Youth unemployment has remained one of the present and steady social problems that characterise Nigeria as a
developing economy. Measures to address this social problem have featured prominently in the development
agenda of successive governments. However, the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), established by the
Babangida Administration in 1986, comes across as a consistent public policy on employment and wealth
creation that has managed to endure over the years. Since its establishment, a number of schemes have been
designed and implemented under the directorate to combat youth unemployment. One of such schemes is the
National Open Apprenticeship Scheme (NOAS). This study was undertaken to interrogate the implementation of
the scheme in Benue State located in the North Central geographical zone of Nigeria. Within the framework of
the neo-classical model of economic thought, these programmes of action are understood as a deliberate policy
intervention by government to correct distortions in resource allocation occasioned by the laissez-faire market
mechanism. The study employed both analytical and empirical approaches. Whereas the former reflects on state
of the research in existing literature, the latter utilized survey research to probe into the implementation of
NOAS. Findings reveal that NDE skills development programmes in Benue State is an initiative that can address
youth unemployment. However, the objective of enhancing job opportunities through the skills acquisition of
NAOS leaves much to be desired. The study recommends among others that; funding of NDE should be
improved upon, the scope of NAOS should be expanded to accommodate graduates of tertiary institutions, and
the general policy framework on education be reviewed to create a synergy between the formal school system
and the job market in Benue State and by extension, Nigeria.