YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT AND POLITICAL STABILITY IN NIGERIA: A POLITICAL ECONOMY ANALYSIS

Abstract

This study investigates the complex link between youth employment and political stability in Nigeria, concentrating on Bida, Niger State. With Nigeria having significant issues with youth unemployment, this study uses both descriptive and regression analysis to investigate the relationship between these two occurrences. Drawing on the structural functionalism theoretical framework, the study investigates how various factors such as labor market dynamics, economic conditions, governance structures, social service availability, and investment confidence contribute to youth employment and its implications for political stability. The research, which uses survey data obtained from 384 respondents using random sampling procedures, indicates a substantial positive link between political stability and parameters such as social service availability, government action, and investor confidence. Economic factors, on the other hand, show a negative and negligible link with political stability, indicating that bad economic conditions have a detrimental influence on youth employment and political stability. These findings highlight the importance of competent governance, investment development, and social service provision in reducing youth unemployment and promoting political stability in Nigeria.