Federal Ministry of Labour And Employment Needs More Budgetary Allocation To Deliver On Mandate - Perm Sec

By Chinedu Echianu

The commencement of the President Bola Tinubu administration took off with each Ministry, Department and Agency of Government expected to play crucial roles in achieving the renewed hope agenda of the Government.

Meanwhile, poor budgetary allocation has been identified as a major factor hindering the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment from carrying out employment driven programmes that would engage Nigeria’s teeming unemployed youths.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Ismaila Abubakar who stated this when he met with the leadership of the Labour Correspondents Association of Nigeria (LACAN) who were on a courtesy visit to his office, said the Ministry is poised to make greater impact in the lives of Nigerians through the renewed hope Agenda of the President Tinubu administration which is committed to ensuring that employment opportunities are created for unemployed Nigerians.

He said the Ministry is set to go beyond conciliation of industrial crisis between the Federal Government and labour unions to playing a bigger role in enhancing the growth of the economy, adding job creation will take centre stage in the Labour Ministry’s duties going forward.

The Labour Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, hinted that the recently launched Labour Employment and Empowerment Program (LEEP), is one of the innovative ideas initiated by the Minister of state for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, targeted at developing various employability skills for young graduates, school leavers and artisans amongst others.

He however said that poor budgetary allocation is a major constraint that would impede the Ministry’s efforts if the trend is not resolved; “at the moment, our skill acquisition centres across the country are all dilapidated and in need of major facelift.

These centres are the hub for training young and old Nigerians on agro allied value chain development, information communication technology, crafts, entrepreneurship and other critical skills that will advance their fortunes in life. With the sort of allocations received by the ministry, it is difficult and almost impossible to revive these centres.”

he said. He went on to urged the Media to beam its searchlight on the challenges facing the Ministry. Moreso, he noted that the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha is relentlessly pushing for an enhanced budgetary allocation to the Ministry.

The Permanent Secretary also charged the journalists not to hesitate to advise the ministry on specific areas that officials might not be getting it right in terms of planning and coordination, adding that the growth and advancement of the country will benefit all Nigerians.

Earlier in his remark, Acting Chairman of the Labour Correspondents Association of Nigeria, Abulu Patrick, said the leadership of the Association paid the visit to the Permanent Secretary to familiarise with him and smoothen a working relationship in the interest and promotion of socio-economic development of Nigerians.