CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1. Background to the Study Unemployment anywhere is a threat to peace and prosperity everywhere. Unemployment has been a major problem in most countries of the world. Nigeria, as a developing country is witnessing high rate of graduate unemployment which has become one of the major threats to its national security (Ajayi, Adeniji & Adu (2008). According to Lisa (2019) the world unemployment rate stood at 172 million in 2018 while it stands at 23.1% in quarter three (Q3) of Nigeria population in 2019. No doubt, the menace causes a lot of security and socio economic vices across the globe, a typical example include the increase in crime rate in Nigeria. There is also a growing level of security challenges facing the country, which calls for serious concern. The rising level of insecurity in the country can be attributed for the increase in unemployment rate in the country. Many school leavers and employable adults are unable to secure jobs and the government is unable to act fast enough in finding a solution to this problem. This research work foreseen that the high rate of unemployment in the country is directly responsible for the increasing security challenges in Nigeria. For sustainable development to be achieved, the government must urgently address the unemployment crisis facing the country so as to be able to adequately tackle its security challenges (Abalaka & Takula, 2018). Graduate unemployment according to Salihu, Muhammed & Bayero (2016) is a global phenomenon whereby eligible workforce of the state is deprived in the service to the country. The only difference lies in the magnitude and the rate of unemployment which is unevenly distributed among countries. This is not only a serious economic issue but also has implications that affect almost all countries (Nigeria inclusive) and all people either directly or indirectly. Unemployment (especially that of Graduates) causes social disquiet and increase in crimes, continuing youth unrest and unstable socio-economic structure. According to Ajufo (2013), youth unemployment has national and global impacts, notably among which are increased violence crime, drug abuse and political instability. There is also the increase in systematic crimes using Information and Communication Technology (I.C.T). Most of those who engaged themselves in these forms of sophisticated crimes have some sort of formal education and training and since government is unable to judiciously utilize their talents, they look for ways to illegally use these talents. Desperation according to Ajufo (2013) can drive many people into living outside the law in order to survive and as a means of expressing dissatisfaction at the apparent neglect of their very existence. The issue of graduate unemployment according to Ajayi, Adeniji & Adu (2008) has caught the attention of policymakers, parents, educationists as well as media commentators. In fact, the situation is almost certainly worse than expected as over 2.5 millions graduates from the nation’s Tertiary Educational Institutions are presently roaming about the streets looking for unavailable employment. On the other hand, national security is the requirement to maintain the survival of the state through the use of economy, diplomacy, power projection, and political power. Security threats can come in any form. The present security threat in Nigeria is that the Boko-Haram terrorist attacks on the government and the country at large. The upcoming threat to its national security is the issue of youth graduate unemployment which demands attention from the government. It is a fact that majority of Nigerian youths are unemployed; while the few ones in employment are confronted with so much socio-economic pressure from hordes of dependants. Political violence, social insecurity and sundry crimes in most countries are traceable to high rates of unemployment among youths who constitute the able-bodied and economically-active groups in the civic population. The researchers can infer that, the increasing spate of sectarian insurrection, crimes and terrorism, which Nigeria has been experiencing in the past few years in Nigeria, may not be unconnected with the alarming rate of graduate unemployment. It is against this background that this study examines the effects of graduate unemployment on Nigeria’s national security. 1.2. Statement of Problem In recent times, there have been notable adverse social, economic and political developments in Nigeria, consequence of youth unemployment and underemployment, militancy, particularly exemplified by increasing violent crimes, kidnapping, restiveness and political instability. The Nigerian situation is further compounded by the recent global financial crisis that has crippled businesses and the project of securing jobs for young people (Fanimo and Olayinka, 2009). Adejumo and Tayo-olajubulu (2009) contended that unemployment has been identified as one of the major causes of social vices including armed robbery, destitution, prostitution, political thuggery, kidnapping, hostage-taking and many more. However, the need to avert the negative effect of unemployment has made the tackling of unemployment problems to feature very prominently in the development objectives of many countries. Therefore, the major problem facing the growth of unemployment among the youth in Nigeria today could be identified among the following problems; political thuggery, militancy, restiveness, and other social vices which include; drugs abuse, prostitution, overpopulation, corruption, crime rate and poverty which are evident among the numerous problems that resulted from increase in unemployment. 1.3. Objective of the Study The main objective of the study is to examine the impact of unemployment on security challenges in Ilorin metropolis. The specific objectives based on the identified problem are to: i. to examine the link between unemployment and socio economic challenges in Nigeria ii. determine the causes of graduate unemployment in Nigeria; iii. examine the effects of graduate unemployment on Nigeria’s national security. 1.4. Research Questions i. Is there any link between unemployment and socio economic challenges in Nigeria? ii. What are the causes of graduate unemployment in Nigeria? iii. What are the effects of graduate unemployment on Nigeria’s national security? 1.5. Research Hypotheses i. There is no significant link between unemployment and socio economic challenges in Nigeria ii. Graduate unemployment does not have any effects on Nigeria’s national security. 1.6. Scope of the Study This study titled “impact of unemployment on security challenges in Nigeria” is delimited to Ilorin Metropolis, Kwara state, Nigeria. The study used unemployed graduates in the study area as respondents. The causes and effects of graduate unemployment on Nigeria’s national security are covered in the study. This is due to the imminent security challenges in the country in the last decade. 1.7. Significance of the Study Justifying why unemployment rate is significant to economy, Investing Answers (2014) asserts that employment is the primary source of personal income in the U.S. and has a major influence on consumer spending and overall economic growth. Thus, the unemployment rate, which is a lagging indicator, can provide considerable information about the state of the economy or the health of particular business sectors. For example, high unemployment generally indicates that an economy is underperforming or has a falling gross domestic product. Conversely, low or falling unemployment may reflect an expanding economy. The findings from this study will provide information that will be a good input to government and policy makers in their decision making or activities relating to how they can reduce unemployment and crime activities and how it can help in crime reduction (protection of communities) and decision-making. The findings of this study will also be useful in the following areas: criminology, sociology, psychology and statistics. The partial analysis provided can be used to explain the relationships that exist between some of the unemployment rate and crime activities. This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge on effect of unemployment and national security conceptually and empirically as researcher can lay more hand on.
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