A Proposal on Unemployment and Demographic Factors as Predictive Variables in Youth Restiveness
Chapter One
Objective of the study
The following objectives will be ascertained
- To ascertain the relationship between unemployment and youth restiveness in Portharcourt, Rivers state
- To find out the causes of youth restiveness in Portharcourt, Rivers state
- To find out the relationship between education and youth restiveness in Portharcourt, Rivers state
Chapter Two
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Introduction
Unemployment arises when people within the working age who remain without any gainful employment. It is a lack of employment, idleness, involuntary of a person seeking work at a prevailing wage rate, Abadom (1998). Unemployment is a global phenomenon. Over seventy percent of the unemployment cases in Rivers State are fingered to corruption (Ghost Workers Syndrome), Mittee (2006). The payment vouchers are loaded with thousands of names while the actual number of persons working are less. However, from the above assertion, the problem of unemployment does not only boarder on the less developed economies. The most disturbing feature of unemployment is its high level of dynamism and sophistication. Today, you may solve it, tomorrow it will resurface again. The world economies are passing through this same pain. In recent times, the scourge of unemployment has resulted to youth restiveness – an anti social violent activities that are been perpetrated by aggrieved youths. It involves brutality, communal clashes, kidnapping, criminality, prostitution and other crimes perpetrated by idle minds. As Agiobenibo, (1998) puts it: …youth restiveness in Rivers State has taken a different dimension., as criminals from other neighbouring states come to perpetrate the crime, hiding under the auspices of Niger Delta militias. Prior to this time, people viewed youth restiveness as a persistent demand or struggle for the liberation of the oil rich region which has suffered long periods of total neglect by past and present administration in the area of granting them their due percentage of the derivation fund, Ecological fund and provision of infrastructural developments. The idle aggrieved youths have taken to crime pointing accusing fingers to unemployment caused by high level of injustices in the Niger Delta, and corrupt politicians etc, Jhingan (2008). Morestill, is the high pace of youth restiveness to demand for employment in the multinational oil companies in their region, Gbosi (1993). Idle minds in Rivers State prior to this time according to Diejomoah and Orimalada (1991), Falae (1971), and Robinson (2001) committed this crime on subsistence level. Just to take advantage of an ignorant man, but today, militants in the Niger Delta especially in Rivers State have camps and leaders that dialogue constantly with the government. They kidnap and come out from the creeks (hideouts) to collect their ransoms without putting masks on their faces. This is a height of its sophistication. Momba (1983), Anyanwu (1992) and Angaye (1995) are of the view that: … youths take to crime and restiveness as the last resort after seeing corrupt politicians looting the nation’s wealth with impunity. Youths graduate and stay at home as much as five, six or even several years without jobs. Therefore, they see criminality as the only way to break the vicious circle of poverty in their families. Anyanwu (1992) asserts that: Since youths are the leaders of tomorrow, then the prevailing high cost of living and corruption in the country, justifies their restiveness. Millions of Nigerian youths have taken crime to be a hobby, for example, following the statements of some aggrieved youths during the bound on Okada early this year by the Rt. Honourable Chibuike Amaechi led administration. Most motor-cyclist popularly called Okada made open provocative statements that if the government goes ahead to bound the use of Okada in Port Harcourt, they will take to crime as the only way-out. This implies that some Nigerian youths are not even willing to engage themselves in any economic activity or take advantage of the laudable economic programmes of the present administration in Rivers State such as the sustainable Development Programme (Micro Finance Loan).
Youth restiveness
Youth restiveness: this can be defined as a combination of any action or conduct that constitutes unwholesome socially unacceptable and unwortwhole activities engaged in by the youths in any community. It can also be referred to as a desplicable act which is being perpetrated by a significant proportion of youths whose activities have led to a near breakdown of law and order, low productivity due to disruption of production activities.
Chapter Three
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work. The choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to unemployment and demographic factors as predictive variables in youth restiveness
Chapter Four
METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS
The researcher will employ oral and direct interview in administering this research questions. Responses from the respondents were needed unlike questionnaires, which is less rewarding due to late receipt and loss of responses from respondents. The method of data analysis that will be used by the researcher is the simple percentage. More so, percentage and degrees of the responses will also be used in the analysis. Here, the ratio of those whose responses were not in the affirmative will be found and conclusions will be drawn there upon. Representations of the level of responses will be made in tabular form. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software will be used to test the hypotheses.
References
- Ahadom, FA, (1998) An approach to labour economics in Nigeria. Obiozo Educational Publisher Ltd p.14.
- Agiobenibo, J.O, (1998) Public Sector economics. University of Port Harcourt Printing Press, pp 69-70.
- Anyanwu J.C, (1992) Economics for senior secondary schools. Revised T’ 143-147.
- Angaye, G.S, (1995) Socio-economic development in Nigeria Pam Unique Publishing Company pp4O-54.
- Diejomoah V and Orimalada WAT (1991) Unemployment in Nigeria. Economics and Social Studies volume 13, No2 July pp.60-62.
- Falae, SO (1971) Employment. The Nigerian Journal of Economics and Social Studies volume 13, Nol March pp 11-13.
- Gbosi, A.N, (1993) The Nature Causes and consequences of Nigerian current unemployment problems. Anvesak India pp5O-51.
- Jhingan, M.L, (2008) The Economics .of Development and Planning 39th Edition Vrinda Publications Limited 18-20.
- Mittee, L (2006) The alarming state of youth restiveness. Vanguard Newspapers vol. 12 Sun Magazine pp4O— 42 of Ibadan Press pp 38-40.
- Ndibio, NE (2004) Nigerian Economy at a cross-road. University of Calabar Printing Press pp6-7. Robinson, MO (2001) Culture of Social Science research. Nal Print Publisher Ltd. Port Harcourt pp39-42.
