THE MASS EXODUS OF NIGERIAN WORKFORCE FOR GREENER PASTURES: DOES THE “MIGRATION SYNDROME” CREATE VACANCIES FOR THE UNEMPLOYED NIGERIANS IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS?

Abstract

There is mass exodus of Nigerian workers both skilled and unskilled from Nigeria, they are exiting in droves and the trend seems unending.The exodus cuts across every stratum of the Nigeria workforce, and the emigration is nick named ‘Japa.’ Japa is a Yoruba word which means escape or to flee. The question one is tempted to ask is what are the Nigerian workers fleeing or escaping from? Well, the answers vary. Some argued that they are fleeing or escaping from deepening hardship in the country. To others,they are fleeing to other jurisdictions for better healthcare and social welfare; yet others say for better education and more robust and promising future, greener pastures, better working environment.The emigrant or the ‘japa’ Nigerians believe that other countriesprovide better security of lives,better property, better working environment, better pay package and the welfare of the citizens is taken seriously.All of these are elusive in Nigeria going by the myriad reports on Nigeria’s worsening insecurity and poverty level.

 It is evident that the mass exodus of Nigerians from the country have and continues to affect the labor force of Nigeria adversely.The question the paper tries to answer and unpack is: does the japa syndrome create vacancies and employment for the unemployed Nigerians both at the public and private sectors of the economy?