By Bronson Jayamanna
NIGERIA (CWBN)_ The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reports that there has been an upsetting decline in the percentage of Nigerians involved in the country’s’ agricultural sector between the periods of August 2018 and September 2020 reflecting a 48 per cent decrease in numbers, especially with those in the bottommost consumption groups. The impending result would further increase destitution across the country.
As stated by the NBS the number of workers has decreased in both consumption and distribution sectors. However, a majority have been in the lowermost 20 percentile of the consumption sector, leading to worries of the resulting increase in poverty.
Back in September 2020, the NBS claimed that the number of applicants under their survey who were working had stabilized at 85 per cent, a figure to statistic reminiscent the pre-pandemic era.
According to the statistics of the survey conducted by the bureau, the recovery of numbers in the rural areas have reached pre-COVID-19 levels, whereas the changes viewed since June may be somewhat due to the normal cycles in agriculture. However, the portion of working applicants in more urban areas continue to recover at a slower rate comparably to those in rural areas and have not yet reached pre-COVID-19 levels.
Furthermore, the NBS said that the number of locals between the ages of 15-64 who are currently engaged in work remains a lower figure of 71 per cent in September when compared to the 77 per cent that occupied the segment during the months of July and August 2018, while in general the figures for women and youth workers are recovering at a relatively slower rate.
The NBS further went on to say “The crisis may potentially be entrenching pre-existing labour market gender inequality: in July/August 2018, 83 per cent of working-age men and 72 per cent of working-age women were working, but these shares dropped to 78 per cent and 65 per cent respectively by September 2020. The share of working Nigerians engaged in commerce activities rose from 18 per cent in July/August 2018 to 26 per cent in September 2020 largely at the expense of services and industry: this was mainly driven by women, those with lower levels of education, and those in poor households.”
Edited by Elishya Perera
