Insecurity And Youths Unemployment In Jigawa State -By Umar Farouk

‘For a nation, region, state or society to move forward both politically and socio-economically, the leaders must demonstrate esteem for talents, actively encouraging able men, and honoring those who excel in their profession. And encourage their citizens so that they can go peaceably about their career, whether it is trade, agriculture or any other human occupation’- Anonymous

It is a general knowledge that Jigawa and the whole Nigeria has a vast problems that disrupt the progress,they are poverty, insecurity and unemployment. But one need not pause to know that the most pernicious of all these challenges is youth’s unemployment, as a large army of unemployed youths often always becomes a security threat to the few that are even employed. 

If I can remember, one of the cardinal promises of the APC in Jigawa under Muhammad Badaru during the 2015 election was massive job creation for the young unemployed graduates in the State. That promise and a legion of other similar promises ‘conspired’ to give the party victory at the polls.

Yes, it was one years after that promised employment creation, Governor Muhammadu Badaru precisely recruit about 800 classroom teachers, and then followed by another 500 a year after. Well, unarguably a well thought out plan and an alluring scorecard. But, the initiative becomes even more attractive when one remembers the experiences of the 2019 general election where jobless youths flood every political campaign grounds in their numbers for illicit electoral responsibilities while looking up to the crumbs that fall from their master’s table. The events of that period really demonstrated that youth unemployment is even rapidly on the increase and may not end suddenly unless something dramatic is done by the Government.

However, this widening stride by Govenor Badaru notwithstanding, the grinding truth is that considering the fact that unemployment rate in the whole Nigeria is currently well above 26% and underemployment about 16%, says the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), and with Jigawa State been one of the poorest State in Nigeria, so such staggering figure renders that planned employment of less than 2000 youths as not only insignificant but not good enough.

I recall some years ago after I completed my National service, I had the priveledge to attend EFCC aptitude test. That time we are about 200 graduates from Jigawa whose applyed to fill just the vacants for only 3 positions, Subhnallah! after we wrote the exam, we jist and sympathized ourselves and on whose shoulders rest on the crushing effects of unemployment. It is important to state that solution to youths unemployment in the state lies neither in any mechanically manufactured programs (not even the mighty Npower) or similar politically motivated one tried to initiate like J-power, but rather rest on carefully planned and execution of certain economic policies which should chiefly revolve round entrepreneurship and skills development.

To explain; if the government has done many substantial things in this direction, will not have to look very far to see the impact. And my concern is not what the government intends to do or is capable of doing. Rather, my concern is about what they are presently doing, and if it’s in the best interest of the youths.

Very instructive also, most of our political leaders may be ‘winning political positions’ but their inability to turn these victories into better lives for the youths through job creation and other social programmes is beginning to generate questions about their integrity.

I hold the opinion that the Jigawa State Government must do something to help the youths come out of this challenge. It is in the interest of the government to create jobs for the youths as a major formidable way of curbing crime  political thuggery, and reducing threatening insecurity in the country. It should be done not merely for political consideration, but from the views of state development and sustenance of our democracy.

While we keeps the above awareness in mind, it is important to add that the current unemployment challenges call for an urgent attention and concerted effort by government is currently in ‘dire need of solution to this problem, because unemployment has diverse implications. Security wise, ‘large unemployed youth population is a threat to the security of the few that are employed. Any transformation that does not have job creation as it’s main objective will not take us anywhere
Because, with the current realities of unemployment and poverty, not only Jigawa but the whole country is in “perculiar” mess and on the brink. The situation is getting scarier on a daily basis. A staggering number of able-bodied men, with qualifications or no qualifications, are scattered all over joblessly wandering. I’m afraid if something urgent, drastic and viable is not done to arrest the situation, we may soon degenerate into a full blown hotbed of criminalities. And the rate of crimes we are witnessing at present, which has outworn our security architecture, may only be a child’s play
Youths on their part must recognize that ‘the future is full of promises, as it is fraught with uncertainty.

That the industrial society is giving way to one based on knowledge’. They must, therefore, learn to be part of the knowledge-based world.

Umar Farouk writes from jigawa, he can reached via +2347032843368, daddyjahun@yahoo.com