'Indomie 1:3:3 Economy': MP reacts to growing desperation of multiple-degree-holder youths

Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, Sammi Awuku, has criticised the government’s handling of youth unemployment, describing the current economic situation as an “Indomie 1:3:3 economy” where many graduates are trapped in endless cycles of schooling because jobs are unavailable.

Contributing to discussions on the floor of Parliament, on June 11, 2026, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) lawmaker painted a grim picture of the frustrations facing young people across the country, warning that unemployment is gradually becoming a national security threat.

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“Welcome to an Indomie 1:3:3 economy situation,” he remarked while addressing the House.

According to him, many graduates are no longer pursuing additional degrees out of passion for education but rather because they see no clear employment opportunities after school.

“In our various constituencies today… there’s a growing trend where the young people after acquiring a degree, because there are no jobs, they are now looking forward to applying for another course to obtain another degree. They keep filing these certificates with a job deferred for a date that they cannot even tell,” he added.

Sammi Awuku also criticised the government’s flagship 24-hour economy policy, arguing that the implementation has failed to match the promises made while in opposition.

“We are almost into 24 months since they got into this government. And today, if you go to even the 24-hour economy secretariat, they themselves do not practise that 24-hour economy that they are talking about,” he said.

The MP further described the continuous accumulation of certificates without employment opportunities as a “subtle introduction of unemployment tax” on young people.

“Because as they keep acquiring their certificates and degrees with no end in sight,” he stated.

He also questioned the progress of some government employment and youth-centred programmes, including the proposed one million coders initiative.

“Isn't it strange that, Mr Speaker, we have a government today that will tell you that we are launching a 1 million coders programme. Almost 18 months or more into the attainment, they have not even been able to onboard even 100,000 out of the 1 million,” he argued.

The Akuapem North MP said even the Ministry of Youth Development appeared overwhelmed and under-resourced.

“Go to the Ministry for Youth Development. Even that Ministry itself is underfunded. They themselves need a rescue and a bailout,” he claimed.

Sammi Awuku warned that growing unemployment among the youth could eventually trigger social and political instability if urgent measures are not taken.

“Our colleagues should not reduce this unemployment situation… It is a national security matter. Because if the young people in Nigeria's constituencies cannot see any end in sight, the politicians become a target for the opposition,” he said.

He also criticised the pace of recruitment under the government’s “Big Push” initiative, saying the employment targets announced had not materialised months into the year.

“Under the Big Push programme, this year, they said they were going to employ about 900,000 young people. We are in June. They haven't been able to employ 10,000 out of it,” he alleged.

NA/VPO