Reps Charge Agencies On Job Creation

The House of Representatives Committee on Industry has stressed the need for agencies of government to step up efforts towards increased productivity and create Job opportunities for the Nigerian youths.

The committee says it has resolved to work closely with President Muhammadu Buhari in handling the affairs of the country, most especially in the creation of conducive environment for businesses to thrive.

The committee chairman, Hon. Abubakar Husaini Moriki who led other members of the committee on an oversight visit to the headquarters of the Industrial Training Funds (ITF) on Tuesday, in Jos lamented the epileptic power supply in the country.

According to the chairman, “power has become very critical issues in this administration and the federal government is doing all it could to ensure that the issue of power has come to pass”.

He challenged the Management of the ITF to bridge the gap of industries to create job opportunities for the youths.

In his welcome address, the acting Director-General of the fund, Mr. Dickson C. Onuoha, congratulated members of the committee for their victories at the polls and their appointment to the Committee on Industry.

He solicited the cooperation of the lawmakers to vote more appropriation to the ITF in order to move the fund and the Nigerian industries to the next level.

He said the management was poised to deliver on the mandate guiding the establishment of the ITF, which according to him, includes the provision, promote and encourage the acquisition skills in industry and commerce with a view to generating a pool of indigenous trained manpower sufficient to meet the need of the National economy.

Onuoha added. “In pursuit of this clear defined mandate, the ITF has trained over 14 million Nigerians whose contributions to the overall growth of the country are immeasurable.

“The ITF especially in the last few years, has embarked on several initiatives and strategies. Design to equip Nigerians with technical skills for employ ability and entrepreneurship.

“Our renewed emphasis is premised on the fact that any credible effort at poverty eradication, Jos creation and an effective diversification of the economy as envisaged by the federal Government”.

Onuoha said that on assumption of duties three months ago, urgent steps were taken to address the concern of both internal and external public stakeholders in the ITF.

According to him, the fund has strengthened its relationship with contributing employers, especially in the area of reimbursement, a step that has been yielding positive response.