The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday advised the Federal Government to declare State of Emergency on unemployment.
The Senate extended similar advice to states but specifically called on the Federal Government to set up necessary machinery that would stimulate employment for the army of Nigeria’s jobless youths.
The upper chamber reached this position following a motion from Senator Ike Ekweremadu (PDP Enugu East); entitled: Escalating Rate of Unemployment in Nigeria.
Ekweremadu lamented the rising level of unemployment in the country; backing his claims with frightening figures credited to both the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), and the Ministry of Labour and Productivity.
The Lawmaker said Nigeria urgently needs to find solution to what he described as a “time bomb waiting to explode”.
In his contribution, Senator Smart Adeyemi (APC Kogi West) hailed the efforts by the current government to revitalize the Iron and Steel Company in Ajaokuta which he said has the capacity to employ over 40,000 workers.
While Senator Biodun Olujimi (PDP Ekiti South) supported the idea of declaring a State of Emergency; her counterpart, Senator Benjamin Uwajimogu (APC Imo State) said it was time Nigeria paid greater attention to skill acquisition.
Even when he supported the motion; Senator Olubunmi Adetunbi had a different approach to address the issue.
To him, the motion should have been directed more at the states and not to the Federal Government arguing that unemployment resided more in the states.
Subsequently, the Senate urged the Federal Government to initiate a sustainable unemployment fund from where stipends can be paid to unemployed citizens until a time they are able to secure employment.
