Jumoke Olasunkanmi
A group, Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), has called on Tinubu’s government to declare a state of emergency over unemployment in the country.
The Executive Director, Ibrahim Zikrullahi, also urged the government to set aside N1 billion for job creation in all 774 local governments across the country during a press conference in Abuja.
He added that each job opportunity should be specialised to match the uniqueness of each local government such as manufacturing, agriculture, and ICT. According to him, these opportunities would act as the foundation for inclusive growth and help combat youth unemployment and crime rate.
The group noted that job creation is imperative, given the current economic challenge in the country which it described as ‘a significant existential crisis’. While the government has provided provisional cash transfer to some people, it continued, this may prove inefficient like other government measures like the N-Power, and other public schemes.
“CHRICED recognises certain ambitious declarations, such as the additional increase of N35,000 for workers, conditional cash transfers to the poorest of the poor, student loans…however, it is insufficient to merely announce these grand interventions without presenting a compelling argument that emphasises crucial aspects of sustainability, transparency and accountability.
”Based on the current tone of the proposed intervention by the Federal Government, there is a possibility that it may become another avenue for wastage and depleting scarce public resources without achieving the desired impact on ordinary citizens.”
Zikrullahi noted that CHRICED’s call is a template for a balanced and thorough economic policy that will provide equal sustainable development in the country.
