The Nation Newspaper

Category: Labour

  • NUJ to picket debtor-media houses Wednesday

    The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has said it will picket media houses, which are not paying salaries of their members on Wednesday.

    This is contained in a 14-point communiqué issued at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Umuahia.

    According to it, the NUJ leadership appeals to state governments to implement the 22 per cent weigh-in allowance for journalists.

    The document, signed by Mallam Shu‘aibu Leman, the National Secretary of the union, urged the Federal Government to pay the arrears of the weigh-in allowance owed its media workers.

    The union appealed to the government to ensure the security of life and property of Nigerians by addressing security challenges across the country.

    The communique condemned the increasing spate of arrests of journalists, especially the four staff of Leadership Newspapers, describing it as a siege.

    “The NUJ will not shy away from its responsibility of protecting the interest of journalists; members should carry out their duties in line with the ethics of the profession,’’ it said.

    The union expressed the need for the review of the code of ethics of the NUJ to be in tandem with emerging realities in the media and in line with international best practices.

    It re-affirmed the commitment of the union to the welfare of members, adding that the recent journalists of the year award initiated by the leadership of the union was meant to encourage journalists.

  • Review our benefits, pensioners urge Jonathan

    Senior citizens under the aegis of National Association of Pensioners (NAP) have petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan over the government’s failure to review their benefits in the last six years.

    In a letter dated April 15, 2013, and signed by the association’s President, Mr Chimezie Ahaneku, and General Secretary, Mr Segun Afolabi, the pensioners complained about government’s refusal to comply with Section 173 of the Constitution, which directs that pensions of retirees be reviewed every five years.

    They said the pension in the Federal Civil Service should have been substantially reviewed upwards with effect from September 1, 2010. And that another review should have been effected in 2011, following the approval of N18,000 minimum wage.

    The letter said: “We are imploring your Excellency to, for once, devote a significant portion of the Presidential message on the occasion of this year’s May Day, towards addressing the problems confronting pensioners.

    “Kindly wipe out our tears by granting us a 53.4 per cent upward review of pension with effect from September, 2010 as was done for workers and then direct the relevant agencies of government to ensure its speedy implementation.”

  • NUJ’s ultimatum expires Wednesday

    NUJ’s ultimatum expires Wednesday

    The two-week ultimatum given by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to media houses to clear backlog of salary arrears expires on Wednesday. The picketing is scheduled to start today.

    NUJ and NLC gave the ultimatum two weeks ago, warning that at its expiration, they would picket media houses that didn’t comply. The picketing is scheduled to start today.

    The decision came on the heels of journalists being owed many months without plan for payment.

    NUJ President, Mohammed Garba said: “We are worried that major newspaper owners making several millions of naira as profit, owe their employees several months of unpaid salaries.

    “How do we talk of sanitising the industry and the profession when some media organisations are aiding corruption by that act.”

    The NUJ is working with sister unions, Radio Television And Theatre Workers Union (RATTAWU) and the National Union of Printing and Publishing Workers (NUPPROW).

    Garba pledged the support of the NUJ for the bill seeking appropriate sanction for employers that refuse to pay workers.

  • AU seeks 2% reduction in unemployment yearly

    The African Union Commission (AUC) has appealed to member-states to reduce youths and women unemployment by two per cent yearly.

    AU Commissioner, Labour and Social Affairs, Dr Mustapha Sidiki, made the appeal at the African Development Bank (AfDB), International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Economic commission for Africa (ECA) joint forum on youth employment in Addis Ababa.

    He said: “We should strive to ensure that in the next 50 years all workers, whatever the sectors, have access to decent work, decent income, appropriate social protection regimes, better working and living conditions.

    “We should also strive to fulfil our commitment to reduce youth and women unemployment by two per year, which requires bold steps toward the functioning labour inspection, social protection, dialogue, placement of service, labour market information, policy planning and monitoring and evaluation.”

    Sidiki urged governments of AU member-states and stakeholders to work towards reducing poverty, ensuring social cohesion and inclusive pro-poor growth by focusing on outcomes of growth process that would benefit workers and other members of the society.

    He said: “On the average, more than 70 per cent of the African workforce is engaged in the informal economy and rural sector activities and the labour market does not address the needs of the workers in these sector in terms of social protection, skills development, employment services and workforce management.’’

    He said the challenges applied to the small and medium enterprises, which are poorly covered by the services offered by the labour market institutions, in particular the labour inspection and public employment services.

    “ We need to look beyond the 10 per cent of workers in the modern sector, listen to the majority of the workforce in the informal economy and the rural sector and join efforts in bringing them into the economy to secure decent jobs.’’

    While presenting the Joint Youth Employment Initiative for Africa (JYEIA), Ms Ginette Nzau-Muteta of the African Development Bank, said: “It was being launched on the background of serious and ever worsening unemployment problems for young people in most African countries.“

    Muteta said the programme was a response to the call by AU member-states at the summit in Malabo in July 2011 to tackle youth unemployment in Africa “and is also part of  the follow up to the 2004 Ouagadougou Declaration and Action Plan to the same effect.’’

    The programme, she said, is to increase and improve youth employment in Africa, adding that it would be organised under three components of policy support, implementation support and knowledge for informed action.

    The initiative is part of the AU’s Ninth Ordinary session of the Labour and Social Affair conference.

  • Oronsaye allays fear of job loss

    Former head of Service Mr Stephen Oronsaye has allayed civil servants’ fear of job loss over the planned merger or scrapping of some government parastatals.

    Oronsaye said the Presidential Committee on the Rationalisation and Restructuring of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies, recommended the “Traffic Light Model” to address such challenge.

    “The merger of some agencies and parastatals with similar mandates will not lead to unemployment as insinuated. People should go and read the report,” he said.

    He explained that the model categorised workers into green, amber and red to ensure screening and that only redundant workers would be laid off.

    Oronsaye explained that green represents qualified and active workers, adding that such workers would be absorbed.

    He said amber represents workers who require adequate training while workers in the red category would be laid off for non-performance.

    “The model that is recommended in the report is the Traffic Light Model, green, amber and red.

    “If you are green you remain, if you are amber you will be trained and if you are red, it means stop, you are of no use,” he said.

  • Who becomes TUC president?

    Who succeeds outgoing President-General of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) Comrade Peter Esele whose tenure expires in June?

    This is the question many members of TUC are asking ahead of its triennial delegates conference in June.

    The presidents of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) and Association of Senior Staff of Banks Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI), Bobboi Bala Kaigama and Sunday Olusoji Salako have indicated interest to succeed him.

    Launching his campaign for the job, Kaigama said his vision was to consolidate on the achievements of Esele and taking the trade centre higher.

    He said he would execute a housing project and consolidate on the mass transit system established by the out-going administration.

    He listed part of his achievements as spearheading the last two upward review of salaries for civil servants in Taraba State, making the workers among the best paid in the north.

    He said as a branch chairman of his union, he instituted a welfare programme for the union members, “which now stands at about N70 million.”

    Salako, who unveiled his manifesto, at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, vowed to raise the bar to consolidate on the gains of the outgoing president-general.

    Salako said: “I vow to raise the bar to consolidate on the gains of the outgoing President-General, Comrade Peter Esele, with a functional and well-equipped secretariat, highly skilled and motivated staff, with a robust platform for social change and justice for workers, as well as with solid intervention thrust that promotes industrial democracy in Nigeria, if elected.

    He pledged to ensure that TUC is equipped with multiple streams of income to meet its obligations to the toiling workers in Nigeria.

    While urging other aspirants to key into the moving train of TUC’s development projects by alligning with him to take the labour centre to the next level, he said all TUC’s affiliates, as well as the three contestants, should support him to win the coming election to enable the labour centre to take a stand on matters that affect workers.

    He said: “We have an enormous amount of common ground between our affiliate associations in TUC that would consolidate on the gains of comrade Esele,  and so there is no reason for us not to work together.”

    Arguing that trade unions, civil society and citizens have a major role to play in nation-building, the labour leader called for the support of other aspirants for him to effect change in the country’s labour movement.

    He said: “We will observe in passing, the core role of the trade unions in various institutional settings in the protection of the rights and welfare of workers, campaigning against unfair and unjust labour practices, championing the cause of progressive labour legislations, and proceed to their more strategic mandate in building the Nigeria of our dream.

    “And that is what we in ASSBIFI stand for to achieve when I become the President-General of TUC, with the support of the affiliates unions in the coming delegates’ conference in June this year.”

    Salako said he would use his office for the progressive, articulation, propagation and affirmation of popular political, economic and social causes and ideals essential for the egalitarian transformation of trade movement in Nigeria.”

    Given the fact that Nigeria is faced with high unemployment rate, Salako insisted that it is only when a strong economic and monetary union is in place that unemployment would be reduced. He said this would be achieved during his tenure, if elected. He urged more commitment from the three tiers of government to provide opportunities for youth through, self-employment initiatives, as well as a sustained economic growth.

    Second Deputy President General of TUC, Comrade Adeshina Lasisi, said if elected, Salako would support the Federal Government’s entrepreneurship programmes to grow the economy, adding that youth innovation projects hold the key to unlocking unemployment.

  • Optimising multiple job opportunities

    Optimising multiple job opportunities

    Kayode has a poser: I cast a wide net in my job search and interview with some companies that I am not that interested in just to practise and get out there. Well, I am far along in the process with some of these and just beginning with my first choice companies. I am afraid that an offer will come along that I don’t really want. At the same time, in this market I am afraid to turn down a sure thing with just the hope of something better. What can I do to buy time?

    In this market, more candidates are casting a very wide net with their job search with good reasons. Hiring targets change constantly as budgets get slashed, companies get acquired or restructured, or circumstances change the needs over time as firms take longer and longer to decide. The reality of applying to a lot of places is that it is almost impossible to control the pace of the search. Some companies move through the process faster than others. You may find that you are in the final rounds at one company and just starting the first round elsewhere. If you prefer the slower company, how do you slow down the faster search without seeming disinterested?

    Just as you negotiate salary and other conditions of service, here you need to negotiate for time. The same general rules of negotiation apply: know who you are negotiating with – their wants, their constraints – and frame your requests accordingly. Prospective employers want their company to be your first choice. They want to know that you’re excited and genuinely interested in the position. They also have very real time and budget constraints.

    Maybe you are filling a spot for someone who is leaving in two weeks and they need to have the replacement there next week to transition. Maybe their fiscal year ends in two weeks so if they don’t hire for this spot before then they lose that space in the budget. When a company pushes a process through quickly or pushes for a decision quickly, they may have good reasons and not just giving you a hard time.

    Therefore, ask about timing for all employers as you go through the process. How quickly do you expect to make a decision? When do you need this person to start? How many rounds/ how many people will be involved in the decision? Once you know that a firm is interested in you, these are all fair questions and will help you know how quickly the process may move for all companies in your pipeline so you can effectively juggle your schedule and negotiate for time.

    Negotiate a wide range. You might say, “Officially, I am to give two months notice, but I can make it one. Really, it all depends on the projects at hand”

    You can get the information to your first-choice company about what is happening with the other company. Don’t be pushy but let them know that you have another company who is interested and close to a decision. Get a commitment or at least a good estimate from your first choice as to when you will hear from them. Then you know how much time you need to negotiate for. You also remind the first choice company that you are desirable on the market!

    At the same time, ask your second choice for the time you need. Reiterate your interest, but let them know that you have committed to certain projects/assignments and don’t/can’t/shouldn’t want to cut these short. It is not recommend continuing to interview with companies that you are not genuinely interested in because it wastes everyone’s time.

    But if you would potentially accept an offer at a firm but it is just a lower priority, it is worth negotiating for more time so you can make an informed decision. Your second choice may become more desirable as you learn more about it (or about your first choice). In this way, negotiating for time means a more informed job search.

    This article is an adaptation of a presentation by Caroline Ceniza-Levine. She helps people find fulfilling jobs and careers, and co-author (along with Donald Trump, Jack Canfield and others) of the best-selling How the Fierce Handle Fear: Secrets to Succeeding in Challenging Times 2010; Two Harbors

  • Struggle cuts across sectors

    The last three months for Labour has been busy. Unions, as usual, have been fighting for workers’ rights. These agitations were centred on alleged refusal of some state governments to implement the N18,000 minimum wage.

    The spate of embezzlement of pension funds also attracted the attention of the two labour bodies – the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congres (TUC). The trial and eventual conviction of John Yakubu Yusuf in the courts was welcomed, but the light sentence and the option of a paltry N750,000 fine, drew the ire of labour and other Nigerians.

    Next came the solidarity message of the NLC and TUC that should the government fail to bring the culprits to book through the judiciary, they would hold mass protests.

    Labour, as usual, won some and lost in other areas. On the deregulation of the downstream petroleum industry, NLC applauded the judgment of the Federal High Court (FHC) that the government should not remove subsidy, but rather fix a price for petroleum products.

    The congress said the judgment was “obviously a victory for democracy and the independence of the judiciary.” It commended Bamidele Aturu for his stance in prosecuting the case. NLC, however, added that the issues of deregulation go beyond the fixing of the pump prices of petroleum products.

    “The adverse effects of an unconscionable high cost of petroleum products on the citizenry borne out of bad management of the petroleum sector is the crux of the matter,” the NLC said in a statement.

    Calling on the government to forget the plan to further mark-up the prices of petroleum products, NLC said the judgment underscores its insistence that the Chapter Two of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) be made justiceable to promote good governance and protect the welfare and well-being of Nigerians.

    The oil sector workers also observed that the challenges facing the country on the availability of petroleum products are unprecedented and have continued to constitute a source of hardship to the citizenry. They called for a speedy solution through passage of Petroleum Industry Bill.

    “Our four refineries produce at some 20 per cent of their capacity and the country is forced to import about 80 per cent of needed refined products thereby expending scarce foreign currency and perpetrating fraud in the name of subsidy.

    “We frown at the little or no provision made under the PIB for this critical sector of the industry. NUPENG and PENGASSAN believe that the PIB must address the vexed issue of petroleum products importation and other areas of concern in the downstream. We expect the PIB to lay the legal foundation for a sustained growth in the development of our local refining capacity, end the regime of importation of refined petroleum products and, ultimately, usher in Nigeria as an exporter of refined petroleum products.

    They, therefore, proposed that the PIB makes provisions for the existing refineries. That the country adopts a modified model tailored towards the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) Model with the National Oil Company (NOC) holding a substantial minority of about 40 per cent core investors/local participation having a working majority; and staff and staff unions – PENGASSAN and NUPENG holding minority shares. That refineries should be stand-alone entities independent of the proposed NOC (NOCs will hold the government shares). The management of each refining company should be autonomous and responsible for its success and failure.

    Also that effective incentives should be granted to allow for the development of private refineries alongside the existing refineries. A framework should also be articulated that will make available required crude oil for effective functioning of local refineries.

    The banks were not left out of the labour struggles in the first quarter. The lingering crisis between the defunct Afribank workers and the management of the Mainstreet Bank was resolved.

    The National Union of Banks Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) though appreciated the Federal Government for ensuring an agreement that the workers would be paid their full benefits, but still wants government to monitor the implementation of the agreement.

    The agreement states that the Mainstreet Bank will pay 100 per cent severance package to the severed workers of Afribank who were laid off by the management of the Mainstreet Bank. Management of the bank said it decided to put a human face to the whole bridge mechanism, which had seen National Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) taken over the delinquent Afribank Nigeria following the revocation of its banking licence by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    Mainstreet Bank commended the contributions of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity and Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), noting that the agreement was reached after months of negotiation brokered by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity between the bank and the labour unions. AMCON is the beneficial owner of Mainstreet Bank.

    The union is counting down to its picketing ultimatum with the First Bank Nigeria Plc. It alleged that the bank had joined the league of slave drivers by engaging casual workers for cheap monthly salaries through outsourcing, to do the jobs of regular staff who have just been retrenched by the bank.

    The union claimed to have “had several engagements and dialogue with FBN management and their In- Sourcing on the issue of workers union right which the management has refused to give recognition.”

    NUBIFIE, therefore, gave the bank a 14-day ultimatum, which will expire tomorrow.

    An official of the bank, however, denied the allegations saying they were far from the truth. And that the bank always employ regular workers and train them at its training school.

    NUBIFIE said the bank was economical with the truth. “The work environment in the banks and Insurance has become a virtual slave camp, where workers were subjected to all forms of human deprivation un-regulated hours of work, unrestrained and arbitrary punitive actions of management, absence of a negotiated condition of service as well as stagnation of promotions among other denials,” it said.

    The union is miffed about unrealistic deposit drive target, which in some cases render or expose workers to abuse and dehumanisation with the attendant psychological trauma. It said these anti-labour practices have become the hallmark of management relationship with the workers in trying to achieve their corporate goals.

    The aviation sector was not spared of labour struggle. Aero Contractor is awaiting its picketing date with NLC and TUC.

    The congresses said they were surprised that “despite huge opportunities provided by the existence of vibrant, well informed, matured and responsible trade unions in the aviation sector, the management of Aero Contractors decided to ignore all available industrial relations mechanisms by dismissing over 655 employees of the company and locked out the entire workforce since March 13, 2013.”

    They said the airline had approached the National Industrial Court for an injunction that would provide the management an opportunity to take “anti-workers decisions without consultation with the unions, the National Union of Air Transport Employees and the Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria.”

    They believed the basic intention of the management is to, ultimately, circumscribe workers rights to belong to the unions as well as casualise the entire workforce.

    Labour applauded the steps taken so far by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), which grounded the airline, saying safety cannot be guaranteed with an airline that has “caused itself avoidable industrial crisis. All employees of airlines all over the world are key to security and safety of flights.”

    It is calling on the management of the airline to recall those dismissed and reopen their offices immediately.

    At the moment, there is an April 10 mass protest date notice given by both labour centres – NLC and TUC – over pension scam.

    Labour deems it fit to fight on behalf of the feeble old men and women whose pension funds are being used to enrich younger and influential people.

  • Oil workers urge speedy passage of PIB

    Oil workers have called on the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to attract investment into the sector and grow the national economy.

    The oil workers, acting under the aegis of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) and its counterpart, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), lamented that investors are relunctant to invest in the sector because of the uncertainties surrounding the PIB which has generated bitter acrimony among members of the National Assembly.

    Adopting NUPENGASSAN as acronym for the two unions, the oil workers said: ”Investors have continued to adopt a wait and see attitude, refraining from making any new investment pending the passage of the bill.”

    They, therefore, called on the National Assembly to ensure that the provisions of the PIB covers not only the agencies and companies created under the proposed law but all companies operating in the petroleum sector.

    Addressing reporters in Lagos, PENGASSAN President, Comrade Babatunde Ogun, observed that the PIB proposes to exclude the successor companies to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) from the operations of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) and Public Procurement Act (PPA).

    He argued that the involvement of all the companies will ensure transparency and erase the “black hole” perception of the oil and gas industry, adding that the proposed law was to check inherent corruption and misappropriation of funds in public entities.

    Ogun, who spoke alongside NUPENG President, Igwe Achese and other National Administrative Council (NAC) members of both unions added that subjecting the NNPC successor companies to the FRA and PPA will further entrench transparency and accountability in the organisations.

    However, he was swift to state that the time frame for approval by FRA and PPA should be within a short period to avoid unnecessary bureaucratic bottleneck.

    He said the provision of the PIB granting the president “discretionary powers” to award petroleum licenses and leases should be expunged from the bill as it is a recipe for cronyism and corruption.

    “One of the major areas of grave concern about Nigeria’s petroleum industry has been the opaque nature of the industry. Many processes and activities are shrouded in mystery that controversies usually arise even amongst government agencies on matters such as the country’s daily production or revenue arising from there.

     

    He also recalled occasions when Nigerian’s presidents and their petroleum ministers awarded lucrative oil blocks to themselves or their conies.

    “It is commendable that the PIB provides that agencies and companies established under the proposed law should be bound by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. However, to ensure greater transparency, it is important that the provision covers not only the agencies and companies created under the PIB, but all companies in the petroleum sector,” Ogun stated.

    Ogun, while calling on the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the bill noted that investors are refraining from making any new investment in the sector pending the passage of the bill.

    He stressed that the country cannot afford the luxury of time while politicians indulge in unnecessary bickering over such an important bill on a sector that is the main stay of the economy.

    “We believe that the PIB represents a great opportunity for Nigeria to ensure a solid foundation on which the future of oil and gas operations in the country will rest. Also, that the petroleum resource which Nigeria have been endowed, work for the benefits of the Nigerian people.

    “Nigeria therefore cannot afford the luxury of time while politicians indulge in unnecessary bickering over such an important bill on a sector that is the main stay of our economy accounting for over 90 per cent of our foreign exchange earnings, about 40 per cent of the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) and 80 per cent of government revenue,” he added.

    The oil workers specifically demanded their inclusion in the Boards of the following Agencies/Institutions, to further ensure transparency- National Petroleum Inspectorate (which should incorporate Upstream Petroleum Inspectorate and the Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency proposed by the PIB), Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF), Petroleum Host Community Fund (PHCF), National Petroleum Assets Management Corporation, National Oil Company (NOC), National Gas Company Plc (NGC) and Petroleum Training Institute (PTI).

     

  • Getting graduates to be self-employed

    Getting graduates to be self-employed

    Graduates with little or no skills need not lose sleep. Reason: Microsoft Corporation plans to develop their skills to make them employable. The scheme is designed to train millions of graduates in Nigeria and other countries in the next three years. This initiative is expected to reduce unemployment, writes AKINOLA AJIBADE

     

    The questions come tumbling out of their mouths. In most cases, their questions stem from their frustrations with the situation in which they find themselves. “How can we overcome unemployment?” “Who will employ us since we do not have the prerequisite skills?” What prospect does the future hold for us given the soaring rate of unemployment in Nigeria?” These are some of the questions being asked by unemployed graduates in their despirate search for jobs.

    Soon, their questions may be answered through Microsoft Corporation, which is planning to develop the skills of graduates. The software giant has unveiled some initiatives to unearth, develop, and boost the skills of graduates. The initiatives, which include Microsoft YouthSpark, Business Spark, among others, are meant to equip graduates with relevant skills and make them employable. The development, which followed the skills-gap among graduates, compelled Microsoft to visit Iyana Ipaja camp to teach graduates how to develop their skills and get jobs.

    Speaking at the unveiling of Microsoft Youth Spark in Lagos, Head, Citizenship, Microsoft Anglophone Countries, Mr Ugochukwu Nwosu, said the initiative will help in creating new opportunities for over 30 million youths in 100 countries by 2015. Nwosu said the scheme would empower the youths and enable them aim for new possibilities.

    Microsoft, he said, has created the Nigerian Employability Portal, adding that the portal will enable graduates have access free courses, build their skills and careers. He said there are over 70 courses on the portal, adding that each of the courses has the potentials to create jobs.

    Nwosu said there were courses on software development, education, counselling, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) products/services, among others. Nwosu said training centres have been established across the country, adding that Microsoft has approved 15 partners to train the applicants.

    He said: “Fifteen partners have been approved to train the graduates when the portal is ready for use. Graduates would be attached to a partner, who will improve their skills on various issues. YouthSpark is for graduates, undergraduates, and youths. The reason you go to school is to learn how to do something for yourself and earn a living. You need to discover your potential and develop them through the initiatives rolled out by Microsoft. After the training, graduates must have acquired some skills that would help them to be self-reliant.”

    He said undergraduates who enroll for the courses would be able to create job ideas during or after the national service programme.

    According to him, Microsoft partners would by 2015 travel to all the universities to train undergraduates and let them know that they don’t need to look for jobs after leaving schools.

    The National Technology Officer, Microsoft Francophone Countries, Mr Olayinka Oni, said an Information and Technology (IT) Academy had been established to train people on various courses and help them in creating jobs for themselves.

    “The academy would enable people to access all kinds of IT courses on-line. Most of us want to get different kinds of certifications to get jobs. Through this, unemployed can get jobs or work on their own in order to make use of the unfolding opportunities in the rapidly growing Information Communication and Technology (ICT) industry, he added.

    He said Business Spark is another idea initiated to develop a future workforce in Nigeria and Africa. The idea is woven around three pillars-innovation, access and world class. The innovative pillar ensures that people come out with proven business ideas before they can get funding from Microsoft, while the access pillar ensures that SMEs’owners are connected on-line. The world class pillar ensures that 200 Africans acquire skills that would make them employable.

    He said graduates should be able to set up their own businesses after the Youth Service and become employers.

    Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Brig-General, Nnamdi Okore-Affia, said graduates who develop their skills stand a better chance of getting jobs. Represented by an official of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department of NYSC, Mr Isaac Obioma, Affia advised graduates to think of life after school. He said when graduates get enough skills, they would be able to see and explore job opportunities. He said YouthSpark is a tool for job creation, urging youths to make good use of it.

    “After leaving the school, graduates should ask themselves this question: What next? That is why people must key into Microsoft programmes and avail themselves of the opportunities there. Once graduates are able to create jobs for themselves, they are reducing the burden on government. This is going to have a multiplier effect on the economy,” he said.

    NYSC Coordinator in Lagos State Mrs Adenike Adeyemi said the Service is partnering with Microsoft to reduce unemployment among school leavers. NYSC partnered with Microsoft, following the discovery that many graduates are not employable in Nigeria.

    “Many graduates go about with their resumes and applications without being able to get jobs. The reason is because they lack the necessary skills, coupled with other socio-economic problems. This made us partner with Microsoft Corporation through Mind The Gap, a Non-Governmental Organisation, committed to tackle unemployment in the country. We want graduates to acquire skills and translate it to success by having their own businesses. We want them to become employers of labour, and not job’ seekers,” she said.

    Managing Director, Mind The Gap, Mr Tayo Olosunde, said YouthSpark is an initiative that would help in preparing graduates for the future, Olosunde said many students are not discerning by not knowing that they have a lot of job opportunities to tap from. He added that they would get ideas when they get to camp through the Microsoft’ programmes. He said there is huge gap between what the schools offered and the requirements of the labour market, advising students to acquire the necessary skills to overcome unemployment. He said graduates need to think of what they can do for themselves, and stop looking for jobs that do not exit.

    Mr Olosunde said YouthSpark and other ideas have created several job’opportunities, arguing that it is left for graduates to look for areas that best suited them.