As ministries, departments and parastatals of the Federal Government strive to implement President Bola Tinubu’s eight-point agenda, which includes mass job creation, poor budgetary allocation has been identified as a major factor hindering the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment from carrying out employment-driven programmes that would engage Nigeria’s teeming unemployed youths.
The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ismaila Abubakar, when he met with the leadership of the Labour Correspondents Association of Nigeria (LACAN) who were on a courtesy visit to his office, said the ministry is poised to make greater impact in the lives of Nigerians through the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda of the President Tinubu administration which is committed to ensuring that employment opportunities are created for unemployed Nigerians.
He said the ministry is geared to go beyond conciliation of industrial crisis between the Federal Government and labour unions to playing a bigger role in enhancing the growth of the economy.
Abubakar hinted that the recently launched programme, Labour Employment and Empowerment Program (LEEP), is one of the innovative ideas initiated by the Minister Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, aiming to develop various employability skills for young graduates, school leavers and artisans, amongst others.
He, however, said poor budgetary allocation is a major constraint that would impede the ministry’s efforts if the trend is not reserved.
Abubakar said, “At the moment, our skill acquisition centres across the country are all dilapidated and in need of major facelift. These centres are the hub for training young and old Nigerians on agro-allied value chain development, information communication technology, crafts, entrepreneurship and other critical skills that will advance their fortunes in life. With the sort of allocations received by the ministry, it is difficult and almost impossible to revive these centres.”
He went on to urge the media to beam light on the challenges facing the ministry. More so, he noted that the Labour Minister is relentlessly pushing for an enhanced budgetary allocation to the ministry.
The Permanent Secretary charged the journalists not to hesitate to advise the ministry on specific areas that officials might not be getting it right in terms of planning and coordination, adding that the growth and advancement of the country will benefit all Nigerians.
Earlier in his remark, acting Chairman, LACAN, Abulu Patrick, said the leadership of the association paid the visit to the Permanent Secretary to familiarise with him and to nurture a working relationship in the interest and promotion of socio-economic development of Nigerians.
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