FORMAL EMPLOYMENT WAGE STRUCTURE, CURRENCY VALUE AND THE YOUTH MIGRATORY TENDENCY IN EDO STATE, NIGERIA

This study examined the problems associated with the formal wage structure and the strength of the naira as causative factors to youth migration in Nigeria. To properly focus the conduct of this study, hypotheses were formulated and the survey method was employed to elicit relevant data from randomly sampled respondents from the three Senatorial Districts in Edo State. Structured questionnaire was administered among the respondents and in-depth interviews were also conducted with the Heads of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and some selected Returnees. The data gathered from the questionnaires were analyzed and interpreted using the Pearson’s Product Movement Correlation Coefficient (r), while thematic desk analysis was deployed to the qualitative data from the in-depth interviews. It was found out, among other things, that there is a strong positive relationship between the formal wage structure, the strength of the naira in terms of other currencies and youth propensity for migration. It is recommended that the Nigerian Government should have deliberate policies to strengthen the value of the Naira. One of such policies suggested is the pursuant of the import substitution and the moderation of the citizens’ consumption pattern to accommodate locally produced goods and de-emphasizing and, if possible, placing embargo on certain items that are imported into the country.