The Complementary Role of NDDC and NDE in Achieving Sustainable Economic Growth for Nigeria

Abstract

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 agenda? The upsurge in the Niger Delta region alongside the country’s growing unemployment rate created a major macroeconomic destabilization, as evidenced in: disruption of oil and gas production, which led to a consequent shortfall in the country’s projected electricity supply; a reduction in gross national income; foreign capital flight; reduced foreign direct investment [FDI]; exit of oil Multinational Corporations, growth of the illicit economy, etc. 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 and development of the country. 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. The Nigerian government in other to tackle the hassle of unemployment established the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), while; the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was to tackle the upsurge in the region by ensuring that a socio-economic balance is maintained in the region. This paper takes a conceptual view of the roles of the NDE and the NDDC, their activities so far and their roles in achieving a sustainable economic growth and development for the country. The paper recommends that as Nigeria marches towards sustainability as envisioned in its Vision 2020 dream, an independent but complementary approach should be adopted by these two agencies; the NDE by tackling the country’s hyper unemployment rate and the NDDC by tackling the violent upsurge in the region. This inevitably would contribute to the achievement of a sustainable economic growth and development for Nigeria and the realisation of its Vision 2020 dream.