HUMAN RESOURCES AS A CATALYST FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA (A CASE STUDY OF ABUJA MUNICIPAL AREA COUNCIL)

CHAPTER ONE

1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Nigeria is a dynamic country that is blessed with abundant human and natural resources. The country has a publication of 140 million according to the 2006 census figures and high amongst the oil exporting countries.

Human resources is invariably the most important resources of Nigeria even when there are gigantic machines, sophisticated equipment and natural resources human resources still prevail. This therefore, calls for the need to adequately develop the human resources and then utilize human resources for the development of the Nigerian economy. The important of the human resource development in the Nigeria civil services as well as other organizations is unique and cannot be under=estimated. This is because; human resources is easily recognized as the most important of the resource requirement for the production of goods and services. It is the master key to the rapid industrialization and socio-economic growth.

Nagga (2000) posited that a country that under-rates the critical roles and underplays the importance of people in goal achievement can neither be effective nor efficient. He stressed that, of all factors contributing to the growth and development of nation, the human resource is unquestionably the most crucial. This implied that we might have money. Highly sophisticated machine, high quality material and land with the most precious materials on it. Unless we have the right quality and quantity of human resources, real development and economic growth will be almost impossible.

The above view underscores the fundamental role which human labour play as one of the basic element of management in economic development in Nigeria. It is against this background that the researcher got interest in the field of human resources. Since no economy can function efficiently without skilled and adequately developed workforce.

It is in the light of the above background on the contribution of human resources development to economic growth in Abuja municipal area council. That this research is conceived. The research will investigate the importance of human resources for economic growth and development in Nigeria.

1.2      STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM

Human resource development problems in Nigeria appears to be on the increase. The unemployment phenomenon seems to be compounded with the absence and misplacement of human resource to capability of the public and private sectors of the economy to provide such opportunity for human resources at their disposal.

This problem of Nigeria under-employment lies primary with the neglect of its human resources potential. This study therefore, is aimed at finding out the important of human resources for economic growth and development of the country.

1.3      OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

1. To study the importance of human resources for economic growth and development

1. To study how best to manage the human resources for economic growth and development.

1. To ascertain, evaluate and examine the extent to which increase in investment of human resources development could serve to economic growth and development.

1. To find out the problem to the management of human resources

1.4      RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What are the importance of human resources for economic growth and development?

1. How best can the human resource be managed for economic growth and development?

1. To what extent has the development of human resource contributed to the economic growth and development?

1. What are the problems involved in the management of human resources for economic growth and development?

1.5      SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study is based on the importance of human resources as a catalyst for economic growth and development in Nigeria. The research will cover three main organisations. Abuja Municipal Area (AMAC), Berger Nigeria Plc and Ministry of Foreign Affair (MFA).

1.6      SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The importance of these research work is premised on finding how human resources development in Nigeria can be adequately mobilized for the benefit of the economic growth. It is hoped that it will give importance to the need for increased and more genuine investment opportunities on human resources in

Nigeria. Also enable the government and appropriate authorities to make adequate economic and educational provisions for enhancing the development of human resources.

1.7      DEFINITION OF TERMS

HUMAN RESOURCES: - These are skill, capacities possessed by an individual that permits to turn income

ECONOMIC GROWTH: - A long term rise in capacity to supply increasingly diverse economic goods to its population, this growing capacity is based on advancing technology and its institutional and ideological adjustment that it demands.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: - This is a multi-Dimensional process involving the re-organisation and re-orientation of the entire economic and social system. It entails qualitative transformation      of       society,      leads      to       reduction      of       poverty unemployment and inequality.