Follow Us on Google
The Federal Government at the weekend expressed its desire to formalise Nigeria’s bilateral agreement with Qatar on labour migration.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige said this in his office while receiving the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Qatar in Nigeria, Ahmad AL-Horr
Head of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Olajide Oshundun, in a statement made available to Sunday Sun, Ngige explained that his ministry was looking forward towards formalising the bilateral labour migration agreement, to afford more Nigerians the opportunity to work in Qatar.
He blamed the alarming rate of unemployment in Africa on the youth bulge of people in the age bracket 17-35 years, who constitute 60 per cent of the population.
He said: “We have unemployment ratio of about 34 per cent. If you include underemployment, you will be talking about close to 40 per cent, which is also very alarming.
“That is why we are looking forward as a country towards formalising labour migration agreement with you. Your country has been identified as one of the destinations for people who are looking for work.
“You have even reiterated here that the Nigerian component of foreign workers in your place is limited. That is why we are very interested in this agreement. We are working assiduously towards ensuring that it is one of the agreements President Muhammadu Buhari will sign during his planned state visit to Qatar. We need Nigerians to work in your place.”
The minister also appealed to the Government of Qatar to find a way of formalising the stay of Nigerians who are living and working in their place illegally.
He said Nigeria would not only deliver artisanal and medium scale labour to Qatar but also high tech labour.
He expressed hope that Nigerians would work well in Qatar as both countries are oil and gas producing countries.
He added that a lot of Nigerians trained in oil and gas would be assets to Qatar if allowed to work in the country.
Earlier, AL-Horr expressed the willingness of Qatar to have more Nigerian component in its labour force.
He assured that his country cares about protection for engineers, doctors and indeed all other professions.
