FG moves for 2.5 million direct, indirect jobs for Nigerians
By CHIGOZIE AMADI
The Federal yesterday hinted that the Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP), a flagship of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, was capable of creating at least 2.5 million direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians
The programme targets zero hunger, zero poverty economic growth and decent jobs through six strategic initiatives namely; digital skills initiative, vocational entrepreneurship skills programmes, infrastructural upgrade, NELEX upgrade for employment acceleration, global remote work initiative and labour compliance enhancement.
Speaking during the unveiling of the programme in Abuja Thursday, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, charged development partners like the World Bank, GIZ, the European Union, UNIDO and the Bank of Industry to support the drive of the current administration to mitigate the hardship Nigerians were undergoing.
The minister noted that poverty could be eradicated from Nigeria, maintaining that the ministry of Labour and employment has so many structures that could take care of all the issues mostly neglected in Nigeria if they were ignited.
She further stated that six out of the eight agendas under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda were under the labour ministry, adding that it was time to be take deliberate actions, think out of the box to make life more meaningful for Nigerians.
According to her: “We are at a position where we need to reposition the labour ministry. The world is moving towards technology and digitalisation and we don’t want to be left behind.
“We can’t do it alone and so we need to partner with you to help us succeed in the country. Mr. President during his campaign was clear about where he wants to take Nigeria to. Today we want to be deliberate, accurate to key into the renewed hope agenda and we want to solicit your support to help us in achieving our key performance index.”
Onyejiocha said, “The ministry is out to make sure poverty is reduced if not totally eradicated through job creation. If we create enough decent jobs it will reduce a lot of our problems we have today including insecurity.
“We want to make sure Nigeria s have food to eat, ensure regulation and workers welfare. Also, empowerment is very critical so we are going to be very deliberate to empower people with what they can use to start up their own business and become employers of labour.
“When you do this deliberately, poverty will be reduced, empowerment will be real and trainings will be impactful.”
