Reps move to reduce youth unemployment

The House of Representatives has called on Federal Government to design a youth databank in Nigeria as part of ongoing efforts aimed at reducing the spate of unemployment in the country.

The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon Uju Kingsley Chima, who expressed concern on the country’s population distribution chart which indicates that Youth made up of graduates, undergraduates, artisans, and other unemployed or unengaged are not accurately captured in a databank.

“The House also notes that the inadequacy of knowledge of the exact engagement status of the youth has hampered policy formulation and implementation in Nigeria.

“The House acknowledges the giant strides of the Federal Government through the various Social Investment Programmes like the N–power targeted at youth empowerment.

“The House is convinced that robust and detailed Databank generated through the various Federal Constituencies and Senatorial Districts will effectively curb all systematic challenges, including corrupt practices associated with the old system of engagement without a documented statistic of the youth.

“The House is cognizant that such Databank will specifically indicate the employment, skills, ability and disability status and other considerations in the engagement requirements of the youth for effective policy formulation, implementation and other deliverables in Nigeria in confronting unemployment and absence of empowerment,” he noted.

To this end, the House urged Federal Ministries of Youth and Sports Development and, Labour and Employment to build effective synergy to generate a databank for youths to enhance their chances of obtaining empowerment and employment.

In the bid to ensure compliance, the House mandated its Committee on Youth Development to ensure implementation.

Zainab Sa’id