Towards Achieving a Sustainable Economic Growth for Nigeria - The Complementary Role of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the National Directorate of Employment (NDE)

The Nigerian economy is plagued with varying issues that undermine its sustainable growth and development. Prominent among these issues are the country's growing unemployment rate and the recent upsurge in militant activities. The growing insurgence in the Niger Delta region coupled with the country's hyper unemployment rate, has raised a crucial question: Will Nigeria achieve a sustainable economic growth as envisioned in its Vision 2020:20 agenda? It is a known fact that the uprising in the Niger Delta region disrupted the macro economy, as evidenced in the disruption of oil and gas production, a consequent shortfall in the country's projected electricity supply; a reduction in gross national income; foreign capital flight; reduced foreign direct investment IFDI]; and the exit of oil Multinational Corporations with their expatriate staff. This alongside the country's growing unemployment rate that has often been argued as the bane of criminal activities in the country created a major macroeconomic destabilization of the polity. These two variables, employment generation and maintaining a control over the illicit economy are essential, if not basic prerequisites for achieving a sustainable economic growth. Employment generation ensures that a country's available manpower is utilized productively and in a timely manner in the production of basic goods and services, while a control over the illicit economy maximizes a country's potential for maintaining and sustaining its social and productive facilities