THE IMPACT OF NATIONAL DIRECTORATE OF EMPLOYMENT (NDE) ON JOB CREATION IN ENUGU STATE- NIGERIA

ABSTRACT The title of this research project is the “Impact of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) on Job Creation in Nigeria: A Study of Enugu State”. The need for the research work arose as a result of persistence increase in unemployment in Nigeria despite the efforts of various agencies saddled with job creation especially the National Directorate of Employment (NDE). The researchers in conducting the research work made use of primary and secondary sources of data. The population of the study is 759,976, while the sample size for the study is 278. The stratified random sampling technique was used in selecting the sample for the study, while the data collected were presented and analyzed using frequency, percentage and table. The study revealed that employment counseling services, vocational skills acquisition, enterprise creation for NDE participants and small scale enterprise programmes are some of the ways NDE has attempted to create job in Enugu State. It was also discovered that these measures are ineffective in job creation. The study revealed some of the challenges facing the agency to include incompetent personnel, political interference and control, low turn up by participants, lack of policy support from government etc. Also the study identified some measure to improve the effort of the Directorate. Based on these findings, the researchers recommended for adequate funding of the directorate, creation of more skill acquisition centres across the local governments, and appointment of competent personnel. Finally, the researchers recommended for elimination of political interference and control, elimination of corruption and provision of adequate resources to the successful participants. The researchers urge the directorate to be passionate about innovative approach to job creation.