On the wage and agricultural employment amid the COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria

As we strive to achieve decent work by 2030, which is a key component of the global development agenda, the issue of food insecurity in Nigeria remains a significant challenge. The sudden emergence of the lockdown further exacerbated this problem, subjecting households to a range of shocks, including job loss and a surge in food prices, pushing them into a state of food insecurity. This study, therefore, aimed to examine the impact of lockdowns on employment in Nigeria. The research combined pre- and post-pandemic surveys and analysed the data using a difference-in-difference model. The results revealed that the lockdown reduced agricultural employment at the national level, in the North-East, and in rural areas. The study highlights the profound impact of lockdowns on people's means of livelihood. The agricultural sector was significantly impacted by the lockdown, resulting in more employment losses in rural areas than in urban areas. The study recommends that the government address the issue of employment. It also emphasizes the need for future pandemic preparedness, suggesting that while measures could be adopted to control the spread of any future pandemics, their adverse economic effects should be mitigated through the provision of necessary social safety nets.