An Economist, Prof. Segun Ajibola has attributed the underhand dealings in the recruitment process in most Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to high unemployment rate in the country.
Ajibola told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that lack of sufficient employment opportunities had encouraged underhand dealings in the recruitment process, especially in the public sector.
“Stories abound of how the high and mighty ones corner the available opportunities, especially in choice Federal Government MDAs and at times state and local government levels.
“If indeed the allegations are true, then it is resulting from the yearning gap between the available skills set and the opportunities to engage them.
“If indeed, unqualified hands are being engaged at the expense of merit, it will be most unfortunate.’’
Ajibola, however, said unqualified hands would not be productive and could seek after mundane things to survive in the workplace while well trained, highly qualified ones waste away.
“In all, full employment is a key macroeconomic objective of any government.
“When unemployment problem is left unaddressed for long, it breeds such social malaise as cultism, armed robbery, militia, social strife, cybercrimes and prostitution, among others,’’ he said.
According to him, unemployment wastes human capital and renders intellectual capital redundant.
Ajibola, a former President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, said inflation and unemployment were referred to as the twin evils in economic discourse.
He said Nigeria had been struggling with the problem of unemployment for a while and was further worsened by the recent economic recession.
Meanwhile, Sen. Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment had described the incessant increase of unemployment in the country as disturbing.
According to him, the high unemployment rate of 23.1 per cent and underemployment of 16.6 per cent by the National Bureau Statistics (NBS) 2019 report is alarming.
Ngige said if the situation was not addressed, it could reach 33.5 per cent by 2020. (NAN)
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