VAM News Update

THE house of representatives has asked the federal government through the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to develop a database to track the employment status of graduates and corps members in the country.

The lawmakers said such a database is essential for “evidence-based decision-making” in tackling unemployment.

The legislators specifically asked the ministries — youth and sports development, labour and employment, education, humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development — to develop a “workable plan” that would ensure corps members are retained in their primary place of assignment (PPA) for one year after their mandatory service to “allow graduates to find employment opportunities”.

The lower legislative chamber passed the resolution during the plenary session on Tuesday following the adoption of a motion sponsored by Muhammad Muktar.

While moving the motion, Muktar said after serving in the mandatory National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) scheme, most graduates find it difficult to face the reality of not receiving monthly allowances or other privileges.

He said the transition of corps members from the programme to the labour market without any allowances to support them is fraught with challenges.

“This is because graduates looking for their first job are generally among the most vulnerable groups in the labour market because of increased competition and the reality that vacancies are preferentially filled by people who already have work experience,” he said.

The legislator said helping graduates to enter and remain in the labour market should be an important part of government policies.

“The rate of unemployment will continue to rise due to slow economic growth and the inability of the economy to absorb the four to five million new entrants into the Nigerian market annually,” he said.

“The longer a person is unemployed, the higher the risk that such a person will lose work habits and faith in their abilities or will even build a passive attitude toward the need to be employed.”

The motion was voted for when it was put to a voice vote by Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house and presiding officer.