Following the youth restiveness, crime and other forms of
vices because of unemployment situation in Lagos State, the Lagos State House
of Assembly recently passed into law, an employment trust fund that will enable
the government to fight the menace and engaged the youth of the state in wealth
and job creation, so as to add value to the state. Emeka Idimogu, a member of the House spoke to Emeka Ibemere, on the issues,
and other excerpts.
There is serious
unemployment in Nigeria and many of our Lagos State youths are on the streets
and as one of the lawmakers in Lagos House of Assembly, how is the Assembly
tackling the unemployment menace in Lagos State
Well, you should know that Lagos State is a unique state and
in the beginning of this year, when budget of the state was passed or I would
rather say that the present governor, his Excellency, Akunwumi Ambode made some
promises to ensure that most of the youths in Lagos State would be gainfully
employed in his own regime and I must tell you that he has commenced his
promise. First thing this year, Employment Trust Fund bill was passed into law
for the first time in Lagos State, and the idea is that it is going to be
funded by both private sector and the state government, and the state
government is going to contribute the sum of N25billion in four years, which
every year, N6.25billion of that fund have been provided by the state.
As I speak to you that fund has been provided by the state
and I must also tell you that few days ago, the chairman and the executive
secretary of that ETF; who will form the major player in the board were
actually confirmed by the Assembly, so, which means everything is now on course
for job employment and its now left for the board and probably the governor
will now send other board members because he has to constitute the board now
that the Chairman and Executive Secretary have been confirmed, the other
members will be confirmed I think the other necessary policy that will take place
will commence immediately the entire board is completed.
What is the idea of
the ETF?
The idea of Employment Trust Fund is to
ensure that unemployment is highly reduced to a minimal level in Lagos State when
you considered that in Lagos State, the population is high and you are talking about
say 20million to 23million and majority of this number are the youths and they
are unemployed, so that is the reason to form the ETF, and we believe it will
go a long way in reducing unemployment, because it is not just employment trust
fund for the elite, its target is for the downtrodden in the state. In fact,
the artisans, youths in particular, who can come up with ideas and who are also
willing to create employment within themselves. Even some training will be giving
to them before the resources will be provided to them.
However, I think the
beneficiaries must be residents of Lagos State, not indigene but residents of
Lagos State. And that means they must also have the LASSARA, this residence
permit that was being done and I’m advising the young men that have been living
in Lagos State for not less than six months and above to make time and go and
register and have their own resident’s citizen card because if you don’t have
it you won’t be able to access the fund. However, we are not talking about
indigenes of Lagos State or tribe in this case because we don’t want to raise
any sentiment that its only indigenes that would benefit from it, so that is
why in the wisdom of the governor, and the brain behind the trust fund, it is
giving to the residents of Lagos State who have spent a minimum of six months
and above and who have registered and also have their resident permit with
their documents showing that they are residents in Lagos State not just any
other person that is living in Lagos State. So, I think that is the major bold
step the government of Lagos State has taken to solve the menace of
unemployment in the state. And I sincerely commend the governor and his team
for that.
Apart from that ETF,
are there any other way of absorbing some of them in the ministries and
agencies of the state.
Yes, of course as at today and since the commencement of
this administration, the once I know, I’m aware that primary school teachers
have been employed in the state schools management board and I think the
process is still on and it was advertised, many have been interviewed and
recruitment process is still on. I know that; that one has been done and very
soon, some of them will be receiving their employment letters. Again, as I
speak to you, LASTMA, are also employing through the Civil Service Commission
of the state and if you go through their potter you will see it advertised
there. LASTMA, have advertised vacancies and they are recruiting as well.
People have also been applied and I know the process is still on; some have
been invited for an interview. These are ways of reducing the unemployment in
the state and I know that even in the fire service, under special duties are
also recruiting.
Now their vacancy position is on and if you go to their
website, it’s their and if you are qualified you apply but all these jobs and
recruitments are done online, so this one will close by the end of this month,
these are the ones that I know that are taking place. And remember, the budget
was just passed in January and this is the second month and I believe strongly
that before the second year of this administration in Lagos State, a lot of our
youths will be employed by the government and I also believed that there are
some arrangement coming from the private sector in partnership with the
government that are creating job opportunities for our youths in the state, I
thing we are on course and we are working.
How is the state
going to monitor the funds so that it will not be abused by the youths who are
going to be the beneficiaries of this fund?
Well, that depends
on the modalities of the board that the ETF is going to adopt. The chairman for
me is a first class material who has done it before, and she has worked in
FIRS. She is a charted accountant with pedigree, and from her resume, she is a
financial expert. Her record in finance and management is intimidating
sincerely within me, I was carried away by her CV. I think she is a capable
hand to manage the fund. Very sharp, articulate and intelligent woman so the
idea of abuse may not be there. I believe with her and the Executive Secretary
of the board, other board members will key into their vision.
The governor, the House of Assembly, have done everything to
make sure that every law guiding it to function is provided but it’s the board
that will come out with the details of how it will go according to their
guidelines, so on the issue of abuse, they can be able to take care of that
because they are the managers of the fund. They are also going to bring the
private sector, individuals into it because it’s not only managing the funds
but they have to grow the funds. The kind of fund management they are going to
do is more of accountability and transparency, because that is the purpose
because every person that will have the opportunity to draw from it, will know
that there will be controls to safeguard anything like embezzlement. Of course,
we know that there is no system that is faulty proof, but I also know that
through their very best control, they will checkmate those that will look at it
as their own ‘national cake’ or largess from the government. And I believe that
any person that has enjoyed the fund will be able to pay back so that it can go
round to others.
How
are we sure that access the funds is not going to be operation show your party
cards.
No, no, no! That is why the only condition that I know is
the through the resident’s permit card, that you must be a resident of Lagos
State. What do you mean by being a party member?
A situation where the
applicants can be asked to produce their parents’ party card membership
No, I know that party form identity cards and membership
cards have nothing to do with this ETF opportunity; you see we have an amiable
governor, whose interest is on Lagos residents, not tribe or party membership.
Any person as long as you have your resident’s permit is entitled for the fund.
It’s not for any tribe, party, family, clan or state. It’s for those who are
living in Lagos State and are contributing their quota; taxes and adding values
in Lagos State are the purpose of the fund. It’s clear and the document about
the fund is there, it’s a public document, and it has no hidden agenda. The
governor has spoken to the House, and my honourable Speaker, Obasa and other
stakeholders have given their support on the ETF and everything is going to
work out transparently.
What are your words
for youths?
They should be calm, not engage in crime and criminalities,
exercise patience because there are good things coming there ways from this
government. But must have their LASSARA, let them go and register now and get
their resident permit card because you cannot access the employment trust fund
if they don’t have their resident permit. The state is not bias by asking for
that; what they are saying is that if you have lived in Lagos State for a
minimum of six months and above, you are entitled to it, so let them go and get
it.
No comments:
Post a Comment