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The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ismaila Abubakar, has said the poor budgetary allocation to the ministry was a major factor hindering the effective implementation of programs that would engage the teeming unemployed youths in the country.
Abubakar who made the disclosure when he met with the leadership of the Labour Correspondents Association of Nigeria (LACAN) in Abuja, noted despite the financial constraints, the Ministry was poised to make a greater impact in the lives of Nigerians through the renewed hope Agenda of the President Tinubu administration which was committed to ensuring employment opportunities were 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.’
The Permanent Secretary hinted that the recently launched Labour Employment and Empowerment Program (LEEP) was one of the innovative ideas initiated by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, 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.
“At the moment, our skill acquisition centres across the country are all dilapidated and in need of a 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.”
While urging the Media to beam its light on the challenges facing the Ministry, he noted that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, was 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.
