Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, has restated the federal government’s ban on importation of certain goods into the country.
Ngige made the emphasis on the occasion of the National Directorate of Employment, NDE, special day at the 27th Enugu International Trade Fair.
He assured that “government will not compromise its resolve to enforce existing laws barring the importation of certain goods that the country has a comparative.
He stressed that the policy would stimulate the need and eventual emergence of new efforts in the areas of increased and improved agricultural production, as well as value addition to agricultural produce that would lead to job creation and national food security.
The minister, while harping on the federal government’s present efforts aimed at increased job creation, emphasized that “the creation of sustainable employment lies basically with the private sector, especially the small and medium scale enterprises.”
He, however, assured that “this administration is creating the enabling environment for these groups to do business that will create jobs for our teeming unemployed youths.”
Earlier, both the minister and the Enugu State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, had during his courtesy call on the governor harped on a coordinated efforts at all levels of government aimed at diversifying the nation’s economy from its present mono-econmy status.
They both observed that the diversification of the nation’s economy would reduce her over dependence on oil sector for survival, especially now that oil price has crashed by two thirds of what it was a year ago.
They maintained that the advocated measure of diversification had become necessary as it would bring a permanent end to the uncertainties associated with oil as the major income earner for the country.
According to the governor, “in pursuit of this goal, we have among other things, scheduled an International Investment Summit to hold here in Enugu from 12th to 14th of April, 2016 that would help us showcase the rich potentials of the state to investors around the world.
‘´I am sure that the Hounourable Minister will be willing to help us secure necessary support from Federal Government to ensure that these noble efforts to attract investors and boost economic activities in the state and region, yield the desired dividends”, he said.
On his part, the Minister, Dr, Ngige, said the ministry would collaborate with Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources in training and empowering Nigerians particularly the youth in various skills acquisition.
He said the gesture is to enable Nigerians to use their hands on their raw goods and services and be self-reliant.
The labour minister explained that the ministry in line with its action plan, would take census of all skills acquisition centres in the country with a view to rehabilitating them to assist Nigerians reshape their mindset on white collar jobs.
According to him, the ministry had made frantic efforts in training and retraining entrepreneurs with various skills in the areas of blacksmithing, hair dressing, traditional tie and dye, welding, fabric weaving, brick laying among others using locally made machines and raw materials such as palm oil/kernel etc to put them into standard.
He noted that National Directorate of Employment established by decree and legislation as one of the parastatals in the ministry, was charged with the responsibility to provide employment to job seekers and assist them to embark on Small Scale and Medium enterprises.
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