THE IMPACT OF SUBSIDY REINVESTMENT AND EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME (SURE-P) ON UNEMPLOYMENT IN NIGERIA (2012-2015)

This study was undertaken to evaluate the impact of Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme(SURE-P) in unemployment in Nigeria within the period 2012-2015. The study used the methodology of historical research and documentary analysis which involves the analysis of secondary data obtained from relevant books, journals, academic discourses, magazines, newspapers, unpublished materials and internet materials to examine the impact of subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) in unemployment in Nigeria. The study put forward three research questions and three hypotheses which were meant to determine the extent of SURE Programme on unemployment in Nigeria. The major findings of the research are: the implementation of SURE P has reduced unemployment in Nigeria within the period of 2012-2015; poor policy implementation is a challenge to Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) towards unemployment reduction in Nigeria and finally, the effectiveness ofSURE-P in tackling unemployment reduction in Nigeria has been hampered by corruption and politicization of the programme. The study recommended among other things that government should reduce risk of SURE-P employment programmes fuelling grievances by themselves, through ensuring inclusion, fairness, transparency and accountability, engaging the media to discourage stereotyping of the SURE-P unemployment reduction programmes, exposing and rejecting political instrumentalisation of young people through the SURE-P employment generation schemes, and lastly, monumental corruption and politicization of programmes which exist at almost every aspect of our national lives and affects the adequate implementation of the SURE-Programmes should be vigorously addressed.