Ekiti State council boss seeks law to reduce unemployment

Empowers traders, market women

CHAIRMAN of Ajoni Local Council Development Area of Ekiti State, Michael Ogungbemi, has urged the 10th National Assembly to prioritise legislations that would reduce youth unemployment.

Ogungbemi, who expressed worry about the forecast that the country’s unemployment rate could reach 40 per cent, said that tackling it should be a matter of priority by the incoming administration, especially the 10th National Assembly.

The LCDA boss, who linked the unemployment rate to poverty and insecurity ravaging the nation, urged the lawmakers to pass bill that would give unemployed people willingness to start business.

Ogungbemi, who spoke, yesterday, at the flag- off of the empowerment of 150 market women and others in Aiyedun- Ekiti, said the programme was aimed at ensuring that the participants become self- reliant, independent and job creators.

Academy tasks incoming govt on appointment of professionals for transport sector Seeks passage of pending bills

By Victor Gbonegun

THE Nigeria Academy of Engineering ( NAE), yesterday, advised the Federal Government to consider appointing competent persons with requisite capacities, proven skills and integrity to drive the desired reforms and as well carry out onerous duties and responsibilities of regulation in strategic Ministries, Departments and Agencies ( MDAS) in the transportation sector.

A Fellow of the Academy, Nebolisa Emodi, led the call at a webinar in Lagos.

He also urged the Executive and Legislative arms of government to collaborate and have extensive consultations prior to the resubmission/ introduction of the Transportation Reform Bills to the incoming 10th National Assembly, with any relevant updates and revisions, to facilitate the processing of the bills, passage into law and ultimate enactment.

Emodi said technology should also be deployed in the proposed re- introduction of tolling on designated concessioned roads with the capacity to operate as a Central Clearing House ( CCH) toll system to be used by all toll operators for accountability and visibility of the operations, in addition to ensuring uniformity, interoperability and continuity of operations.