A member of the Oyo State Youth Parliament, Joshua Ojo representing Oriire Local Government has urged Governor ‘Seyi Makinde to as matter of urgency create State Employment Trust Fund, to address unemployment menace in the state.
While recognising the efforts of the Makinde-led-administration in creating employment opportunities for the teeming youth in the teaching, health and civil service sectors, Ojo commended Governor ‘Seyi Makinde for not stopping to absorb unemployed youth into various sectors of the state’s economy.
He however noted the need to establish the ‘Oyo State Employment Trust Fund’ in order to help in up-skilling and job placements.
His words: “The House, note that unemployment in Nigeria has always been a growing concern that stems from the country’s systemic issues. This trend is further complicated by the staggering number of graduates leaving school every year. On average, our universities, both public and private, release about six hundred thousand graduates to the already saturated labour market. According to available data on Statista, the unemployment rate now stands at 33 percent, and surprisingly, graduates and postgraduates, account for around 2.9 million of Nigeria’s overall unemployment population.
“Further note that unemployment rate in Oyo State increased from 5.4% in 2001 to 27.7% in 2010 and later dropped to 18% by the end of the year 2021 as a result of the giant stride of the State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde who graciously recruited more than five thousand teachers through Post Primary Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) to teach in secondary schools across the state in the year.
“A few months later, the government also employed hundreds as education officers that now teach in the unity schools and technical colleges under the Ministry of Education. The employment of medical officers in various hospitals in the state and continuous engagement of medical staff through the Oyo State Health Insurance Scheme (OYSHIA). All these are efforts that have drastically reduced the level of unemployment in Oyo State.
“Aware, that the various developmental projects engaged in by Governor ‘Seyi Makinde have continued to absorb unemployed youths into various sectors of the state’s economy. These projects include but not limited to the construction of Ultramodern Bus Terminals at Challenge, Ojoo, and two others under construction at Iwo-road, then the Remodeled World-class Sports Complex at Adamasingba.
“These massive infrastructure initiatives have contributed directly and indirectly to the overall reduction in the level of unemployed status of the teeming populace, particularly youths who ordinarily have no means of livelihood.
“Further aware that to comprehensively arrest the challenge of unemployment, there is a need for the establishment of the ‘Oyo State Employment Trust Fund‘ to help in upskilling and job placements. This will also promote entrepreneurship in the state by improving access to finance and strengthening the institutional capacity of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
“Observed Mr. Speaker and distinguished Colleagues that this same Employment Trust Fund (ETF) was adopted in our neighbouring state, Lagos State, and launched with the capital sum of N25 billion in the year 2016. It was established by the ‘State Employment Trust Fund Law 2016’ to tackle unemployment and promote entrepreneurship by empowering its residents with job and wealth creation opportunities.
“Mr. Speaker and distinguished colleagues, this, from findings has over the years, empowered the residents of Lagos State across different demographics with innovative programmes.
“Further observed that if government does not pay serious attention to entrepreneurship and technical skills, effort of the government in reducing unemployment in the state would remain not enough due to population growth and the numbers of graduates joining the labor market every year” he added.
In the meantime, Ojo highlighted his resolves to include:
“1. appreciate the state government for it continues strives in making sure Oyo State youths are gainfully employed;
“2. urge the executive arm of government through Ministries of Finance, Education, Science and Technology, and Special duties to create ‘Oyo State Employment Trust Fund (OYSETF).’to take care of the entrepreneurship & technical skill of the youths in the state; and
“3. urge the executive arm of government through Agency for Youth Development to periodically organise trainings that would teach the youth of Oyo State requisite skills necessary to make them self-employed.
“Mr Speaker Sir, I beg to move”, he concluded.
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