The Nation Newspaper

Tag: job

  • SMEDAN signs pact on job creation

    The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with five clusters  for the pilot of its One Local Government One Product (OLOP) initiative.

    At the signing, its Director-General, Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda, said pilot studies, conducted with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) support in Kano and Niger states, revealed that the initiative has the potential to turn around the economy, especially in  job creation, agribusiness, and to reduce rural-urban migration.

    He noted that the OLOP initiative is dear to SMEDAN, adding that the success of the pilot run will determine the future of the programme.

    He told the beneficiaries that their performance was key in determining the level of support the Federal Government would continue to give to OLOP.

    Radda  said: “It is also with a sense of fulfillment that I am letting you know that SMEDAN has been working assiduously on your behalf to realise the objectives of the Projects.”

    He said some of the pre-and post- expectations and deliverables of the programme included sensitisation and needs assessment, entrepreneurship development, plant layout and joint identification of equipment and the provision of the type of equipment needed for their development, which was already mutually agreed between the clusters and SMEDAN.

    Radda stressed that the agency has provided working capital to enable them run their businesses as well as provide mitigation of the interest rate and 30 per cent of the total loan portfolio.

    He added that the banks would grant them three months’ moratorium to enable them stabilise before they start the repayment of the interest free loan, while the agency expect repayment within 18 months.

    He solicited the cooperation of the beneficiaries in interest-free loan repayment.

    “This is, particularly, important as your performance will either encourage or discourage further participations by the banks. I am positive that you will all be role models,” he said.

    Radda assured the beneficiaries that SMEDAN would continue to support all entrepreneurs by providing the required information and training to them.

    He urged them to take advantage of the opportunities being presented by this programme, saying the multiplier effect of this initiative on the economy could not be overestimated in view of the recession in the economy and the drive of the Federal Government to enhance the competitiveness of the non-oil sector.

  • Capital Oil workers fear job losses

    Employees of Capital Oil and Gas Industries Ltd have urged the Federal Government to release their Chairman, Dr Ifeanyi Ubah, who is in the Department of State Services (DSS) custody.

    The workers urged Acting President  Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara and the Minister of Labour, Sen. Chris Ngige to intervene so that the over 2,000 Capital Oil and Gas workers will not lose their jobs.

    A statement by the Manager, Distribution, Capital Oil & Gas, Mr. Saturday Igbarease, said Ubah’s continued detention has resulted in the shutdown of operations, with staff on the verge of losing their jobs.

    Worried about not receiving salaries this month, they urged the Federal Government not to allow them and their families starve.

    “The injustice meted on Dr Ifeanyi Ubah is negatively affecting over 2,000 workers of Capital Oil. The Federal Government should be mindful of the implications on our families who are gradually been forced to starve,” he added.

    The DSS had arrested the businessman over allegations of “economic sabotage” and alleged diversion of petroleum products to the tune of N11 billion.

    The Service last Thursday obtained an order from a Federal Capital Territory High Court to detain him for 14 more days.

    The same day, Federal High Court in Lagos also ordered DSS to release him within 48 hours or charge him to court.

  • LAMATA, LASAA warn public against phony job adverts

    The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) and the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) have warned the public against applying for phony jobs in some public utilities.

    The agencies told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday that the consequences of responding to advertisements in some LAMATA bus sheds and other open spaces were dire.

    NAN reports that most of the newly upgraded LAMATA bus sheds have been defaced with phony job adverts by scammers.

    Most of the adverts were written in black ink and done under the cover of the darkness.

    LAMATA and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) sheds at CMS, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Costain, Barracks, Ojota and Ketu, among others were plastered with such adverts.

    A BRT Bus Ticket seller with LAMATA, Ronke Adisa, told NAN that the adverts were often placed at night.

    “We come in the morning to see the job adverts written on the bus sheds. We are aware that they are not genuine and I have even warned someone copying the numbers written on the wall.

    “Most of the job seekers may not be aware of it because they are desperate. Things are very hard for people, so some people want to use that avenue to exploit.

    “People engaging in this act are heartless by fleecing people who are already depressed. Aside that, they are also destroying the beauty of the bus sheds.

    “I implore those concerned to find a way of arresting the perpetrators of this ungodly act,’’ she said.

    A LAMATA Supervisor, who simply gave his name as Tunde said some of the phone numbers written by the fake advertisers were traceable.

    He said: “Some of the phone numbers are genuine because they needed to get those that will fall prey to their scam.

    “Out of curiosity, I have dialled some of the numbers and I found out that the line was active; I wonder why security agencies cannot track them down to serve as deterrent.

    “I want the security agencies to be alive to their responsibility and track down those responsible for these acts who know they may not be only fraudsters but kidnappers.

    “For us working at the BRT stations, it is not our duty to be on the lookout for those responsible but to attend to the customers.’’

    LAMATA, Head of Media and Communication Mr Kolawole Ojelabi warned the public to disregard what he called the “deceitful adverts”.

    Ojelabi said: “I am appealing to the public to be guided about the fake job adverts placed on our bus sheds. We are not responsible for it and we don’t advertise jobs.

    “We have plans for the spaces on the LAMATA bus sheds which we have concluded plans to concession for genuine adverts.

    “As a responsible company that is out to serve people, we are aware of the fake job adverts and we have alerted security agencies to them and some arrests have been made.

    “We have reported the case to the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit (Task Force) and they are working to see that the perpetrators are brought to justice.”

    Ojelabi warned that LAMATA would not be responsible for any loss suffered by any applicant.

    “We are not responsible for the adverts and we are using this opportunity to warn members of the public on the consequences of patronising scammers.

    “Some of these adverts may not be only to defraud but they may also be to kidnap people, so, I want the public to be guided on these adverts on LAMATA bus sheds.

    “We will continue to serve the people and see to their welfare by providing efficient and qualitative transport service,’’ he said.

    A LASAA official said the laws prohibiting adverts in public spaces were still in place, adding that defaulters would be dealt with.

    “We have existing laws that prohibit the display of such adverts. Those responsible for such adverts are contravening the law and they will be prosecuted when caught.

    “LASAA will not condone such act, especially when it is not in the interest of the public. Relevant security agencies are on the heels of the perpetrators.

    “The laws that prohibit such advert placements is not just for the LAMATA bus sheds but for all the public spaces we have.

    “Nobody has the right to paste posters unless approved by LASAA. I also want people to be wary of paying attention to those adverts in their interest,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that some people have complained of being defrauded after applying for such jobs.

    They claimed that after applying, they were asked to pay a certain amount for interview. After payment, the fraudsters were said to have asked them to pay thousands of naira to get non-existing jobs.

  • Address job losses in banking, union urges govt

    Address job losses in banking, union urges govt

    The Association of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) President, Comrade Oyinkan Olasanoye, has said the government’s policies are forcing banks to retrench workers. She urged the Federal Government to review policies that might affect the insurance and banking sectors.

    Speaking with The Nation, Comrade Oyinkan said: “We realised that our members are losing their jobs and it has become a tripartite issue in the sense that it is no longer the fault of the employees or that of the employers, but also government’s policy. We operate in the financial sector, not manufacturing sector, so the only thing we deal with is fiscal.”

    She also said the Treasury Single Account (TSA) has been a problem to the union. “No matter the advantages of TSA, the government cannot just withdraw all their money from the banks and expect them to survive. We are trying to take a proposal to the government that if they are withdrawing their money from the banks because of TSA, they should loan it to the banks as an investment and at lesser interest rates. This will ensure liquidity in the system because with the way we are going, there is no money in the system,” Comrade Olasanoye said.

    According to her, the government is the biggest spender, but now it has not been spending.

    “This is affecting our members. The majority of our employers have issues because the policy is making business difficult to run. We are tackling the issue this year by engaging with government on its monetary policies. We are also engaging with our employers in order to save our jobs,” she said.

    She said the situation had reached a stage where ASSBIFI could no longer insist that banks should not retrench when the policies in place were forcing them to do so. “It is not about the government coming out to say banks should not retrench, but rather to know what they are doing to make it possible for banks not to retrench,” she added.

    Admitting that TSA is a very good policy, Comrade Olasanoye insisted that there should be a human face to every policy. “That we are trying to save government expenses and income does not mean it must totally collapse the banking sector. When the government was bringing TSA, they should have considered so many things. People are saying banks are no longer doing their core business, but that they run after government investment, yes, we should go into retail banking. But before we get to that stage, there must be a foundation,” she pointed out.

    She said apart from the need to do things gradually, the government should have considered the human factor before coming out with the policy. The government, she also said, should have assigned different parastatals to various banks.

    “For example, Skye Bank could be collecting all the TSA involving Nigerian Customs Service, while Unity Bank could be collecting that of the Nigerian Army,” the ASSBIFI chief, said, noting that with such arrangement, no bank would run out of cash.

  • Man urges Emmanuel to fulfill job promise

    Physically- challenged Innocent Ntia has appealed to Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel to fulfill the promise of automatic employment made to him.

    Wheel chair bound Ntia made the appeal at the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Uyo on Wednesday.

    He said the governor promised to offer him automatic employment during the first anniversary of the Family Empowerment and Youth Re-orientation Programme (FEYReP)

    He said: “FEYReP is Mrs Martha Emmanuel’s pet project aimed at improving the lives of the youths in the state.

    “I was privileged to be a beneficiary of their programme and was given a wheel chair on June 2, 2016 in one of FEYReP’s projects tagged: “Right to Rise.”

    Ntia, who is a 2010 graduate of Policy Studies/Administration of University of Calabar, said the governor made the promise on Sept. 24, 2016 during the first anniversary of FEYReP.

    “After my presentation, the governor ordered the Head of Service, Mrs Ekereobong Akpan, to announce an automatic employment for me.

    “The governor made the offer after I had told him I am a 2010 graduate of Policy Studies Administration from the University of Calabar and a Diploma holder in Local Government Administration in 2005.

    “When the Head of Service made the pronouncement, she ordered my credentials and other data to be collected that I will be invited immediately for documentation”, Ntia said.

    “I have not heard anything from him since the promise. As I speak with you, I am just coming from the office of the HoS; I was told that Wednesday was not visitors’ day.’’

    Ntia attributed his condition to accident he had on April 3, 2013 while on a church mission to Edo State, adding that he had been on wheel chair since then.

    “My wife left me after the accident in 2013. Life has not been easy since then and appealed to the governor to use his good offices to help him out of the difficult situation.”

  • Job oasis

    • Cross River State, while giving jobs, should focus on productivity

    Something of a rarity in the Nigeria of recession hit the headlines recently: Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State, in a feat of generosity, appoints 6,000 aides and 50,000 workers.

    Not many states in the federation can dare it. But the Cross River’s chief executive has the bona fides that justify this action. Where states are battling with backlogs of wages, even lasting up to six months, Governor Ayade sparked off a comic controversy when he paid civil servants’ salaries for December on the first of the month.

    Given crippling unpaid salary backlog, other states’ workers would have exulted at the news. But the recipients protested partly because they had gotten accustomed to regular salaries that had become for Cross River something of a routine largesse. The state civil servants wanted the wages to be put off to sometime around Christmas, so that they would have some money in the bank to celebrate the yuletide and New Year.

    Envy must have shone in the eyes of their peers in other states who will, no doubt, scramble for mere survival when the Cross River State workers will wallow in relative excess and luxurious laxity.

    So, the news that the governor promises to begin 2017 by adding new jobs must be cheerful indeed. But 6,000 jobs for aides is too much for that cadre. The governor can do with much less. We, however, advise that the jobs and resources be reallocated to more productive positions in industry, commerce and other productive levels.

    Other than the 6,000 jobs, he has promised to expand the job opportunities in the state by absorbing 50,000 more workers. This is a high number and should be commended. Just like with the aides, the 50,000 jobs should also fall within the productive sectors of the economy, which could also include services. The state is known for tourism, among other services.

    Governor Ayade announced this job news after his election was confirmed by the Supreme Court. In that celebratory mood, he infected his people with his own cheer and job offers was one way to show it. Hear him: “To ensure that nobody goes to sleep with an empty stomach, I shall appoint 6,000 more aides and 50,000 more jobs to make sure nobody in the state is unemployed.”

    To put food on the table is one of the essentials of governance today, away from the showy recent past when excess defined the presence of government. If the governor achieves this regularly in Cross River State, it will not be without productivity. Hence we hope that the new jobs will provide workers opportunities to add to wealth.

    It will make Rivers State another example in stable and creative governance like only a few more states like Lagos. The Cross River State is a model of financial discipline in the country. It is a Niger Delta state but it does not boast huge oil revenues like some of its neighbours that cannot pay their bills. From the time of Governor Donald Duke, Liyel Imoke and now Ayade, the state has enjoyed governance without ostentation. Ayade’s case is especially potent since he is working in the throes of a nationwide economic crisis. As an oasis of jobs, other states should ape and study it, especially those that now grovel in want.

    This shows that the resources that states get are not as paltry as they are made to seem. In a recession, it is non-oil states that are showing the path of prudence. Cross River State must, however, watch out and not let the good purse shrink.

  • NCDMB, firm partner on job creation

    The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, has pledged to create jobs and upscale the capacity of Nigerians in the nation’s oil and gas industry.

    Speaking during a courtesy visit to Dorman Long Engineering, at the weekend, Wabote said it would be achieved through partnership with the company.

    He added that NCDMB would use the implementation of Nigerian content to support President Muhammed Buhari’s administration to create jobs and upscale the capacity and skills of Nigerians in the oil and gas Industry.

    He lauded Dorman Long Engineering’s commitment towards building and sustaining the growth of Nigerian content, especially ongoing work on the Egina project.

    He, however, noted that the urgent task before the board would be to review its activities and implementation process and evolve new strategies.

    Chairman of Dorman Long Engineering, Dr Timi Austen-Peters, thanked the Chairman for his words of encouragement and assured the team of Dorman Long’s commitment to Nigeria.

    He added that the company was ready to key into the Federal Government’s job creation plan through the development of local content.

    “There’s no doubt that we are partners in progress and we would like to reassure you that we have extensive plans that would be strongly beneficial to Nigeria’s socio-economic climate.

    “Our expansion plan will see significant job creation, skills and technology transfer, as well as capacity building,” he said

  • Job tools for correctional centre graduates

    Wife of Lagos State governor Mrs Bolanle Ambode has inaugurated the Correctional Centre for Junior Boys on Birrel Street,  Sabo, Yaba.

    The centre was built by the Ministry of Youth and Social Development.

    Graduates of some correctional centres in the state were given job tools during the event.

    Mrs Ambode said the facility would have multiple effects on the society and ensure a more secured and conducive environment for children.

    She said: ‘’This project is a fulfilment of a core promise of the administration, which is to develop and promote the well-being of children. It will ensure a more secured environment for the children and improved service delivery by the staff.

    ‘’Our state is not immune to social challenges but the government is always doing the needful to get the right focus for the children and the youths. I, therefore, urge them to make a good use of those tools and make the best use of the opportunity to explore their full potential. Let me add that the government will continue to promote  the well-being of children, particularly the less privileged.’’

    Commissioner for Youth and Social Development Princess Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf said: “Majority of the wards here present have been exposed to social vices due to their interactions with criminally minded adults on the streets and faulty parenting, before they were rescued and placed under the care and protection of the state government.

    ‘’The presentation of these basic  starter tools to these wards is a step in the direction as it will get them started on the right path in life  and engender success in their respective vocations.’’

  • Experts pick holes in policies on job creation

    The rising unemployment rate in Nigeria has been traced to the anti-job creation policies of the government, experts, have said. They argued that Nigeria, with an estimated population of 180 million, is battling with 49.5 per cent youth unemployment rate as at the second quarter  of 2016.

    The experts and stakeholders, who spoke in Lagos at the WorldStage Economic Summit, with the theme: Addressing unemployment crisis in Nigeria, urged the government to carry out a major review of its economic policies.

    Dr. Femi Saibu of the Department of Economics, University of Lagos, Akoka, who presented the lead paper, drew attention to the policy on ICT revolution, saying it was employment destructive, service oriented and not production/manufacturing oriented.

    ‘’The government’s direct employment policy only created few jobs  while the series of youth entrepreneurship scheme across the country including ‘You Win’ always ended up creating social media entrepreneurs with no employment multiplier,’’ he said.

    Moreover, he said the Small and Medium Enterprises Credit Guarantee Scheme has failed to achieve its objective, as the funds were difficult to access. He said apart from being politicised, people saw it as share of national cake.

    Research & Advocacy, Executive Director, Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, Mr Sunday  Oduntan, in his presentation, Getting the power sector right to boost productivity, said the power sector was facing many surmountable challenges that had made it unable to play its role as the engine of growth for job creation.

    His words: “The whole electricity supply chain still remains comatose; the promised increased generation and reliability as part of privatisation –has not happened; generation continued to hover between 3, 000 and 4, 000Megawatts. Energy theft and meter by-passing are very rampant. There is insufficient number of meters due to liquidity gap and massive shortfalls.”

    He said the Electricity Generating Companies (GENCOs) have been bedeviled by issues around gas supply such as high cost of gas, vandalisation of gas pipelines, including delay and frustration in construction of power plants.

    He said there was hope for the sector if some milestones, such as funding of liquidity by subsidy & private sector fund, incremental generation, stability and security in generation could be achieved.

    The Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIRO) boss, who was represented by Dr Dele Oyeku, Director, Extension & Linkage, said there was no reason why Nigeria should be facing unemployment crisis if government could implement the research findings of institutions such as FIIRO.

    For instance, he said there was an initiative on cassava substitution for wheat in baking which can generate millions of jobs across the country.

    The Cnief Executive Officer of Crown Natures, Mrs.Omolara  Aromolaran, who spoke on Addressing youth unemployment through capacity building and skill acquisition, said: “Our problems as a nation will come to an end once we become a manufacturing state.”

    She also noted that Nigeria and Nigerians needed to start producing what are essential to enhance the economy and create jobs.

    “Nigeria has always been a country that tackles problems with one strategy. The situation requires us to tackle it with multi strategies, whatever we can do individually should be done, and little by little, we shall begin to see our problems getting solved. The situation on ground is not new, but we  need Nigerians to realise that every individual has a part to play in economic rejuvenation.”

    Welcoming participants, the President/CEO, WorldStage Limited, Segun Adeleye, said the alarming rate of unemployment in Nigeria should not only be of great concern to the government, but also to the private sector and other critical stakeholders in the economy.

  • Unemployed youths transform to job creators in Bayelsa

    Unemployed youths transform to job creators in Bayelsa

    Entrepreneurs are emerging from the unemployed population in Bayelsa State. Most of the new job creators are youths. The new generation of entrepreneurs took advantage of an opportunity provided for them by the State Employment and Expenditure for Result (SEEFOR) project.

    SEEFOR, which began in the state, last year, is a partnership project involving the Federal Government, World Bank and the European Union (EU).

    Last year, SEEFOR trained 1,200 people from various local government areas in the state and empowered them with skills and money to start businesses.

    This year, the project has already absorbed 3,000 jobless people. The project engages them in public works maintenance jobs, road maintenance, refuse disposal and other sundry jobs. SEEFOR pays each beneficiary N20, 000 monthly and mandates them to compulsorily save N5, 000 every month for a period of one year.

    Within the period, SEEFOR organises various mentorship programmes on money management and entrepreneurial skill to educate the beneficiaries on how to establish and run individual business ventures, using their compulsory savings.

    Such mentorship event was held at various centres. Beneficiaries in Ogbia, Brass and Nembe gathered at Ogbia Town; Southern Ijaw went to Amassoma; Ekeremor assembled at Ekeremor Town while Sagbama and Kolokuma/Opokuma were trained at Sagbama Town.

    The acting state Coordinator, SEEFOR, Mr. Charles Enuma, who spoke to the beneficiaries at Yenagoa centre, said the project was designed to give employment to many jobless youths. He said the programme empowered the youth by providing jobs for them and encouraging them to save part of their salaries to enable them to begin and own their own businesses.

    He said: “SEEFOR intervenes in several other areas. Other than the employment side, it engages in public financial management, building institutions and structure to ensure that government provides good financial management system. They are also involved in the training of youths in small craft.

    The SEEFOR initiative is an empowerment package for youths in Bayelsa State. Last year, we engaged 1,200 youths and this year we are engaging another 3,000 young people under the Public Works Technical Committee of SEEFOR.

    “We are empowering the youth and at the same time training them in entrepreneurial skills, savings and money management.

    “Apart from the public works committee, SEEFOR also provides funding for five technical and craft development centres for the training of youths,  provision of grants to farmers through co-operative societies, among other interventions and public financial sector institutional reforms.”

    He said though there was no technical college in the state to facilitate the activities of the project, SEEFOR took advantage of five craft development centres. He said SEEFOR provided equipment and consumables in the craft centres for proper training of the beneficiaries.

    In his remarks, the Chairman of the PWTC, SEEFOR, Bayelsa State and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science, Technology and Manpower Development, Chief Bomoyo Amachree, said the scheme was aimed at encouraging hardworking and positive youths to give them a sense of belonging.

    He urged the youth to avail themselves of the opportunities the scheme provided, saying that their hard work, dedication and attitudes would determine their altitudes.

    Amachree drew a distinction between the amnesty programme of the Federal Government and the SEEFOR project. He said while the amnesty engaged repentant gun-wielding militants, the SEEFOR came as a reward for youths who, though were jobless, remained peaceful.

    He added that SEEFOR was encouraging dignity of labour and assisting beneficiaries to learn the rudiments of financial management and entrepreneurial skills. He said the beneficiaries had a life-time opportunity to rise above their financial problems.

    One of the beneficiaries, Cynthia Titipreye, described the programme as interesting. Titipreye said through the programme, she learnt how to manage money.

    “Before now, I found it difficult to manage and save money. But after the programme, I learnt that money management is necessary for entrepreneurial success,” she said.