Youth Unemployment and Implications for Stability of Democracy in Nigeria

Democracy as a system of government has been restored in Nigeria for over a decade now, and for it to be stabilized and entrenched, all the stakeholders must be involved. Youths represent a very important stakeholder in any society. They are not only the future of Nigeria, but also a major stakeholder and useful resource in the nation building. For the youths to become useful resource in the Nigerian project, they must be gainful employed. However, available data show that youth unemployment is very prevalent in Nigeria with far reaching implications for stability of democracy. This paper identifies the main causes of youth unemployment in Nigeria. Anchoring the explanation of youth unemployment in Nigeria on neo-liberalism that created economic and social dislocations, the paper argues that many anti-social activities such political thuggry, militancy, restiveness and other social vices evident among the unemployed and joblessness youths are real dangers to the stability of democracy in Nigeria. The paper concludes that addressing the problem of youth unemployment must involve all the stakeholders. This is a major step towards stabilizing and entrenching democracy in Nigeria.