NEWS
ITF, others move to empower unskilled Population in Nigeria
***As MAN urges agency to leverage on 3m euro grant
The Industrial Training Fund (ITF ) and other stakeholders in the labour sector, on Tuesday moved to make the best out of the nations huge rising population through skilled workforce.
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria ( MAN), urged the ITF to leverage on 3m euro grant in the pipeline to produce more skilled workers in Nigeria
The advocacy by ITF and other critical stakeholders in the labour sector to have productivity – driven skilled population came to the fore during public hearing session on a bill seeking for amendment of Industrial Training Fund Act , organised by the Senate Committee on Industries .
The bill sponsored by ITF and given legislative acceleration by Senator Saidu Ahmed Alkali seeking to widen the scope of operations of the Training agency with regards to the provision of skilled training in management for technical and entrepreneurial development in the public and private sectors of the economy.
In his presentation at the public hearing, the Director General of ITF , Dr Joseph Ari said : “Amendments being sought through this bill , will serve to expand the scope of our operations and enhance our activities.
“In addition, the amendments are especially imperative now that unemployment in Nigeria has been estimated by the National Bureau of Statistics that Unemployment and Underemployment Report of Q4 2020, to be over 23 million Nigerians despite several surveys indicating the existence of vacancies in several sectors of the national economy that could not be filled because of the lack of requisite skills, which undercores the need for all hands to be on deck to ensure that as many Nigerians as possible are equipped with relevant and contemporary skills.
READ ALSO: World population to hit 8 billion on Nov. 15 – UN
“The amendments are equally pertinent when you consider the recently released 2022 World Population Prospects by the Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs that projected that Nigeria’s population will hit 216 million by November 2022, and 375 million by 2050.
“Therefore, if necessary measures are not put into place by empowering this youth bulge with skills for employability and entrepreneurship, the socio-economic problems that we are currently contending with in the country will conceivably escalate.
“An amendment of the Act will enable the Fund to expand its infrastructure to be able to accommodate as many Nigerians as possible that are willing to acquire skills for the national growth and development of the country”.
Supporting the proposed legislation , the President of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria ( MAN) , Engineer Mansur Ahmed represented by Abuja Laision Officer , Adeyemi Folorunsho , said ITF should further be empowered through passage of the proposed bill .
According to him , in a recent conference on skills and vocational trainings across the countries in Africa , ITF was proposed to be the flagship of such trainings which are to be facilitated by 3m Euro grants .
Other stakeholders like the Trade Union Congress ( TUC ) , Nigeria Union of Teachers ( NUT) , Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC) , Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission ( NIPC) , Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises ( NASME) etc , in their separate presentations , threw their weights behind the amendment bill proposal .
In his closing remarks , the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Adetokunbo Abiru ( APC Lagos East ) , said the amendments being sought in the ITF Act, were very necessary towards making Nigeria move with global trends as far as globally competitive skills trainings are concerned .
The Labour Party’s former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend his ongoing retreat in France and return to Nigeria to address the worsening insecurity across the country.
Obi, who raised the alarm on Wednesday via a post on his X handle, expressed concern over the spate of killings in different parts of the country since the president embarked on his trip abroad.
According to him, over 150 Nigerians have lost their lives to violent attacks within the two weeks of Tinubu’s absence.
READ ALSO: 2027: Okpebholo Banks On Edo, Delta States To Swing Tinubu’s Reelection
He highlighted recent attacks in Plateau and Borno States, where armed groups reportedly killed several residents, and also pointed to the resurgence of insurgency in the North East.
“I am compelled at this time in our lives as a nation to call on our retreating President’s attention to the security challenges at home, which entails that he immediately suspend his ongoing retreat in a foreign land and come home to address the overwhelming security situation across the country,” Obi wrote.
He also stressed that the security breakdown was not limited to any one region, citing incidents in the Niger Delta, the North East, and the South East.
“In the 2 weeks you have been away, over 150 Nigerians have lost their lives to insecurity across Nigeria, especially in Plateau and Zamfara states. The repeated pipeline explosions in the Niger Delta, further reflect a nation in distress. In the North East, Borno state leaders are bemoaning the return of insurgency with troops and civilians being killed randomly. In the South East, the story is the same: killings and abduction,” he stated.
Obi criticized the president’s decision to hold a retreat abroad while the country grapples with security and governance issues.
“Amid all these, the CEO of the troubling company called Nigeria is retreating far away land in France from the Company’s headquarters.
“The primary duty of any government is securing the lives and property of its citizens and one wonders the type of retreat going on in another country where peace has been secured by their leaders while blood continues to flow in our country,” Obi added.
He concluded by emphasizing the need for responsible leadership and urgent action, calling on President Tinubu to return home and confront the issues.
“The fight for a better Nigeria is not about individuals; it is about ensuring that every citizen can see, feel, and benefit from the policies and decisions of those in power.
“I, therefore like to urge Mr President to quickly suspend whatever he is doing in France and rush home to take responsibility by addressing these disturbing issues. That is the new Nigeria that the nation seeks. A New Nigeria is Possible. -PO,” he wrote.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has inaugurated a 21-member Ad-Hoc Committee that will oversee the administration of Rivers State during the six-month State of Emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu.
The committee, which will be led by the House Leader, Rep. Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, with Rep. Ali Isa J.C. serving as Deputy Chairman, was officially unveiled on Tuesday at the National Assembly in Abuja.
According to Speaker Abbas, the creation of the committee demonstrates the National Assembly’s commitment to constitutional order, good governance, and the protection of national unity.
READ MORE: Rivers Women Stage Solidarity March In Support Of Emergency Rule
“This marks a critical milestone in our constitutional mandate and is a reflection of our dedication to transparent governance and the rule of law,” the Speaker declared during the inauguration ceremony.
President Tinubu’s declaration, which came into effect on March 18, was made under Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The President described the situation in Rivers State as a “grave crisis threatening public order” and emphasized the need to safeguard the welfare of the citizens.
Referencing previous cases of emergency rule, including those in Plateau (2004), Ekiti (2006), and the North-East (2013), Abbas reminded lawmakers that the National Assembly had always played a stabilizing role during such interventions.
He clarified that the appointment of Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd.) as the caretaker administrator for Rivers State is a stopgap arrangement designed to restore basic governance and maintain public safety.
“The Administrator’s role is limited to maintaining law and order until democratic governance is fully restored,” Abbas said, adding that the administrator would be reporting directly to the National Assembly.
The Speaker urged committee members to carry out their duties with professionalism and neutrality, warning them to avoid partisan conduct.
“You must avoid partisanship and ensure that your actions strictly align with the Constitution,” Abbas stressed. “Beyond oversight, you are also expected to support reconciliation and peacebuilding efforts in Rivers State.”
In response, Committee Chairman Ihonvbere expressed confidence in the team’s ability to carry out the assignment with excellence, citing the members’ collective experience and commitment.
“If I am not wrong, this is probably the strongest ad-hoc committee ever set up since 2019,” Ihonvbere noted.
“With the experience, exposure, and dedication of this team, I assure you on behalf of my colleagues that we will not disappoint the Speaker, the National Assembly, or the Nigerian people.”
He added that the committee would begin work immediately and promised that all activities would be guided by transparency, diligence, and objectivity.
The committee’s responsibilities will include monitoring the implementation of federal directives in Rivers State, ensuring that the caretaker government stays within constitutional boundaries, and submitting regular reports to the House of Representatives.
Former Kano State Governor and 2023 Presidential Candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has condemned the recent spate of deadly attacks in Plateau State, calling on the relevant authorities to ensure that the perpetrators are swiftly brought to justice.
Kwankwaso, in a statement posted on his verified Facebook page, expressed deep sadness over the attack on the Zike community, Kimakpa, in Kwall district of Bassa Local Government Area, which claimed the lives of 51 people and left several properties destroyed.
READ ALSO: 40 Killed In Fresh Attack On Plateau Community As Violence Escalates
The NNPP chieftain described the incident as a tragic addition to the wave of violence that has rocked the state in recent weeks.
He noted that the Zike attack came shortly after over fifty other residents were killed across five communities within the space of a week.
“It is important that Plateau State must not be allowed to become a hotbed of violence and wanton destruction again after the relative peace it has enjoyed in recent years,” he stated.
Kwankwaso called on the Federal Government to rise to its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property, while urging residents and stakeholders to embrace peace.
“I extend my condolences to the Government and people of Plateau State. I also urge the authorities to ensure that justice is served by bringing the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to book,” the former governor added.
The recent attacks have continued to fuel concerns over security lapses in the region, as calls for decisive action and lasting solutions grow louder.
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‘Plateau Must Not Become A Killing Field’ — Kwankwaso Mourns Victims, Seeks Justice
