There's no disputing the fact that the chief reason why criminality thrives in Nigeria,is unemployment. Unemployment is a situation where a person is available to work,is currently seeking to work,but is without work. In Nigeria,the rate of unemployment is alarming and more graduates are been churned out to the streets,without being provided for.This much,was ascertained by the minister of Youth development,Senator Akinlabi Olasunkanmi sometime last year.According to him,only about 10 percent of graduates released in to the labour market annually secure paid employment.
He also said that the 2006 provisional census figures indicated that more than 80 percent of the youth were unemployed,while about 10 percent were under-employed. This is not fair on the Nigerian youth.With this kind of statistics,need we be told what the frustrated unemployed youth would take recourse to? The average Unemployed Nigerian Graduate losses self esteem as days go bye.This in turn leads to depression.It is now the norm in our dear country,that a graduate must stay AT LEAST ONE YEAR on the streets before getting 'something' to do.This situation is totally unacceptable.This is very dangerous to the future of our dear country.
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It's really a shame that a country like ours,with her plenty resources, would allow her youths wallow like this.Tommorrows leaders?I need to be spared all those details about the Nigerian graduate being unemployable.That's nonsense.Where are the jobs first?Was it not in Niger state,that directors of ministries(education ministry in particular) failed tests woefully? In other climes,there are aids for the unemployed as part of their welfare.This aid is called the unemployment benefits. Unemployment benefits are payments made by the government of a country to the unemployed people.They are generally given to those registering as unemployed and often on conditions ensuring that they seek work and currently don't have a job. In the USA unemployment relief is a top government priority.
The US calls this aid,the unemployment compensation.It helps alleviate short term hardship for the unemployed and allows the unemployed more time to search for jobs. In Australia unemployment benefits are funded with the income tax system.There are two types of benefits paid to the unemployed.The first is called the youth allowance,and is paid to young people aged 16-20.The basic rate for this,is,AUD$92 per week. The second kind of payment is the newstarts allowance,paid to unemployed people over the age of 21.To get this,one has to be unemployed,be prepared to enter into what is called an activity agreement,by which one agrees to undertake certain activities to increase ones opportunities for employment.The rate is AUD$210.45 per week.This system is designed to support the citizens no matter how long they have been unemployed for. In Canada,the system is known as the employment insurance,until 1966,when it was changed to unemployment insurance. In Ireland,people aged 18 and above,who are unemployed can apply for either job seekers allowance,or job seekers benefit.The standard payment is 197.80 euros per week.Payment can be increased if the unemployed has dependents.
For each adult dependent,another 131.30 euros is added,and for each child dependent,another 24 euros is added.There are more benefits available to the unemployed which include,rent supplement,fuel allowance,among others. In New Zealand,benefits are provided for people who are looking for jobs.One would be asked to develop a job seekers agreement,where he/she agrees to look for work and is ready to work.Applicants partners,may be included in the benefits.The unemployed is paid$148.73 weekly after tax for single persons who are 20-24 years,while single 25 years or over gets $178.49 per week after tax. In sweden,the unemployed is paid sek14,960 per month. Saudi Arabia,as almost everybody knows,is an economic welfare state with free medical and unemployment benefits. In the UK ,the system is called the job seekers allowance rates.The JSA as it's called is changed annually for a single person.In 2007,the maximum payable was 59.15 pounds per week for persons aged over 25,36.65 per week for a person aged between 16 and17. For couples who are unemployed,its 92.80 pounds per week,payable dependent on age and other factors. Thees are countries with governments that care for their citizens.
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Countries that give hope to their citizens.Nigeria?it's the worst place to be unemployed.Nobody thinks about the plight of the unemployed.why won't there be high crime rates?Why won't every want to do 'yahoo plus'? It's a shame that the 6th(or is it 8th?)largest producing oil country in the world,has an alarming rate of unemployment,and nobody seems to care.Nothing is being done.
What stops the Nigerian government from paying unemployment benefits?The Govt. is capable...very capable of paying unemployment benefits.What,with the monies being misused on unseen power projects and their likes. If the government cannot provide jobs now,it should at least pay unemployment benefits,monthly.Let the unemployed have a sense of belonging.Make them feel cherished.Make them see that there's hope for them in Nigeria,and that the future is after all,not bleak. I urge the president Yar'adua led government(while it tries to provide jobs) to try paying the unemployed(while they keep searching for jobs),benefits,and see whether the unemployed(graduate)loves to commit crime just for the fun of it. Chiechefulam Ikebuiro 08026509076
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