General
Explainer: Why Nigeria’s Unemployment Figures Crashed to 4.1% from 33.3%
By Adedapo Adesanya
On Thursday, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in a report titled Nigeria Labour Force Statistics Report Q4 2022 & Q1 2023, said Nigeria’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.1 per cent in the first quarter of 2023 from 5.3 per cent in the fourth of 2022.
This may have come as a shock to many, but it was expected as the NBS on April 20, 2023, made adjustments to how the figures will be calculated moving forward. The NBS adopted global standards as its new method and this crashed the rate from a high of 33.3 per cent released in 2020.
What is the new methodology?
In line with standards introduced by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), an employed person is defined as anyone working at least one hour a week, unlike the old methodology where you had to work at least 20 hours a week to be considered employed.
The new methodology introduced other fresh benchmarks as well. The sample size was widened to 34,250 as against 33,000. Also, the data will be gathered weekly as against quarterly in the previous method.
Other criteria include replacing the 13th ICLS resolution with the adoption of the 19th ICLS resolution, which introduces a new classification called forms of work ranging from own-use production work, employment work, unpaid trainee work, volunteer work, and other mandatory productive activities unpaid to third parties. The categories are mutually exclusive, but persons can work simultaneously on more than one of them.
People who were willing and available to work between 1-39 hours also now fall under underemployment, while before it was those who worked between 20 hours and 39 hours, and unemployment covers individuals who worked 0 hours even if they were available to work while before it was anyone who worked below 20 hours.
Also, before, it only placed people who worked between 15 and 64 years as the working population, but now it is anyone between 15 years and above. This means that aged people who work are brought into the frat.
This new method adjusted the sample population, and this restructured the numbers to 4.1 per cent.
According to the numbers:
With this new structure, about three-quarters of working-age Nigerians were employed – 73.6 per cent in Q4 2022 and 76.7 per cent in Q1 2023. This shows that most people were engaged in some jobs for at least one hour in a week for pay or profit.
About one-third (36.4 per cent in Q4 2022 and 33.2 per cent in Q1 2023) of employed persons worked less than 40 hours per week in both quarters. This was most common among women, individuals with lower levels of education, young people, and those living in rural areas.
The underemployment rate, which is a share of employed people working less than 40 hours per week and declaring themselves willing and available to work more, was 13.7 per cent in Q4 2022 and 12.2 per cent in Q1 2023.
It added that most Nigerians operate their own businesses or engage in farming activities.
“Unemployment stood at 5.3 per cent in Q4 2022 and 4.1 per cent in Q1 2023. This aligns with the rates in other developing countries where work, even if only for a few hours and in low-productivity jobs, is essential to make ends meet, particularly in the absence of any social protection for the unemployed.
“22.3 per cent of the working age population were out of the labour force in Q4 2022, while it was 20.1 per cent in Q1, 2023.
“The rate of informal employment among the employed Nigerians was 93.5% in Q4 2022 and 92.6% in Q1 2023.”
An in-depth analysis of this new methodology and questions about whether it adequately examines the Nigerian situation were raised in this Stears article.
By Adedapo Adesanya
As Nigeria marks National Albinism Day, the Albinism Association of Nigeria (AAN) has reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for the rights, health, and inclusion of persons with albinism (PWAs), urging the government and relevant stakeholders to adopt inclusive policies that address their unique challenges.
Established in 2019, AAN has been at the forefront of championing the welfare of persons with albinism across the country. Through targeted advocacy, education, and partnerships, the association has significantly contributed to increased societal acceptance, reduced school drop-out rates among children with albinism, and greater attention to their health needs at national forums.
According to the organisation, this year’s theme, Protect Your Skin, Be Sun Smart underscores the pressing need to address the health vulnerabilities of PWAs, especially those resulting from sun exposure. Due to the absence of melanin—the natural pigment that protects the skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays—persons with albinism are prone to painful sunburns, premature skin aging, vision problems, and an increased risk of skin cancer.
AAN emphasized preventive measures such as the regular use of broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher), wearing protective clothing including wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses, avoiding peak sunlight hours, and seeking routine medical checkups for early detection of skin conditions.
In a statement shared with Business Post, Mrs Bisi Bamishe, National President of AAN, made a strong appeal to the government:
“We are calling on the Nigerian government to include sunscreen in the list of essential medicines under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Sunscreen is not a luxury for persons with albinism—it is a necessity for survival.”
She further stressed the need for more tangible support
“Government should provide free or subsidized protective gear and health services to persons with albinism, especially in rural and underserved areas.”
Highlighting the importance of awareness and capacity building, Mrs. Bamishe said, “We urge health workers and teachers to receive proper training on the specific needs of persons with albinism. This will go a long way in improving service delivery and reducing stigma in schools and health centres.”
She also emphasized the importance of legal protections.
“The Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act must be enforced. It is not enough to have laws on paper; we need full implementation to ensure justice and inclusion.”
“We call for public education campaigns to reach deep into rural communities where harmful myths and stereotypes still persist. Awareness is key to acceptance.”
AAN also stressed the need for capacity building initiatives to empower community advocates and peer support systems.
As National Albinism Day is observed, AAN urges Nigerians to stand in solidarity with persons with albinism and work collectively to create a more inclusive, informed, and equitable society.
By Adedapo Adesanya
President Bola Tinubu will meet with the leadership of electricity-generating companies (GenCos) over the N4 trillion power sector debt on Tuesday, May 6.
This was disclosed by the Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations to the Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, who noted that the federal government vowed to urgently address the debt following high-stakes talks between the Minister and chairmen of the power generators in Abuja recently.
He said FG’s intervention was aimed at averting an imminent collapse of the power infrastructure in the country.
Recall that the Minister also promised that the FG will pay 50 per cent of the debt recently.
According to the statement, the Minister assured the GenCos executives that the government would prioritise immediate payment of a significant amount out of the N4 trillion debt, while the balance would be defrayed through other debt instruments.
He said this would be proposed in a meeting being planned between President Tinubu and GenCos’ leadership.
“There is need to pay a substantial amount of the debt in cash. At the minimum, let us pay a substantial amount, then ask for a debt instrument in promissory notes to pay the rest,” he stated, assuring that the payment of the outstanding balance within six months through financial instruments such as promissory notes.
“We recognise the urgency of this matter. The government is committed to resolving this debt to stabilise the sector and prevent further crisis,” Mr Adelabu stated, adding that the President will meet with GenCos leadership to fast-track the process.
The GenCoS were led by the Chairman of Mainstream Energy Solutions, who is also the Chairman of the Association of Power Generating Companies (APGA), Mr Sani Bello, who had earlier sounded the alarm over the sector’s dire state, citing the N4 trillion debt as a critical threat to operations.
He also warned that liquidity challenges had left GenCos unable to secure loans or maintain infrastructure. “Without urgent intervention, the entire power ecosystem could collapse,” he stressed.
Mr Kola Adesina, Chairman of Egbin Power and First Independent Power Limited, echoed the urgency: “This is a national emergency. Everything hinges on power—industries, homes, hospitals. We cannot afford to let the sector fail.”
Mr Adelabu acknowledged the government’s role in the sector’s struggles, pledging to not only clear the debt but also implement reforms to ease operational bottlenecks. He emphasised the need for full liberalisation of the power sector, urging Nigerians to embrace cost-reflective tariffs.
“Citizens must pay the appropriate price for the energy consumed. The Federal Government will continue to provide targeted subsidies for economically disadvantaged Nigerians. We have to understand that our economy cannot sustain subsidies indefinitely,” he asserted, calling for public sensitisation campaigns to drive compliance.
On her part, Mrs Joy Ogaji, CEO of APGC Power, detailed systemic challenges undermining GenCos, including chronic payment defaults, erratic gas supply, and foreign exchange volatility.
She noted that the naira’s plunge from N157/$1 in 2013 to N1,600/$1 had devastated maintenance budgets and loan repayments.
“GenCos have borne unsustainable risks—from grid failures to unproductive taxes—while remaining patriotic,” she said.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, has advised Nigerians and electricity consumers in the country to brace up for another hike in tariff because the federal government is not buoyant enough to continue to bear the cost of subsidy on electricity.
Speaking at a meeting with the Chairmen of the Generating Companies of Nigeria (GenCos) in Abuja, Mr Adelabu said consumers will soon begin to pay cost-reflective tariffs.
At the moment, customers on Band B to E enjoyed subsidised electricity tariffs and pay between N68 per kilowatt per hour and 34 per kilowatt per hour (VAT inclusive), while those on Band A, who consume power for at least 20 hours per day, pay about N225 per kilowatt per hour (VAT inclusive).
At the meeting with the GenCos, the Minister hinted that consumers on Band B downward may have to pay more, which could match the Band A tariff.
“We have to understand that our economy cannot sustain subsidies indefinitely,” Mr Adelabu informed the chairmen without giving a specific time when a new rate will be announced.
During the meeting, the chairman of Egbin Power, Mr Kola Adesina, tasked the government to declare a state of emergency in the power sector, noting that the N4 trillion owed GenCos by the federal government remains a critical threat to their operations.
“This is a national emergency. Everything hinges on power—industries, homes, hospitals. We cannot afford to let the sector fail,” he stressed.
Also, the chairman of Mainstream Energy Solutions, Mr Sani Bello, warned that “without urgent intervention, the entire power ecosystem could collapse.”
In the same vein, the chief executive of the Association of Power Generating Companies (GenCos), Ms Joy Ogaji, said, “GenCos have borne unsustainable risks—from grid failures to unproductive taxes—while remaining patriotic.”
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