Unemployment in Rivers & Amaechi's magic wand
By Eze Chukwuemeka Eze
I am sure that many watchers of political
events in Rivers State would not have imagined that the political crisis
rocking that state could last this long, especially against the backdrop that
members of the clergy, traditional rulers, civil society, opinion leaders to
mention a few have made frantic efforts as they know how to see an end to the
imbroglio.
More worrisome is the fact that while some
sane and well meaning Nigerians are seeking an end to the crisis, the
Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP in the state led by Chief Felix Obuah is
constantly maintaining a posture that darkens on-going reconciliation
efforts, that is if any genuine one exist. The recent expulsion of eighteen
loyalists, including Commissioners of the state governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi
is a case in point.
This development no doubt has cast a dark
shadow on the efforts of concerned Nigerians who are eager to see the return
of peace to the crude oil and gas rich state.
This sad development described in some
quarters as been unprecedented in modern politics was aptly captured by the
member representing the Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency of Rivers
State in the House of Representatives and Chairman, House Committee on
Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Hon Dakuku Peterside when he said,
“Rivers people are peace-loving, decorous and law-abiding. Therefore, Obuah
and his co-travelers are a disgrace to Rivers State. I wondered why a
respected party leader like the former National Deputy Chairman of PDP, Dr.
Sam Sam Jaja should even be considered for such despicable action of been
expelled from the party. To me, the alleged expulsion is one of the
absurdities of modern day politics. This action of expelling Dr. Jaja and
other leaders of the party in Rivers State is symptomatic of how caution is
being thrown to the winds, while morality was on a steady decline. But like
every responsible party member, I know this action is of no consequence as
they do not have the power to do what they (Obuahled PDP) claimed to have
done. Dr. Jaja will contest the PDP party elections for the office of the
Deputy National Chairman. For those ignorant of PDP constitution,
let me drew their attention to relevant sections of the PDP Constitution,,
“According to Article 21.4 of the PDP Constitution, a member may be suspended
by the Working Committee at any level but the member should not lose his or
her right to contest any election. Furthermore, Article 21.6 states
that “a decision taken against a member who has not been informed about the
charges against him or her or has not been given any opportunity of defending
him or herself shall be null and void”.
Funny enough, even after the Inspector
General of Police, Abubakar Mohmamed recently swapped no fewer than 14
Commissioners of Police leaving that of Rivers State, even while the National
Assembly and other bodies have called for either Mbu Joseph Mbu’s transfer or
removal.. The only option left to those who still feel concern about this
unfortunate situation in Rivers State is to continue to pray for the safety
of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi the embattled Governor of Rivers State as
with God all things are possible.
THE THRUST OF THIS PIECE
There is no gainsaying the fact that this
time around, the cancerous and menace of unemployment in Nigeria which if
unchecked is capable of not only truncating our democracy, but has the
potential of destroying our nation by critically examining the proactive and
strategically steps that Governor Amaechi of Rivers State has adopted in
addressing this menace with hope that other governments in Nigeria will sit
up and take a clue before this menace consumes us all.
Before divulging into the main issue, let us
listen to some authorities on what they feel about the sad state of
unemployment. Explaining this menace better. The great WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE in
one of his books, ‘The Merchant of Venice’ described the sorrow state of
being unemployed thus “You take my life when you take the means whereby I
live”. while to Thomas Carlyle in his own book Charisma captured this wicked
scenario when he stated, “A man willing to work, and unable to find work, is
perhaps the saddest sight that fortune's inequality exhibits under the sun”
To MASON COOLEY in his City Aphorisms
described the sorrow stated of unemployment thus, “Unemployment diminishes
people. Leisure enlarges them” while to JANE ADDAMS in his Twenty
Years at Hull-House, “Of all the aspects of social misery nothing is
so heartbreaking as unemployment”.
Unemployment as a permanent phenomenon of
considerable magnitude has become the foremost political problem of all
democratic countries. That millions are permanently excluded from the
productive process is a condition which cannot be tolerated for any length of
time. The unemployed individual wants work. He wants to earn wages because he
considers the opportunities which wages afford higher than the doubtful value
of permanent leisure in poverty. He despairs because he is unable to find
work. From among the unemployed, the adventurers and the aspiring dictators
select their storm troopers.
A World Bank database compiled from
households shows more than 300m 15- to 24-year-olds in developing economies
are similarly “inactive”. The Economist calculates that, all
told, almost 290m are neither working nor studying: almost a quarter of the
planet’s youth
According to the Federal Ministry of Labour
and Productivity, more than 41% of Nigerian graduates are without employment
after the mandatory National Youth Service Corps, NYSC programme. The
National Bureau of Statistics said over 50% of youths in Nigeria are jobless;
while the World Bank puts the figure at 56%. Considering the country’s
estimated population of about 167 million and 60 million jobless, these are
grim figures portending danger to economic growth and development of a nation
with the largest concentration of black people on earth.
THE INSENSITIVITY OF GOVERNMENTS
It is astonishing that a human resource
company, Employment Clinic stated that the government spends N960 billion
annually on artisans from abroad to work in the country an amount that
can go a long way to create jobs for our teeming unemployed youths. The
unemployment situation is worsening with every passing day more so as thousands
of graduates are being churned out from tertiary institutions yearly to
besiege those already hopelessly waiting for employment and roaming our
streets searching for means of earning a living. For some years now, we have
piled graduates upon graduates mortgaging the nation’s future and our
children’s future for the greed, avarice and planlessness of our leaders
through bad governance.
CONSEQUENCES
The enormity of unemployment challenge which
has become a colossal, –a socio-economic affliction of great proportions can
be illustrated most vividly when out of the 13,000 applications received by
the Dangote Group of Companies for Graduate Executive Truck Drivers; there
were six Doctorate Degree (Ph.D) holders, 704 with masters degree and over
8,460 B;SC degree holders. Most astonishing was that the company only needed
100 drivers, but got 13,000 applications, most of who are from reputable
universities. Doesn’t this speak volumes about the kind of leadership at all
levels of government and the need to brace up to with a view to finding a
lasting solution to this menace that creates a gloomy future for our dear
country?
Today, Nigeria is confronted with the menace
of kidnapping, oil thieves, ritualists, armed robbers, prostitution,
assassinationand other vices associated with the youths occasioned by the
rising rate of unemployment. The most disturbing now is the wicked activities
of Boko Haram, a sect people with teenagers and youths between the ages 14 to
24. They are ravaging Northern Nigeria with reckless neglect, killing,
maiming and destroying her economy. Yet our leaders seems to be more
concerned with acquiring wealth for their unborn grand children to the
detriment of the future of our nation and our graduates roaming the streets
without any help. Result! As they say an idle mind is the devils workshop.
Prominent lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN),
while reacting to the kidnap of one of his colleague and rights activist,
Mike Ozekhome recently captured the plight of our youths when he said, “One
will, however, like to challenge the government to address the socio-economic
implication of unemployment in the country. In particular, young boys and
girls who have flooded the unemployment market should be given jobs or
unemployment benefits, pending when they will be gainfully employed. The
Nigerian ruling class have to appreciate the fact that the youths cannot be
kept in unemployment and in abject poverty for too long while they live in
opulence.”
Another prominent Lagos lawyer, Mr. Festus
Keyamo, while condemning the kidnapping of Ozekhome has this to say; “It
further draws local and international attention to the poor state of security
in our country. It also highlights the state of joblessness among youths in
our country, which is one reason why they turn to this dangerous trade for
their livelihood,”
UNEMPLOYMENT IN RIVERS STATE AND
AMAECHI’S STRATEGIES
Despite all the distractions and wicked
plots, Governor Amaechi has proven to be a focused and visionary leader that
cannot be distracted by forces inimical to his good intentions for people of
the state.
Amaechi to me must have been a good student
of Bill Clinton, the former President of the United States of America, USA by
the way he adopted the thinking of this great son of the world in the ways he
conducts his government as captured in the following quotes, “The best
social program is a good job” and “I do not believe we can
repair the basic fabric of society until people who are willing to work have
work. Work organizes life. It gives structure and discipline to life”.
To understand the belief and thinking of Gov Amaechi on what governance is
all about, the mission statement of his administration promulgated
immediately he assumed office as the Governor of Rivers State on 26 October,
2007 says it all, “Our mission is to serve our people with humility and
render transparent and accountable stewardship anchored on integrity and good
governance. We shall use our God-given resources to improve the quality of
life of our present and future generations, and empower our people in a
peaceful, just and harmonious society under God”.
Though, I have done series on the
revolutionary steps of Rt. Hon. Amaechi in the sectors of Education, Health,
Security, Finance, his type of politics and position on good governance.
The Rivers State Chairman of Civil Service
Commission, Sir Martins Ngo Yellowe, said recently that “with a
workforce including civil and public civil servants of more than 65,000, I am
afraid if not probably the Federal Government and maybe Lagos State
Government the Rivers State Government has one of the largest work force in
the country and most be paid and well catered for.”
The above notwithstanding, let us note the
following strategies adopted by the government of Gov Amaechi to address the
menace of unemployment in Rivers State.
THE RIVERS STATE
STRATEGIC EMPOWERMENT COMMITTEE (RSSEC)
Tackling the unemployment menace in the
State received a major boost had the biggest boost with the setting up of the
13-Man Committee (RSSEC) under the Chairmanship of Dr Minaibi. Dagogo-Jack.
When I contacted Rev Jack-Dagogo, he
confirmed to me that his Committee is expected to use the SURE-P Fund to
engage about 75,000 Rivers State indigenes in the effort of Gov Amaechi to
reduce poverty level of Rivers State people.
The Chief of Staff Government House, Hon.
Chief Tony Okocha confirmed the above great news when he embarked upon the
sensitization and inauguration of RIVLEAF Ogu/Bolo LGA chapter over the
weekend stating that Rivers State indigenes will be paid monthly allowances
by the state government under the subsidy reinvestment programme (SURE-P) as
one of the programme of the present administration to improve on the
condition of our people.
AGRICULTURE
Under Agriculture, the Rivers State
Government is doing much to arrest unemployment challenge in the State. The
RSG has commenced paper work to establish and develop a N20bn Agric Scheme.
According to the Governor, “The scheme would encompass a settlement and
cluster units in different areas of agriculture and is geared towards
providing jobs for the teeming youths of our State”. He said the project is
expected to have about 300 housing units, a processing industry and primary
schools. This multi billion Naira Agricultural Scheme will be splintered into
three areas of the State housing 100 families each in the 100 housing units
to be constructed. The state is embarking on establishing a Banana Farm at
Ogoni where about 200 workers will be engaged.
The Rivers State Government has established
a Fish farm at Buguma where many youths are today engaged. According to the
Chairman of Asari Toru Local Government Area, Mr. Ojukaye Flag Amachree “the
establishment of the Buguma Fish Farm by the Rivers State Government is a
source of employment to youths of the Kalabari Kingdom and with the
steady power supply in the LGA small scale business has improved in the
area”.
The Rivers State Government has signed a
long lease contract with Siat Firm to revamp and manage the RISONPALM and
when fully operational it would create about 4,000 job opportunities.
EDUCATION:
In order to develop an employable workforce,
the State has offered scholarships to over 2,000 students in Nigerian Higher
Institutions and has spent about N5bn for her students in foreign Intuitions.
Apart from this, the Rivers State Government is credited with setting up of
the best educational infrastructure in Nigeria. The newly recruited 13,201
teachers in Rivers State went through one month induction course recently.
Dr. Ofuru the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Education said that the
induction was put in place to prepare the new Teachers for the noble
profession, pointing out that the State Government will still organize
another programme for the teachers in collaboration with the University of
Port Harcourt and Ignatius Ajuru University of Education
HEALTH
So far, about 400 medical Doctors have been
employed to man most of the Health Centres in the rural areas constructed by
the administration of Governor Amaechi.
SECURITY AND PUBLIC
POWER SUPPLY
Not minding those who are threatening
brimstone, storm and fire on the State, the State intend has purchased two
equipped and modern Helicopters for aerial surveillance to fight crime in the
State. Considering that foreign investors can only operate in an enabling
environment, the issue of tackling the state of security is of primary
importance because it has a multiplier effect that includes employment
generation. The Power Sector in the State is working tirelessly to ensure an
end to epileptic power supply in the State by the year 2014 this would also
serve to boost employment in the state and will also encourage
entrepreneurship among the Youths.
APPOINTMENT OF DR IPALIBO MACDONALD HARRY AS
THE SIXTH COMMISSIONER IN THE MINISTRY OF EMPOWERMENT AND EMPLOYMENT
GENERATION.
In demonstration of his seriousness about
addressing the menace of unemployment amongst our people in Rivers State, the
appointment of Dr Ipalibo Macdonald Harry a seasoned Administrator as the
sixth Commissioner in the Ministry of Empowerment and Employment Generation
speaks volume in this regard.
Dr. Harry a holder of a Doctor of Philosophy
(PhD) in Environmental Management from Rivers State University of Science and
Technology, Port Harcourt was the best graduating student in both his
master’s and doctorate programmes and became the first youngest indigene of
Rivers State to be a Chartered Estate Valuer. He is an outstanding author and
a seasoned publisher and a recipient of various awards that range from The
Times News Magazine Award for Excellence (2005), The Nigerian Union of
Journalists (Federal Chapel) PHC Award of Excellence in Innovation and Reform
(2007) and the Royalty Award from the Amayanabo of Kalabari (2012)
appointment on September, 2011 as the Commissioner for Employment Generation
and Empowerment did not come to his close watchers by surprise.
Some of the most remarkable feats of the
Ministry under Dr Harry include I.. Constant training of Rivers State
indigenes through the Seamen and Motormen/Oilers Programme, ii. Establishment
of AMET University offshore Campus in Isaka, Rivers State to offer all types
of Maritime courses and training, iii. Execution of overseas Maritime
capacity building at AMET University, iv. Chennai, India aimed at building
needed capacity to fill the vacancies in the Maritime, Oil and Gas companies
operating in Rivers State and the Niger Delta Region at large; v. Execution
of Industrial attachment Training and Placement for Rivers State indigenes,
vi. Rivers State Work Placement/Internship Programme designed to give
opportunity to Rivers State indigenous graduates who have undergone the
mandatory NYSC to have an additional year on-the-job training programme to
gain some working experience during the period of placement with companies;
vii. Mobilisation for Employment Generation –The Seefor Project through usage
of the loan from the World Bank and European Union to provide jobs for the
unemployed indigenes of Rivers State; viii. Partnership with Shell Petroleum
Development Company Nig. Limited (SPDC) and Park’N’ Shop Nig. Ltd to train
Rivers State indigenes at foreign Institutions, ix. Data Bank of the Ministry
which provides a quick and comprehensive reference source/guide job seekers
and employers of labour in Rivers State; x. Partnership with SPDC in the
recycling of waste (Plastic) Programme, xi. OANDO Energy Employment Test,
xii. Supply of Labour to Ministry of Power, xiii. Ven. Prof. T. N. Okujagu
Foundation for Ethics and Learning, xiv. Empowerment Programme with Nigerian
Bottling Company Ltd (NBC), xv. Partnership with Nigeria Liquefied Natural
Gas Ltd for the training and update of able Seamen, xvi. Partnership with
Noreman pre-employment interview for the unemployed, xvii. Crane
Operators/Light Vehicle Drivers Training Scheme, xviii. Fibre Glass Boat
Building Training at Asakanana Marine & Fibre Glass Products Ltd! Xvii.
The conclusion of the feat of Ministry of Employment under Dr Harry was for
the first time in the history of Port Harcourt an unprecedented event called
the job fair was put together. The Ministry organised a Job Fair where about
132 companies and 600 pre-qualified applicants both Rivers indigenes and
non-indigenes participated in the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency
(RSSDA) job fair 2013. The feats are so much that writing them all here
will be like writing a book.
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