Abstract
This study examined the effect Youth Unemployment on Crime in Adamawa Northern Senatorial District: Assessing the Role of PAWECA. The study was anchored on Robert K. Merton’s Strain Theory, which explains how blocked legitimate opportunities may create pressure that can encourage deviant behaviour. A descriptive research design was adopted, and data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to respondents across Mubi North, Mubi South, Maiha, Michika and Madagali Local Government Areas. A sample size of 400 respondents was determined using Yamane’s formula, while proportionate stratified sampling was used to allocate the sample across the selected Local Government Areas. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and a one-sample t-test. The findings of the study revealed that youth unemployment is driven by inadequate skills, insecurity, poor infrastructure, inadequate government funding, and limited employment opportunities, and is associated with crime such as theft, burglary, cybercrime, kidnapping, and political violence. The study also established that PAWECA poverty-alleviation, skills acquisition, and entrepreneurship programmes have the potential to reduce youth unemployment and associated crime, although their effectiveness is constrained by inadequate funding, poor implementation, limited coverage, political interference, favouritism, and weak monitoring mechanisms. The study therefore recommends strengthening PAWECA interventions through adequate funding, transparent beneficiary selection, expanded skills acquisition and entrepreneurship programmes, improved access to loans and grants, effective monitoring, and stronger collaboration among government, the private sector, development partners, and community stakeholders to promote sustainable youth employment and reduce crime.