By Ayomide Otitoju
Mr Festus Keyamo, Federal Minister of State for Labour and Employment, says Nigeria under the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has become one huge construction site in fulfilment of the administration’s promise of infrastructural
facilities.
Keyamo said this at the 36th edition of the Lagos International Trade Fair (LITF) organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Wednesday in Lagos.
He stated that the current administration was committed to securing lives and property within the country and would
not relent in ensuring a safe and secure environment for citizens and productive activities to thrive in Nigeria.
“President Muhammadu Buhari is also fulfilling his promise in the provision of infrastructural facilities and the entire country has become one huge construction site with many direct and indirect jobs on its tail.
“The 156km Lagos – Ibadan standard gauge rail is completed and finishing touches are being put to the 2nd Niger Bridge; hopefully, it will be commissioned before December this year,” he said.
Keyamo added that the administration was also committed to promoting a prosperous
economy, and provision of employment for the teeming masses of the country.
He revealed that the economy was being revived through well articulated
programmes and schemes especially in the labour and employment sector.
“In the last two years, we have made remarkable progress in the implementation of employment creation programmes to stimulate economic activities that will not only generate blue collar jobs but contribute significantly to the much desired economic growth and diversification of the Nigeria economy.
“I am glad to inform you that National Directorate of Employment (NDE) is
currently skilling up the federation.
“The skills acquisition programme
activities of the NDE, its entrepreneurship development programme, the rural employment promotion and public works activities are all in line with the economic policy thrust of the Federal Government.
“This is with special focus on employment creation for the jobless especially our
teaming youths.
“NDE has produced many successful small and medium scale entrepreneurs who have been contributing to the Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) of the nation.
“It has also produced a pool of artisans in
the informal sector who have made significant contribution to the
Nigerian Domestic market,” he said.
He added that development was being brought to the rural areas through job creation activities in the agricultural sector
which had given a boost to the nation’s food security drive.
He stated that the NDE had performed creditably in the execution of its mandate of job creation and poverty alleviation.
He called for the support of every true Nigerian to be positive and support the
administration in its last lap towards building a prosperous country in which equity, justice and freedom will prevail irrespective of religion, cultural and political differences,” he said.
Dr Michael Olawale-Cole, President, LCCI, urged the directorate to devise innovative job creating strategies to reduce the number of unemployed persons in nigeria.
According to him, training and capacity building for youth and retired personnel are veritable tools for job creation and entrepreneurship.
He lauded the NDE for its engagement of unemployed persons across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja as part of its quick fix demand driven scheme.
“The LCCI is proud to be associated with the NDE in its push for a stronger and more prosperous economy,” he said.
