ASSESSMENT OF THE ROLE OF NATIONAL DIRECTORATE OF EMPLOYMENT (NDE) IN REDUCING UNEMPLOYMENT IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA (2010-2015).

The study assesses the role of National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in reducing unemployment in Niger State. The research design adopted in this research work was survey and sampling technique used was stratefied random sampling technique. Relevant data were collected from primary source with the used of questionnaire covering a period of 6 years from 2010 to 2015. The population of this study was a total of 16127 unemployed that benefited from the employment creation programmes of the Niger State National Directorate of Employment right from 2010-2015, comprising 6,600 under VSD, 3,385 under SSE, 4,000 under REP and 2,142 under SPW between 2000 to 2015. The statistical instrument used in analyzing the collected data is simple percemtage and frequency distribution table. Among the major findings of the was that the programmes introduced by NDE had not reduced unemployment in Niger State of Nigeria. The study therefore recommended that programmes such as vocational skills development programme, Agricultural employment promotion programme, Small Scale Enterprise programme and Special public Works Programme should be evaluated prior to implementation. An assessment would ensure an identification of the operational problems inherent in a proposed programmes and early resolution of such problems.