I’VE seen weapons of mass destruction in our cities. Poverty is a weapon of mass de­struction. Joblessness is a weapon of mass destruction, homelessness, a weapon of mass destruction, racism, a weapon of mass destruction, fear, a weapon of mass destruc­tion. We must disarm these weapons.”

DENNIS KUCINICH, speech to Demo­cratic National Convention, July 28, 2004

That all people are equal but some people are more equal than others is nowhere more true than in the experience of unemployment. Unemployment is not a price ‘we’ all have to pay to restructure the economy and hold down inflation. Presented in this way, the real story of unemployment is hidden — that it is the same people who are always at risk of unemployment in an inefficient labour market founded on structured inequalities of locality, sex, race, disability, and age.”

– EITHNE MCLAUGHLIN, Preface and Acknowledgements, Understanding Unem­ployment: New Perspectives on Active La­bour Market Policies

The quotes above fittingly apply today to the predicament of the country’s chronically un­employed, the youth and those holding degrees in various fields who are desperately seeking for a job to eke out a living. Without a doubt, unemployment in Nigeria is a weapon of mass destruction, whose immediate casualties are all around us. Compounded with the situation is the complete absence of visible strategies to create jobs being advanced by the policymakers.

One of the consequences of joblessness is the resentment of the Nigerian youth that may lead to an uncontrollable chaos in the future. When people are frustrated and hopeless, they may re­sort to illegal activities to survive. In addition, there are other hidden effects of unemployment ranging from psychological and emotional to medical traumas. The unemployed and under­employed, as well as their families are suffering immensely with no help from the federal, state, and local governments. With the unemploy­ment, these families live in abject poverty with untreated medical and psychiatric issues. The situation in the country regarding joblessness is dire and widespread.

On my way to Nigeria two weeks ago, I met a man, whose daughter completed her degree program in London some time ago and came back to Nigeria. Up till now his daughter has not found a job. One could sense the frustration in his voice as he was telling the story. His story is not an exception; it is a recurring one. In every family, the sad tale of massive unemployment is being told daily with intense frustrations.

My nieces and nephews are still unemployed after graduating some years ago. Some of them, like in many other families, have gone back to pursue master’s degrees. Sadly, on comple­tion of their advanced degrees, the jobs are still scarce to find. The implication of the tales in­dicates that the unemployment rate in Nigeria may be over 45 percent based on anecdotal in­formation.

Where there are no accurate statistical data, supposition becomes the norm as the policy articulation lacks any seriousness. If there are no accurate and reliable data to capture the depth and breadth of unemployment in the country, policymakers would be work­ing without direction. Therefore, the true picture of joblessness will be obscured by lack of knowledge of the situation.

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Talking with Don Odunze, a graduate in chemistry, he narrated his ordeal as he spoke for many unemployed Nigerians, who have the capacity for a gainful employment, but could not find one. He began, “There have been millions of graduates and undergradu­ates in Nigeria, particularly the Nigerian youths, who are chronically unemployed. They could find job anywhere. Finding a job, whether professional or menial ones, has been an impossible task and a difficult vision for these graduates. This phenom­enon has dampened the dreams and aspira­tions of an average Nigerian youths whom are highly shattered and frustrated with high level of unemployment. This condition is currently eating up the marrows and bone of our country Nigeria”

He continued, “Unemployment in Nige­ria has found its way because of the purpose and the definition of leadership in Nigeria, we remain in a country where our political leaders, those in authority or in the position of leadership become self-interest driven, instead of serving the peoples interest. These officials have found it convenient to neglect the first priority of leadership which is community interest.

They steal public funds they should have invested to create employment, which would have had multiplier effects on the economy.” He emphasized, “The public funds which was meant for the creation of jobs and building factories that will be a source employment opportunities have been squandered by the corrupt politicians and now very many of are unemployed” “Our leaders have refused to accept the country’s chronic unemployment problems and they have deceptively downplayed the hardship it is causing us. Suffice to say that the unemploy­ment challenges facing the country is com­pounded by the fact tens of thousands graduate each year without any hope of employment.”

Without a doubt, the future of these young adults is being mortgaged by those in the gov­ernment who could not come up with policies that would address the endemic unemploy­ment problems in the country. It is a discourag­ing situation that no visible job creation strate­gies are in place to help the jobless individuals.

Also, we know too well that corruption warps the crux of rule of law; it undermines the people’s aspirations and commitment to building democratic structures and equitable economy.

Therefore, assets declaration is a step in curbing corruption in government. When Late President Yar’Adua declared his assets, it was an idea that was alien to public officials in Ni­geria, but a bold step to lead by example. Late Yar’Adua used that action to show that he had nothing to hide and would be accountable to Nigerians who had long salivated for such leadership. That public declaration of his fam­ily’s assets was truly commendable; the singu­lar act of public declaration of assets inevitably stood to serve as a catalyst that had the poten­tial to begin to restore people’s confidence in Nigeria’s political system.

The decision raised the people’s hope at the time that if public officials were compelled to declare their assets, perhaps a great amount of the country’s resources would be efficiently utilized. However, no one is under the illusion that assets declaration alone is an antidote to corruption.

To be concluded next week