THE ROLE OF THE NATIONAL DIRECTORATE OF EMPLOYMENT IN CURBING UNEMPLOYMENT IN ENUGU STATE 2012 - 2022

Abstract

The study examined the role of the national directorate of employment in curbing unemployment in Nigeria with particular reference to Enugu State within the time frame of 2012 to 2022. The objectives of the study were to examine if the National Directorate of Employment (NDC) has wellarticulated programmes able to curd unemployment rate in Enugu State; ascertain if the NDE is able to maintain data bank on employment in view of reducing the rate of unemployment in Enugu State; investigate if there exist any collaboration between NDE and the Bank of Industry (BIO) in a bid to curbing the rate of unemployment in Enugu State; examine the challenges facing the NDE in its bid to curb the unemployment rate in Enugu State; and proffer viable recommendations to the challenges facing NDE in cubing unemployment in Enugu State. This study adopted the survey research design. The population of the study include the total number of persons living of Enugu state which according to the National Population Commission (2006) is 3,233,366, which comprises both officials of NDE and beneficiaries of NDE programmes and schemes. From the 17 local government areas in Enugu state 20 beneficiaries of NDE programmes was selected as sampled respondents making a total of 340 while 20 staff (senior and junior staff) was also selected from the NDE, Enugu State, making the study sample size to be 360. The method of data analysis used for the purpose of this study was the simple percentage (%) and the Pearson's Correlation Coefficient. The study discovered amongst others that there is a significant relationship between the NDE programmes and unemployment rate in Enugu State. It was also revealed by the study findings that there exist a positive significant relationship between NDE data bank on employment and reduction in the rate of unemployment in Enugu State. Thus, based on the aforementioned findings the following recommendations amongst others were given; NDE should imbibe the culture of maintaining an up to data repository on unemployment and NDE should engage in rigorous public sensitization of its plans and programs.