Creation of labour ministry in Akwa Ibom will check unemployment – experts
NAN-HE-10
Ministry
Uyo, Nov. 16, 2017 (NAN) A don at the University of Calabar, Dr Edidiong Ebitu, has lauded Akwa Ibom Government for creating the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, describing it as major step to curb unemployment.
Ebitu gave the commendation on Thursday in Uyo while speaking with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the minor cabinet reshuffle announced by Gov. Udom Emmanuel on Wednesday.
NAN reports that following the swearing in of two new commissioners, a new Ministry of Labour and Productivity was created out the former Bureau of Labour and Productivity.
In his reaction, Ebitu, who teaches Marketing and Industrial Management at the University of Calabar, said that the new ministry would help to tackle unemployment problems in the state.
The don said that about 70 per cent of young people were unemployed in Akwa Ibom, while the remaining 30 per cent were under-employed.
“The new ministry if properly managed will help the state to have database of all unemployed persons in the state and the number of old workers due for retirement.
“It will assist the state government to coordinate labour activities, know the staff strength, areas of specialisation and which areas the state is lacking manpower,” Ebitu said.
In another reaction, Mr Unyime Usoro, the immediate past Chairman of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), said that the creation of the ministry showed government’s determination to solve labour problems.
Usoro described the creation of the new ministry as welcome development and a positive step to deal with industrial relations matters in the state.
“I think it represents a new approach to industrial relations practice and a renewed vigour to make labour productive in the state,” Usoro said.
NAN reports that the Ministry of Labour and Productivity is assigned to a new commissioner, Mr Ibanga Akpabio, who is a brother to Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Godswill Akpabio.
The other newly appointed Commissioner, Prof, Victor Inokak, is assigned to the Ministry of Education as a replacement to Mr Paul Udofia, who was relieved of his appointment as Education Commissioner.
Udofia became the only victim of the minor cabinet shakeup on Wednesday out of the 21 cabinet members in the state made up of 19 commissioners and two special advisers. (NAN)
BB/TÁ
Edited by Tajudeen Atitebi