By Michael Oche
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ismaila Abubakar has said that the ministry is committed to President Bola Tinubu’s renewed Hope Agenda which seeks to eradicate poverty and create jobs for millions of unemployed Nigerians.
The Permanent Secretary stated this when he met with the leadership of the Labour Correspondents Association of Nigeria (LACAN) who were on a courtesy visit to his office.
Abubakar said despite the challenge of low budgetary allocation to the ministry, the Ministry will go beyond being a conciliator of the industrial crisis between the Federal Government and labour unions to playing a bigger role in enhancing the growth of the economy.
He 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, targeting to develop various employability skills for young graduates, school leavers and artisans amongst others.
Speaking on poor budgetary allocation to the ministry, he said there is need to reverse the trend to allow the ministry to give facelift to its skills acquisition centres scattered across the country.
He 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 urged the Media to beam light on the challenges facing the Ministry, more so noting that Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha is relentlessly pushing for an enhanced budgetary allocation to the Ministry.
The Permanent Secretary charged 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.
