The Former Head of Nigeria’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given out some useful information ahead of the 2019 elections explaining why increased youth unemployment might lead to crisis in governance processes.
Professor Attahiru Jega, who was a guest speaker at an event at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Thursday delivered a lecture on the need for volunteers in Nigeria’s electoral process and warned that the unemployment situation in the country needs to be tackled fast.
He said the nation sits on a keg of gunpowder if it does not creatively divert the energy of her idle youthful population.
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“It’s important that we find ways and the means of constructively engaging youths in politics, the electoral process, governance process, otherwise, rather than the youths being potentially used for development, it can turn into a nemesis and create more crisis,” he said.
He explained that the younger generation, if not constructively engaged may fall victim to those who will employ them to carry out negative activities which might develop into a greater in elections and governance.
“We are beginning to see it, in many African countries, even here in Nigeria, the many unemployed youths are being utilised negatively in politics and during elections.
“They are increasingly frustrated by unemployment. Whether they are secondary school graduates or university graduates. That frustration is a keg of gunpowder and if it is not properly managed it is possible governance processes will obviously explode,” he said.
