National Directorate of Employment (NDES) Open Apprenticeship Scheme And Youth Employment in Benue State

ABSTRACT   

Youth unemployment has remamed one of the present and persistent social problems that characterize Nigeria as a developing economy. Measures to address this social problem have featured prominently in the development agenda of successive governments. One of such measures was the establishment of the National Directorate of Employment (NOE), by the Babangida Administration in 1986. NOE is a public policy on employment and wealth creation that has managed to endure over the years. Since its establishment, a number of schemes have been designed and implemented under the directorate to combat youth unemployment. One of such schemes is the National Open Apprenticeship Scheme (NOAS). This study was undertaken to examine the implementation of the scheme in Benue State located in the North Central geographical zone of Nigeria. Within the framework of the neo-classical model of economic thought, these programmes of action are understood as a deliberate policy intervention by government to correct distortions in resource allocation occasioned by the laissez-faire market mechanism. The study employed both analytical and empirical approaches. Whereas the former reflects on state of the research in existing literature, the latter utilized survey research to probe into the implementation of NOAS. Findings reveal that the skills development programme in Benue State is an initiative that can address youth unemployment. However, the objective of enhancing job opportunities among the youth through the skills acquisition programme of NOAS has not been significantly achieved due to poor attitude of unemployed youths towards NOAS, poor business environment, dwindling academic standards among other things. The study recommends inter-alia that: new attitudes orientation towards youth employment in Benue State should be created; there should be increased public awareness on the activities of the Open Apprenticeship Programme and improved social infrastructure in Benue State; the scope of NOAS should be expanded to accommodate graduates of tertiary institutions; and above all, the general policy framework on education be reviewed to create a synergy between the formal school system and the job market in Benue State and by extension, Nigeria.