By Citizen Aluu Vincent
Dudley Seers (1963) it was who said that for a country to talk about development, it must ask what has happened to unemployment, poverty and inequality. He said if there was reduction in the three, it means development is taking place but if no improvement takes place, such a country should not count itself as making progress.
It is with the above in mind that I wish to state that Nigeria as a country is not making any progress. We are poverty capital of the world, with more than 21 million Nigerians unemployed and average citizens living on less than one dollar per day. Also, the rate of insecurity and injustice are so alarming that we fear an implosion soonest if nothing is done urgently to correct these ills.
Few days back, the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, NBS, reminded us of how poor and unemployed we are. It went ahead to list Akwa Ibom as the second state with the highest rate of unemployment after Imo State. The social media became awash with analysis, arguments for and against the report. While a section of the youths in Akwa Ibom knocked the state government for not doing enough to create jobs, others praised the efforts and steps so far taken by Udom Emmanuel to create jobs. Those against are of the view that Akwa Ibom State receives the highest allocation from the federal government hence have enough financial war chest to create jobs and wealth. The Information Commissioner, Comr. Ini Ememobong rose in defense of the state government and faulted the report of NBS. He questioned the rationale behind such ranking, the criteria and population sample used in arriving at the figures. This is what every government should do first; I will not hold it against him.
Having said all these, it is trite to note that reducing unemployment is not rocket science but involves careful planning, channeling of resources and enacting of the right policies. Not holding brief for anyone, let me therefore state the following:
One, I share in the sentiments of those speaking for and against the report. I also align my thoughts with those who said the State government receives so much finds hence should not come second in unemployment rate. I also agree with those who are of the view that the state government is making appreciable progress. As Nigerians we have no reason to suffer from poverty and unemployment given the amount of resources at our disposal. Personally, I will not count myself a being fully employed. I have a BSc in Policy and Administrative Studies, an MBA in Human Resources, MSc in Public Administration, PGD (in view) in Journalism and soon to commence a PhD in Public Administration. In addition, I have acquired some entrepreneurial, digital and a handful of professional skills. All these are yet to translate to a good paying job neither have I been lucky to access loan or grant from government to establish the business of my dream. So, I am also a victim of this unemployment thing and join all the unemployed to protest and demand for a better a life.
Two, let me say that it is not exclusively the duty of government to provide jobs for its people. However, government has a very vital role to play in attracting investments, provide the necessary infrastructures, create the congenial environment that stimulates economic activities and support the private sector with business-friendly policies. Only then will jobs and wealth be created.
Three, the Udom Emmanuel government has done a lot in attracting foreign direct investment in the state. According to NBS report in 2017, Akwa Ibom State under Udom Emmanuel ranked second after Lagos in terms of FDI inflow. If that was the case, it begs for answers why and how the State ranks second in unemployment index. At the last count, more than 15 industries have berthed the state and commenced operations. Human beings and not spirits man these firms. Some of them are the Jubilee Syringe factory, King Size Flour Mill, Metering Company, Ibom Agricon Rice Mill, St. Gabriel Coconut factory, and Ibom Airlines with a good number of brand-new aircrafts, etc. I also hear the Science Park will come alive; that will be another big one for us. Few weeks ago, I had cause to visit SACAM Agro Processing Mill Limited, a 240 tonnes rice mill located Ibiono Ibom LGA with the capacity to produce more than 500,000 bags of rice per annum. The said rice mill is owned by my kinsman from Ebonyi State. My kinsman told me that he chose Akwa Ibom for his multi-billion-naira rice mill owing to the favorable business climate. Need I mention the fact that Ibom Deep Seaport is on course and will soon be in operation with capacity to generate more than 100, 000 jobs direct and indirect jobs and also attract allied industries.
Four, the issue of unemployment predates the Udom Emmanuel administration. He has even tried to create some. A time there was in this state when funds were in excess. Such windfalls would have been used to build industries and create jobs for Akwa Ibom youths. How many FDIs were attracted to the state with all the foreign business trips? You and I know what transpired and the rest is history. Here, we have a governor that has attracted investors and even competes favorably with Lagos State, yet we say he has done nothing? Besides, parents want their kids to study medicine, law, engineering, space technology and other juicy courses. Where are the firms that will absorb these graduates? How many parents want their kids to study business related courses in Nigeria. The result is that each year hundreds of thousands of youths join the army of the unemployed. How has government encouraged growth of the real sector, the very sector that has the capacity to generate thousands of jobs? That is where we are missing it. We need to reorder our priorities and focus on skills acquisition and study courses relating to entrepreneurship, manufacturing, agriculture and the likes. That is only when we can fight this monster of unemployment and poverty.
Five, for those of us blaming Udom for unemployment because the state receives the highest allocation, I think you are all missing the point here. Have you pondered what government spends funds on? Have you wondered what the wage bill and the debt profile of the state looks like? If you have an idea of what these two are, then you will agree with me that Udom Emmanuel is a wizard in financial management. He is still clearing backlog of pension and promotion arears dating back to 2012 and he is still repaying loans running into tens of billions of naira incurred by past governments. He did not create any of these, yet he is honoring the obligations.
Six, while blaming Udom Emmanuel for increased unemployment, have you considered taking a swipe on the federal government for its actions and inactions? The national unemployment figure of 2020 stands at 21.8%. Recall that as at May 2015, the unemployment rate stood at 9 million. What this means is that between 2015 to 2020, unemployment rose by over 12 million. Within this period also, Nigeria lost its position as largest African economy, became poverty capital of the world with Nigerians living on far less than a dollar per day. According to Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, 196 companies closed shops and left Nigeria between when Buhari became president and 2016. Those who lost their jobs includes Akwa Ibomites. That number has since tripled and more companies are still leaving owing to unconducive business climate, harsh business policies and policy summersault. Other reasons are insecurity, mismanagement of the naira and high cost of doing business. The federal government has borrowed more than funds in five years than all other former governments put together. What the funds were used for is talk for another day as they have not translated to anything tangible and the government is still borrowing. My question is, what do you borrow for: is it to consume or produce more capital? Your guess is a good as mine.
Seven, the success of any economy the world over lies in the private sector; that is the area of job and wealth creation. What has government done to stimulate the economy? For me little or nothing. All the funds earmarked as support for businesses due to covid-19 pandemic, are yet to yield any fruit. It is either government has not released the funds to the right beneficiaries or as usual, they have found their way into private pockets. Let Central Bank publish names of companies that benefitted from its 50 billion COVID-19 funds. If Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and NACCIMA can cry blue murder over disbursement of the said funds, then your guess is as good as mine.
Eight, I must commend Udom Emmanuel for his efforts so far in developing the real sector in the state and attracting FDI. I must also commend him for his industrialization drive. We may not be there yet but we have made significant progress. However, I think the governor needs to do more to strengthen AKEES and other government agencies responsible for promoting entrepreneurship in the state. The Governor should pay more attention to the real sector for therein lies solution to the unemployment debacle in the state. Mr. Governor should immediately approve the establishment of Akwa Ibom State Directorate of Employment and Planning, (AKSDEP). The Body will assist in coordinating planning, statistics and employment issues in the state. The State Youth Development Fund Law passed by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly should be assented to by the governor. It will complement employment efforts of the state. The report of the Post COVID-19 Economic team headed by Professor Akpan Ekpo should be studied and its recommendations implemented. All these will help create jobs and wealth for our youths.
Finally, for you out there criticizing Udom Emmanuel and asking him to give you a job, what have you done to help yourself? Shouting from now till next year on social media will not land you a job. Get out of your comfort zone, learn a skill, a trade, take a part time job or join network marketing. Grants and loans are given to those who have one skill or the other. Do you have any skill? Getting a degree is not enough these days to land you a job. You need skills to make it in life. With all my academic qualifications up to PhD level, I had to learn skills; I even went for digital marketing course. I am into network marketing too to earn more income for me. Nothing good ever comes easy. You must earn every money you wish to spend. The bible says that wisdom is profitable to direct. Be guided and God will bless your hustles.
