In spite of having the largest population in Africa at approximately 224 million in August 2023 according to Worldometer, and 16.8% between 15 and 35 years, Nigeria suffers from a serious labour conundrum.

A Global skills report published in 2023 ranked Nigeria 100 out of 100 countries surveyed in business, technology and data science skills behind war torn Somalia. This is consistent with an earlier report by Jobberman which indicated that “over 50% of the country’s youth are either unemployed or unemployable”.

The problem is better appreciated when viewed from a long shot that also captures blue collar workers in a sector like agriculture; supposedly the biggest employer of labour in the country.

In spite of the many able bodied working-age people milling around farm settlements, small and large scale agriculture organisations are having huge labour shortages in the country. Even though the workers in question are poor and struggling to put a decent meal on the table, this segment of the population is increasingly disinterested in working in agriculture or sectors requiring physical activity. Many of the large corporates are experiencing unprecedented labour attrition rates.

It is common knowledge in the sector that more reliable farm hands in the country are sourced from Benin Republic, Togo and to a lesser extent Ghana, because of the disinterest of locals in a hard day’s work. I have personally consulted for blue-chip agro-allied conglomerates in the country with unbelievable labour attrition rates. In many instances, we have found that over 70% of new recruits leave farms within the first week of engagement in spite of having no other work to go back to.

Although the reasons for this require closer investigation, a back of the envelope assessment points to a growing culture of rent seeking and political patronage among others as possible culprits.

Opinions on Nigeria are as varied as there are humans. Most however agree that this country is a paradox: Rich country with poor citizens; the smartest black people on the planet browbeaten by perennial leadership failure.

Like one of it’s leaders is quoted to have said, “Nigerian leaders are adept at managing wealth to create poverty”. The most important resource of the country which is it’s people has been mismanaged by a political class that seems to benefit from a subservient and beggarly electorate.

From a policy perspective, it will take at least 20 years of consistent investment and hard work by all and sundry to salvage the situation. Otherwise, the increasingly poor masses may consider having the better off for dinner when they run out of options. The security and stability implications of the unfolding imbroglio for the sub region and the world is better imagined!