LABOUR Ngige wants lasting solution to unemployment

Minister of Labour and Employment Dr. Chris Ngige has called for measures to be taken to curb the menace of rising unemployment. He said job creation policies and programme must anticipate future labour market requirements rather than reacting to it.

This was stated by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige while inaugurating the National Employment Council and unveiling the revised National Employment Policy in Abuja.

“In coordinating implementation of strategies to fast-track employment creation, we must bear in mind that such strategies are most likely to be successful if it anticipates future labour market requirement rather than reacting to them. We have to move away from past approaches where strategies for employment creation and poverty alleviation were a response to a crisis or a temporary measure to mitigate the impact,” he said.

Ngige noted that unemployment is a global challenge, adding that Nigeria like other nations needs to take proactive measures towards curbing the menace. He said that the concern is even more urgent due to the linke between youth idleness and perennial violent crimes in the different parts of the country which poses a threat to socio-economic stability.

Ngige said the task before the council is formidable even as he expressed confidence in the ability of the council to come up with the solution that will in the medium and long-term reverse the current alarming trend of unemployment.

“The task before this council is formidable. However, with the calibre of members of this council, which is made up of renowned experts, practitioners and policymakers in the field of development and employment promotion, I have no doubt in my mind that you have what it takes to proffer solutions that will ultimately halt and in the medium and long-term reverse the current unemployment situation in the country,” said the minister.

The Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Bolaji Adebiyi said unemployment and poverty are critical challenges that require concerted efforts of all stakeholders to address.

Adebiyi emphasised that it was in a bid to holistically address the unemployment crisis that the National Employment Policy was formulated with the aim of consolidating into an integrated and coherent document, a beacon for the attainment of full employment for all Nigerians, particularly the youths.

Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige, (middle) flanked on the right by the Ministry`s Permanent Secretary, Bolaji Adebiyi, on the left by President of Trade Union Congress, Com. Bobboi Bala Kaigama, with other stakeholders presenting the revised National Employment Policy document during the unveiling ceremony of the policy in Abuja.