YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT AND RESTIVENESS: THE NIGERIAN STORY

Abstract

Youth restiveness has become a topical issue for discussion in the social, economic and polity domain in Nigeria. It is a fact that Nigeria cannot thrive and progress significantly with youths who are restive. Nigeria’s peace, security and corporate existence as a nation is threatened because of the prevalence of this phenomenon. The causes of youth restiveness are connected to unemployment, lack of basic and inadequate infrastructural facilities and inadequate social amenities amongst others. The spiralling effect of youth restiveness are evident in Nigeria as ethnic militia, kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery, agitations and involvement in social insecurity. The causes and effects of youth restiveness have promoted uncertainties which have led to failure, fear and underdevelopment of most sectors in the Nigeria. The conflict theory explains that threatening events such as wars, revolution, domestic violence and others are as a result of competition and limited resources. Unfortunately, Nigeria’s government has not done enough by providing basic facilities, employment opportunities and effective empowerment programmes for the youths to be gainfully employed. This study holds unto the premise that in order to control youths in Nigeria, their skills, talents and education must be recognized, encouraged and channelled to the right sector in the society for growth, sustainable development and national peace. This paper reviewed the arguments surrounding youth restiveness in Nigeria alongside some recommendations on how the government could effectively be organized and responsible to counter the growing rate of youth restiveness in Nigeria.