Trade Facilitation and Employment Generation in Nigeria

AbstractThe study examined trade facilitation and employment generation in Nigeria from 1990 to 2022. Trade facilitation serves as the independent variable and was proxy by customs duties revenue and tariff revenue while employment generation which is the dependent variable was proxy by employment rate. Annual data was collected from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) statistical bulletin and the technique of generalized method of moments (GMM) approach was adopted. The findings revealed that, trade facilitation in the forms of customs duties and tariff are important indicators that contribute employment generation in Nigeria. Based on the findings, the study therefore concludes that trade facilitation plays a vital role in creating employment which by implication, reduction in unemployment rate in Nigeria. Based on the findings, it was recommended amongst others that, Nigeria should ensure that revenue from customs duties and tariff are tactically utilized to support job-creating sectors such as education, vocational training, and infrastructure development. The government should work with international partners to direct towards programs that enhance workforce skills, promote entrepreneurship, and improve infrastructure, thereby creating an enabling environment for job creation