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Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. In reply to previous comments, the Government indicates that according to figures from the Employment Service, vacancies registered in 2002 were 4,391 against 1,634 in 2003 for the public sector. Jobseekers registered for 2002 were 1,686 and 2,687 in 2003, while placement for 2002 were 3,509 and 868 for 2003. The Committee expresses again its concerns with regard to the labour market situation and notes, as the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) adopted in March 2004 points out, that urban unemployment is acute with the attendant high level of crimes and socio-political tensions. In March 2003, the rural unemployment rate had dropped to 12.3 per cent and the urban rate to 7.4 per cent (giving a composite unemployment rate of 10.8 per cent, meaning that about 6.4 million people were actively looking for jobs without finding them). The labour force is about 61 million in Nigeria. The Committee therefore again requests the Government to provide a detailed report on the application of the Convention and recalls the need to ensure the essential duty of the employment service and its adjustment to meet the new requirements of the economy and the working population (Articles 1 and 3 of the Convention). It asks the Government to continue to include statistical information published in annual or periodical reports on the number of public employment offices established, applications for employment received, vacancies notified and persons placed in employment by such offices (Part IV of the report form). Please also provide information on the activities of the Employment Service and the effects noted or expected on employment as a result of implementation of the NEEDS of Nigeria.

[The Government is asked to report in detail in 2006.]