Unequal Job-Opportunities in the Nigerian Civil Service and Youth Criminality An Empirical Analysis

The research investigates the increase in criminal activities among educated Nigerian youths in Lagos state as a response to the unequal employment opportunities in the public sectors. Questionnaire was the instrument used in data collection. Simple random and purposive sampling techniques were used to select a total of 1900 respondents and 4 communities respectively. The information gathered was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. The research found that unequal employment opportunities have a significant influence on the increase in youth criminality in Lagos. The study concludes that the increase in crime among educated Nigerians in Lagos is a response to the lack of level playing ground in the recruitment process for the available jobs in the civil service. Thus, the paper suggests that the recruitment process in the various government institutions should follow the process of the law and an enabling business environment that will support small and medium entrepreneurs shouldbe created.

Keywords: Nigerian civil service; public sector; job opportunity; unemployment in Nigeria; youth criminality in Nigeria