NAN-H-28
Unemployment
By Chinyere Bassey
Lagos, June 8, 2017 (NAN) Some labour leaders have advised the Federal Government to revive ailing manufacturing industries to boost the economy and create huge job opportunities.
The labour leaders, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in interviews on Thursday in Lagos, said that rebuilding of local companies would also reduce crime.
They were reacting to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report that the number of unemployed Nigerians rose to 11.55 million at the end of 2016.
NAN reports that, in the report released on Monday, NBS said that unemployed people were 9.48 million in the beginning of 2016.
Mr Otori Maliki, President, Iron and Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ISSSAN), said that the rate of unemployment was unhealthy for the economy.
“We urge the government to revive Ajaokuta Steel Company and textile factories; then, job opportunities will boom again.
“If revived, the Ajaokuta Steel Company can employ more than 500,000 workers. If the same is done in textile and some other companies, the 11.55 million figure will deplete,” Maliku said.
He added that there was the need for the country to be using local contractors instead of foreigners.
Mr Raphael Okoro, President, National Union of Railway Workers, told NAN that the increasing rate of unemployment was affecting the growth of the economy.
“ The high rate of unemployment is the reason for daily attack on innocent citizens. The level of crime such as kidnapping is largely due to lack of jobs,’’ Okoro said.
He called on governments to resuscitate ailing factories and create conducive environment for job creation to reduce crime, hunger and depression.(NAN)
CHIN/DOR/IGO
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(Edited by Nyisom Dore/Ijeoma Popoola)