NIGERIA'S PUBLIC POLICY

Nigeria's Public Policy and Challenges

Nigeria's Public Policy and Challenges

Nigeria's Public Policy and Challenges

Nigeria is a growing economy in Sub- Saharan African region. Nigeria has been facing a multitude of policy related issues that have caused its growth in the recent decades. The Federal Republic of Nigeria State bordered on the West by Benin and on the North by Niger. There should be adjustments in the current policy to make it more legal with the current challenges. There are various policy issues that affect the development of Nigeria.

Major Policy Issues as they affect the Nigerian Development Efforts

Trade Policy

The Nigerian government has had a long battle with trade unions that have relentlessly accused it of ignoring several core labor standards that the government has an obligation by international law to comply. Trade unions in Nigeria are principally concerned with workplace gender discrimination, the prevalence of child labor, and harassment of trade union members in the workplace (Uviehara, 2001).

The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) published a report on core labor standards in Nigeria. The report showed that the country still had serious shortcomings in applying and enforcing all eight core labor standards, particularly union rights, including the right to strike, as well as measures to combat workplace discrimination and child labor. The Nigerian labor scene has also witnessed many worker strikes resulting from overdue or unpaid wages and the demand for a national minimum wage (Ananaba, 1979). The government recently adopted the Trade Union Amendment Act. However, the Act did not adequately address issues with regard to freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining, the right to strike, and anti-union policies. The Act is aimed at curbing the right to strike and weaken the Nigerian Labor Congress.

Youth Engagement and Poverty Alleviation

The provision of meaningful work in Nigeria is an essential component of poverty reduction and alleviation efforts. This effort has become especially necessary with the continuous growth of the urban population that has resulted in more slums, crime, drug use, and unemployment. It is important to consider both quantity and quality in evaluating meaningful work in Nigeria. This can be measured by considering the number and quality of programs targeted toward poverty elimination, skills acquisition and wealth creation. Many Nigerian governments have initiated elaborate poverty alleviation programs ranging from President Obasanjo's launch of Operation Feed the Nation (OFN) between 1976-1980 that focused on food production; to Shehu Shagari's Wellness, Health & Safety Protections Culture of Respect, Inclusion & Equity Opportunities for Development, Learning & Advancement Opportunities for Meaningful Work Workplace Flexibility Promotion of Constructive Relationships at the Workplace Fair, Attractive and Competitive Compensation & Benefits Quality of Employment Provisions for Employment Security & Predictabilities Green Revolution in the 80s with a similar focus; to Ibrahim Babangida's institutional structures and policy framework for poverty alleviation during his time in office between 1985 and 1993. Babangida's structures, though now modified, included the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), which was responsible for fighting unemployment among school dropouts by providing opportunities for self ...