Gov Oshiomhole urges FG to establish Labour unemployment centres

 

Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo, has called on the Federal Government to establish labour unemployment centres across the federation.

Oshiomhole made the call on Tuesday in Abuja when he paid courtesy call on the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige.

He said that the call was necessary to enable the ministry have comprehensive database of qualified but unemployed Nigerian youths.

The governor noted that the administration of President Muhamadu Buhari had made it clear that its primary purpose was to improve the welfare of the people.

He said that only way to achieve this objective was through job creation.

Oshiomhole said that he benefited from the services provided by labour unemployment centres when he was in his early twenties.

He said: “the re-introduction of labour unemployment centres for the unemployed will create opportunity for employers of labour to contact and recruit people who registered.

“It will also provide opportunity to those who registered to acquire training and also enrol in one form of apprenticeship or the other.

“The centres will also give employers the opportunity to carry out regular trade test, do proper grading of skilled and semi-skilled test among others.

“This is one area we have neglected over the years and given the present circumstance, we need to re-establish these centres.”

Oshiomhole called on employers of labour to inform the Ministry of Labour and Employment whenever they employ, dismiss and retrench members of staff in their various establishments.

He also called for the review of expatriate quota for firms and industries operating in Nigeria.

The governor condoled with the Minister of Labour and Employment over the death of his father, Chief Pius Ngige, who died at the age of 105 years.

In his response, the minister told the governor that under his leadership, the ministry would experience turn around.

He said that the ministry would ensure that the aspirations of unemployed Nigerians youths are met.

Mr James Ocholi, the Minister of State in the ministry, who commended the governor for his instructive suggestion, promised that the ministry would heed the advice.