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…as ITF paid N9.4 billion for reimbursement
From Gyang Bere, Jos
Minister of Industry, trade and Investment, Otunba Richard Adebayo said the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has contributed immensely in growing Nigeria economy and resolving poverty challenges confronting the nation.
Adebayo disclosed this yesterday during the merit Award ceremony for 2022 with a theme, “National Apprenticeship and Traineeship System: A path way to Job and wealth creation” held at the ITF headquarters Jos, Plateau State.
The Minister who was represented by the Director of Commodity Yisawu Adepoju described ITF as one of the most vibrant and dynamic Federal Government’s agency that has help in the economic recovery in the country.
He said, “Despite these remarkable achievements, the Government is expecting more from its Agencies, including yours, in its determined efforts to grow the National economy and resolve other challenges that are confronting our country. Of great concern to Government is the rising unemployment especially amongst youths and Nigerians generally.
” I want to stress that for Nigerians to be fully equipped with skills for employability, organisations like yours have a vital role to play. I, therefore, urge you to keep working closely with other relevant Arms of government and do everything humanly possible to assist government in arresting the growing tide of youth unemployment and restiveness across the country.” He stated.
The Director General of Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Joseph Ari said the Fund paid N9.4 billion to 322 companies as reimbursement and N574, 112 as bank charges in 2022.
He noted that the Fund also ensure prompt payment of student and supervisory allowances which amount to N1.3 billion.
“As part of our mandate and in line with the ITF Act, the Fund reimburses contributing employers up to fifty percent of the statutory annual training contributions remitted by them if the Fund’s Governing Council is satisfied that the training programmes of the employer were in accordance with the Fund’s reimbursement scheme.
“In the year under review, a total of N9,394,973,610.98 was paid to 322 companies as reimbursement and a total of N574,112 was paid as bank charges. We equally organized several reimbursement workshops to apprise employers of labour of the processes involved in the reimbursement scheme.”
He explained that ITF implemented a number of skills intervention Programmes that equipped over 50,000 Nigerians especially the youths with skills for employability and entrepreneurship.
“Our partnership and collaborative ventures with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, MSMEs survival Fund, NECA and skills for prosperity, also contributed significantly in the equipping of Nigerians with requisite skills.”
He noted that ITF collaborated through partnership with relevant organisations to actualise its mandate in the fight against poverty and unemployment in the country.
“We are currently in active partnerships with the German Dual Vocational Training (DVT); Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN); Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA); United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO); Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMDAN); Bank of Industry (BoI) among others.
He noted that ITF disbursed housing and car loans to 76 staff and promoted 850 staff whose arrears were fully paid and 846 staff were sponsored on various long and short term development programmes within and outside Nigeria.
Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, who was represented by the Commissioner of Environment, Hon. Elisha Bitrus Shehu expressed commitment to partner with the ITF in providing skills to better lives of citizens.
He applauded the Director General of the ITF, Sir Joseph Ari for puting in place measures that have accelerated national response on fight against poverty in the country.
