From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Federal Government says it aims to launch a new programme named the Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP), with the potential to generate over 2.5 million jobs for Nigerians.
The initiative, which is the brainchild of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment focuses on addressing hunger, poverty, economic growth, and job creation through six key strategies which include; digital skills development, vocational entrepreneurship programmes, infrastructure improvements, NELEX enhancement for job acceleration, global remote work opportunities, and labor compliance enhancement.
During the program’s unveiling in Abuja on Thursday, Minister of State for Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, called on development partners such as the World Bank, GIZ, the European Union, UNIDO, and the Bank of Industry to assist the current administration’s efforts in alleviating the sufferings of Nigerians.
Onyejeocha emphasised the potential for eliminating poverty in Nigeria and highlighted the Ministry’s existing structures capable of addressing long-standing issues often overlooked in the country.
Acknowledging that six out of the eight agendas within President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda falls under the purview of the Labor Ministry, the Minister underscored the need to take intentional and innovative steps to enhance the quality of life for Nigerians.
“We are in a position where we need to reposition the Labour Ministry. The world is moving towards technology and digitalisation and we don’t want to be left behind.
“We can’t do it alone and so we need to partner with you to help us succeed in the country. Mr. President during his campaign was clear about where he wanted to take Nigeria.
“Today, we want to be deliberate and accurate to key into the renewed hope agenda and we want to solicit your support to help us in achieving our key performance index.
The Ministry is out to make sure poverty is reduced if not totally eradicated through job creation. If we create enough decent jobs, it will reduce a lot of the problems we have today including insecurity’’.
“We want to make sure Nigeria have food to eat, ensure regulation and workers welfare. Also, empowerment is very critical so we are going to be very deliberate to empower people with what they can use to start up their own business and become employers of labour.”
“When you do this deliberately, poverty will be reduced, empowerment will be real and training will be impactful.”