
 4 Poor educational 200 175 375 53.3 46.7
system
5 Neglect of the 215 160 375 57.3 42.7
agricultural sector
6 Poor/inadequate 220 155 375 58.7 41.3
social facilities
Source: Researcher’s Field Work, 2016 41.3

The table above presents some of the reasons for youth’s

unemployment in Ankpa Local Government Area. From the table,

176 of the respondents representing 46.9% were of the view that

occupational and geographical immobility of labour is responsible

for youth’s employments in the study area. However, 199

respondents representing 53.1% do not see occupational and

geographical immobility of labour as a cause of youth’s

unemployment in the study area. This means that youth’s

unemployment in Ankpa is not really caused by geographical and

occupational immobility of labour. The table however, reveals

that absence of industries in the study area (Ankpa) is one of the

major causes of unemployment in the area. 210 respondents

representing 56% of the entire respondents agreed to this

assertion while 44% of 165 of the respondents do not see

54
absence of industries as responsible for youth’s unemployment in

Ankpa.

Furthermore, the table shows that high population growth

rate is partly responsible for youth’s unemployment in the study

area. While 49.9% of the respondents support this view, 50.1%

stood against it as a major cause of unemployment in the study

area. However, the study reveals that poor educational system is

responsible for youth’s unemployment while 175 (46.7%)

opposed the position 200 respondent representing 53.3 agreed

215 respondents representing 57.3% also believe that neglect of

agriculture accounts for youth’s unemployment in the area while

160 (42.7%) do not believe that neglect of the agricultural sector

is a cause of youth’s unemployment in Ankpa.

Finally, 220 respondents representing 58.7% of the

respondents attributed youth’s unemployment in the area to

social or infrastructural facilities while 155 (41.3%) do not see

poor social facilities as a cause of unemployment in the area.

The researcher further sought the opinion of the

respondents on the ways of solving the problems of youth’s

55
unemployment in the area. The result of this exercise is

presented in table 7.

Table 13: Solutions to Youth’s Unemployment

S/No Solution to Responses Total Percentag

Unemployment e (%)
Yes No Yes No
1 Establishment of 360 15 375 96 04
industries.
2 Engagement in 190 185 375 50.7 49.3
vocational and
nomadic
education.
3 Establishment of 199 176 375 53.1 46.9
skills acquisition
centre by
government
4 Agriculture should 315 60 375 84 16
be made
attractive
5 Provision of social 300 75 375 80 20
amenities.
Source: Researcher’s field work, 2016.

From the table above 360 respondents accounting for 96%

of the respondents agreed that establishment of industries is a

sure solution to the problem of youth’s unemployment in Ankpa.

Only 15 respondents representing 4% of the entire respondents

opposed this assertion. Also, 190 (50.7%) of the respondents

sees engagement in nomadic and vocational education as another

56
solution to unemployment while 185 (49.3%) has a contrary view

about that. Furthermore, 199 (53.1) respondents believe that if

government should establish skills acquisition centre in Ankpa,

unemployment in the area will be reduced but 176 (46.9%) of the

respondents do not believe that establishment of skills acquisition

centre could reduce unemployment in the area. Moreover, 315

respondents or 84% agreed that when agriculture is made

attractive, youth’s unemployment will be reduced even though 60

respondents (16%) did not support this opinion. Finally, 300

(80%) of the respondents supported the idea that provision of

social amenities will reduce the unemployment rate but 75 (20%)

of the respondents do not support this idea.

Findings/Discussions

The analysis done was centered on two major items: The

psycho-social and economic implications of youths unemployment

and the causes of youth’s unemployment. Thus our findings and

discussions is divided into two sections i.e. the psycho-social and

57
economic implications of youth’s unemployment and the causes

of youth’s unemployment.

The Psycho-social and economic implications of Youths

Unemployment in Ankpa Local Government Area

One of the implications of youth’s unemployment discovered

from the analysis was political thuggery. Political thuggery is one

of the common but painful activities engaged by the youth’s in

Ankpa Local Government Area. During electioneering campaign

and on election day, it is common sight to see youth’s armed

with machetes, guns and other weapons of destruction, hanging

on car doors or sitting on top of motors chanting various political

slogans that are provocative. In most cases these activities have

resulted to destruction of lives and properties (including burning

down of houses and cars). The 2003 and 2007 gubernatorial

elections in Kogi State witnessed the activities of violent thugs in

Ankpa and other places. A careful look at most of the youth’s

participating in this act of thuggery reveals that they are all

unemployed. This is not surprising as the saying goes “the idle

mind is the devil’s workshop or devil finds work for the idle

58
hand”. These unemployed youth’s are the ready tools used by

political trouble makers in the town as well as elsewhere in

Nigeria.

Another implications of youth’s unemployment revealed by

the study was the increase in the rate of crime and other criminal

activities within Ankpa town of recent. There had been an

increase in the rate of criminal activities particularly armed

robbery and advance free Fraud (419) within Ankpa town. In fact,

other criminal activities which are only heard of elsewhere have

also crept into the town. For instance, ritual killers and hired

assassins have emerged in Ankpa and active participants in

heinous crime are the youth’s. All these ills are traceable to

unemployment prevalent among the youth’s. No gainfully

employed youths will involve him/herself in such crimes.

The study also revealed that youths unemployment was to a

reasonable extent responsible for the high level of poverty in

Ankpa town. Where there is a high rate of unemployment the per

capita income will surely be low. This is because many of the

59
youth’s who would have been employed to earn income remain

idle thereby contributing nothing to the income of the community.

There was also the problem of youth restiveness due to

unemployment status of most of the youth’s in Ankpa.

Unnecessary aggression, riots and demonstrations are some of

the common behaviours of the youth’s in Ankpa. These

irresponsible behaviours are often exhibited by those who are

unemployed. Of recent, many youth’s in Ankpa have constituted

themselves into a group parading themselves as the owners of

the land and harassing land owners using aggression and

intimidation. The gainfully employed youth are hardly found in

such aggressive activities.

Finally, it was discovered that youth’s unemployment has

resulted to high rate of rural-urban migration by the youths from

the area. The youths which constitute the veritable labour force of

the local government are constantly involved in moving into the

cities in search of job. This has seriously robbed the town of the

manpower base which is the greatest resources for development.

Causes of Youths Unemployment in Ankpa

60
 One of the causes of youth’s unemployment revealed by the

study was the absence of industries in the area. In a free market

economy, the industrial sector is supposed to be the major

employer of labour. Industries have the capacity to absorb the

teeming population of graduates and school leavers. However, in

Ankpa there is no functional industry (manufacturing) that can

employ up to 10 workers. The only major industry ever

established in Ankpa was the MUSACONI Starch and Garri

Industry in the early 1990s but the company was short lived.

Most of the industries in Ankpa are Micro/Cottage Industries

which are mostly managed by the owners with little or no room

for external employment. Thus, unemployment still remains high

in the area.

High population growth rate was also identified as a major

cause of unemployment in the area. Looking at the rate of

children that were given birth to in Ankpa and its environs, there

is no doubt that population growth rate outstrips the growth of

the resources to sustain the population. This was exactly what

Malthus feared in his theory of population. In Ankpa many factors

61
exist which favours high birth rate. They include early marriage

and practice of polygamy, high rate of promiscuity and strong

desire for male children e.t.c.

The educational system prevalent in the area was also

discovered to be responsible for unemployment in Ankpa. The

education prevalent in the area is mostly the theoretical type

which hardly prepares students for self-sustaining jobs. Technical

and vocational education is not given priority in the area for

instance, apart from Government Technical College, Ankpa (which

may only be there by name now) there is no other secondary

school offering vocational and technical training to students.

Thus, most of the products depend on the government and

companies (which are already saturated with employees) for jobs.

Also agriculture which suppose to be a major employer of

labour has been neglected making the youth’s to see the

agricultural work as a dirty and relegated job meant for those

who are not fortunate in life. Thus, instead of remaining in the

villages to tap from the rich resources of fertile land, the young

62
school leavers go to the cities for white-collar jobs which are

difficult or not easy to secure as well.

Finally, poor or inadequate social facilities especially poor

power supply has limited the ability of many youths that wish to

embark on small business today. Example of such includes

barbing saloons, hair dressing saloons, computer operation centre

etc. In the absence of power they buy generator, maintain and

fuel it which may go beyond their reach and where they are able,

it reduces the operational efficiency of the business (they cannot

make profits).

63
 CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Summary

This research examines the psycho-social and economic

implications of youths unemployment in Ankpa Local Government

Area of Kogi State. The study has undertaken a review of related

literature on the concept of unemployment, the types of

unemployment, causes of unemployment as well as its

implications. Structured questionnaires were used to gather the

data relevant for the study. The data were analysed using

percentage.

The findings of the study revealed the following psycho-

social and economic implications of unemployment in Ankpa Local

Government Area.

i) Unemployment leads to political thuggery by the youth’s in

Ankpa as these idle youths are ready tools often used by

political trouble-makers to stir violence, leading to

destruction of lives and property before, during and after

election.

64
ii) Unemployment has led to increase in the rate of crime and

criminal activities such as armed robbery, 419, ritual killings

and hired assassination in the study area.

iii) It also led to high rate of poverty since this productive

labour force is left fallow or idle and therefore contributing

nothing to the income of the area.

iv) It also leads to youth’s restiveness as demonstrated in

aggressive behaviours.

v) There is also high rate of migration from the area in search

of jobs elsewhere thereby eroding the manpower base of the

study area.

The study further reveals the major causes of

unemployment in the area as follows:

i) Absence of industries to absorb the mass graduates

and school leavers in the area.

ii) High population growth rate resulting from high birth

rate due to early marriages, practice of polygamy, etc. This

makes the population outgrow the available resources.

65
iii) Poor educational system. The educational system does

not prepare products for self-employment.

iv) Neglect of the agricultural sector which makes the

youth’s abandon agricultural ventures.

v) Poor social amenities especially power supply which

limits or discourages youths from engaging in small scale

industries requiring the use of power.

Fazit

One of the macroeconomic problems facing Nigeria that has

assumed an intractable dimension is unemployment. This has

adversely affected the socio-economic life of the youths’ in the

nation. It has led to reduction in per capita income and slow the

growth rate of the economy. In addition, there is reduction in the

standard of living due to reduced productivity and income,

increased rate of crime, etc.

Expectedly, this study has revealed that youth’s

unemployment in Ankpa is responsible for political thuggery in

the area, increasing rate of crime, high level of poverty, etc

prevalent in the area.

66
 As the country (Nigeria) is aspiring to be counted as one of

the top 20 largest economies of the world by the year 2020, the

country as a whole cannot afford to toy with the problem of

unemployment. Human resources have been identified to be the

bedrock of all meaningful development. However, for youths to

contribute positively to development of their community they

must be gainfully employed if not the potential will lie wasted.

Negative economic condition such as unemployment may make

youths to divert those potentials to anti-social and anti-

development activities such as armed robbery, 419, human

trafficking, etc. Thus, government, private organizations and all

concerned citizens must put their hands on deck to ensure that

the problem of unemployment in Nigeria is reduced.

IMPLICATIONS OF THE STUDY

The entire society will be affected negatively, if proper attention

is not given to unemployment issue in the area. There will be

continuity of disasters, society unrest, manifestation of the effects

of social problem etc, which does not pave way to growth and

development of the society. People should know the causes and

67
effect of unemployment in their area and try their possible best to

solve or reduce the problem to a minimum level.

Recommendations

From the foregoing, the researchers wish to advance the

following as measures for reducing unemployment and ensuring

rapid socio-economic development of Ankpa Local Government

Area of Kogi State and Nigeria in general.

1) Deliberate efforts should be made by the government to

establish industries especially agro-based industries in

Ankpa Local Government Area.

2) Similarly, encouragement should be given to private

individuals who may wish to establish industries. This

includes provision of interest-free loans, input subsidies, aids

etc.

3) Government should encourage and make agriculture an

attractive occupation through the provision of interest free

loans, subsidizing, agricultural inputs such as fertilizers,

herbicides, etc, creation of attractive market for agricultural

68
 products, etc. This will encourage youths to get into those

noble occupation.

4) Government should as a matter of urgency tackle the power

problem in Nigeria with all sincerity. The should translate

promises and work into practical action so that power will be

available for youths to use in small scale businesses

requiring the use of power.

5) There is need to give attention to vocational and technical

education in the area. Both government and private

proprietors should establish vocational schools that prepare

students for self-employment.

6) The National Orientation Agency (NOA), the traditional rulers

and religious bodies should embark on massive public

enlightenment of the youths on the dangers of getting

involved in anti-social behaviours due to lack of

employment. Alternative to such activities should be made

open to them e.g. skill acquisition.

The researchers believe that if the above strategies are

implemented, unemployment in Ankpa and Nigeria in general will

69
be highly reduced and the socio-economic development of the

area and Nigeria in general will be greatly enhanced.

SUGGESTION FOR FURTHER STUDY

The psycho-social and economic implications of unemployment on

youths as embarked in this study is specifically in Ankpa, a part

of Kogi state not even on the whole state talk more of the

country in general. For this reason there is a tendency for

researchers to study and find out more of the psycho-social and

economic implications of unemployment on youths in other areas,

compare the findings in this study.

70
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APPENDIX

75
 Department of Social Science
Education
P.M.B 1008,
Kogi State University,
Anyigba.
27th April, 2016
Dear respondent
We are students of the above named university carrying out
a research study to find out the psycho-social and economic
implications of unemployment on youths. The research is carried
out in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of
Bachelor of Science, Degree in Social Studies (B.Sc.).
The researchers request for your kind assistance by filling
this questionnaire with honesty.
All information given will be treated with utmost
confidentiality.
Thanks for your anticipated cooperation

Yours
Faithfully
1. Abuh, A.J.
2. Acheneje, S.
3. Acheneje, A.
4. Adams, R.H.

76
QUESTIONNAIRES
1. Sex of Respondent

i. Male ( )

ii. Female ( )

2. Name (optional) of Respondent

i. Mr ( )

ii. Miss ( )

iii. Mrs ( )

3. Marital status

i. Single ( )

ii. Married ( )

4. Age of Respondent

i. 20-25 years ( )

ii. 26-30 years ( )

iii. 31-35 years ( )

iv. 36-40 years ( )

v. 41 and above ( )

5. Religion of Respondent

i. Christianity ( )

ii. Islam ( )
77
 iii. Traditionalist/Pagan ( )

6. Educational qualification of Respondent

I. WACE/SSCE ( )

II. NCE/OND ( )

III. HND ( )

IV. B.SC ( )

V. Others specify ( )

7. Occupation of Respondent

i. Farmer ( )

ii. Civil servant ( )

iii. Student ( )

iv. Business men/women ( )

SECTION B: SUBJECT MATTER

8. Could youths unemployment be responsible for political

troubles (thuggery) in Ankpa Local Government Area?

i. Yes ( )

ii. No ( )

9. Could youths unemployment be one of the causes of high

rate of crime in Ankpa Local Government Area?

78
 i. Yes ( )

ii. No ( )

10. Could youths unemployment be a factor responsible for

high rate of poverty in Ankpa Local Government Area?

i. Yes ( )

ii. No ( )

11. Could youths unemployment be one of the causes of

youth restiveness in Ankpa Local Government Area?

i. Yes ( )

ii. No ( )

12. Does youths unemployment lead to migration of able

men and women from Ankpa Local Government Area?

i. Yes ( )

ii. No ( )

13. What are the factors responsible for youth

unemployment in Ankpa Local Government Area?

a. Occupational and geographical immobility of labor?

i. Yes ( )

ii. No ( )

79
 b. High population growth rate?

i. Yes ( )

ii. No ( )

c. Absence of industries?

i. Yes ( )

ii. No ( )

d. Poor educational system?

i. Yes ( )

ii. No ( )

e. Neglect of the agricultural sector?

i. Yes ( )

ii. No ( )

f. Poor and inadequate social facilities?

i. Yes ( )

ii. No ( )

SECTION C: SOLUTIONS

14. What are the solutions to youth unemployment in

Ankpa Local Government Area?

80
a. Establishment of industries

i. Yes ( )

ii. No ( )

b. Engagement in vocational and nomadic education?

i. Yes ( )

ii. No ( )

c. Establishment of skills acquisition center by Government

i. Yes ( )

ii. No ( )

d. Agriculture should be made attractive

i. Yes ( )

ii. No ( )

e. Provision of social amenities

i. Yes ( )

ii. No ( )

81