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Unemployed graduates in Nigeria writes to Jonathan

Published

10 years ago

March 21, 2014

Our dear president, we write this letter to you with great passion,
and in a state of curiosity and concern.
We understand your zeal as the President of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria to invest in the next generation of the country’s youths by
presenting a budget that contains reasonable projects that are aimed at
tackling the far-reaching malady of UNEMPLOYMENT in our
beloved country, Nigeria.
But, it is so unfortunate that the unemployed graduates of Nigerian
institutions of higher learning have no representatives at the ongoing
National Conference. Having read the modalities of the National
Conference and the components involved, we are convinced without
prejudice or doubt, that our children would blame us if we fail to
inform you, Mr. President, of the mockery of the committee as a
result of misplaced priorities.
Mr. President Sir, the only common element which costs less, and can
solve the myriad of problems faced by most Nigerians is
EMPLOYMENT.
Unemployment is a big challenge in Nigeria, which over the years has
represented a lost opportunity for national economic development.
With the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) putting the current
rate of unemployed Nigerians at 23.9 per cent, up from 21.1 per cent in
2010 and 19.7 per cent in 2009, the rising unemployment rate in
Nigeria has in no small measure contributed to the continuous rise in
social vices like terrorism, political thuggery, violence and even
teenage pregnancies among youths in many parts of the country.
In view of these, the Association of Nigerian Graduates against
Unemployment, an association of well cultured youths and
intellectuals, was formed. We represent the frustrated and angry
youths in the society, forced to act after going through the 492 political
selections for the National Conference and noticing the deafening
silence concerning unemployment and the unemployed.
We are happy you know, according to statements credited to you, that
Nigerians are already talking about their national challenges through
the print, electronic and social media and this is how we intend to
make our voices heard.
The political selections will only give the same answers and report
only what they feel you would be comfortable hearing. The truth, Mr.
President, is far from comfortable. What affects us is
UNEMPLOYMENT, and we want you to take a critical look at
the following issues:
1. Contract Staffing – This is in fact one of the biggest problems
hindering graduates from getting jobs. Most of those assumed to be
workers in most industries, firms and companies are in fact, not
permanent staff. They are all under-employed and are also competing
with fresh graduates for any available vacancy.
2. Age limit as a prerequisite for employment opportunities.
3. The issue of years of experience by several government ministries
and parastatals.
4. Employment not being on merit.
5. Provision of social welfare for all unemployed graduates and more
for the physically challenged graduates. (Return to the quota for each
firm to employ, as a percentage of their total workforce, a specific
percentage of physically challenged graduates)
Mr. President, from the various statistics we have from the National
Bureau of Statistics, and other sources, the number of unemployed
citizens ranges from 30 to 45 million, and that is about the population
of five major cities in Nigeria. An average of 4.5 million graduates
enter into the job market annually with no access to soft loans or any
type of enabling environment coupled with epileptic power supply, even
after the privatization of PHCN.
The “YouWin” programme is more like and very similar to the visa
lottery game, where only lucky winners are empowered and only the
families of public office holders and those in government get the little
available jobs. We are citizens and should also be given access to enjoy
social facilities like those in government e.g. NHIS scheme. We are
products of our society and we want to be treated equally like those in
government.
We passed through various challenges and delays in school such as
ASUU strikes, late school enrolment due to poverty and/or
ignorance, bureaucratic arrangement in government, unfortunate
policies and administrative problems.
Mr. President, we live in a country where people now sell jobs.
Everyone had hitherto been quiet about this completely unacceptable
and despicable act and it must be looked into. We are human capital,
and this is by far, the greatest asset any country can have. We are
worth more than the oil in the South-South or the pepper from the
North. We cannot afford to sit down and watch ourselves waste
away anymore.
Our dear president, we commend you for what has been done so far in
addressing the issue of unemployment such as NDE, YouWin and
others, but we are asking that you help us to help this nation and youth
restiveness caused by unemployment by empowering us.
We are tired of running out of our fatherland to foreign countries and
yet treated and addressed as third class citizens through Visa bonding
and the rest, when our country is blessed.
The stakes are high now and we are using this opportunity to address
the polity that this association is not a political movement or a violent
sect. We are a pressure group crying out in splinters but with one
voice for our needs in our country ,Nigeria. We denounce and
disassociate ourselves from the methodologies of some home based
terror groups/sects in the Northern part of Nigeria that have adopted
violence and are unleashing carnage on the society in fighting their
cause. However, it should not be forgotten that the problems of these
Home Terror groups in the North started when their needs were not
met, and with lots of anomalies in their society. Now it’s spiraling and
all nations are called to join in securing the region. All we are saying
is listen to our cries now and not when things go bad. We are
accessible and open for discussions on how to forge ahead in addressing
the problems of unemployment with your support.
Mr. President Sir, ignoring the points raised here can have
unpleasant consequences. We implore you to urgently address these
points to halt the steadily growing number of angry and frustrated
unemployed graduates who may be tempted to channel their knowledge
and energy into negativities. God bless you, sir, as we await your
speedy response and God bless Nigeria
By Ehis Abuya (National Coordinator, Association of Unemployed
Graduates).