The Senate at its plenary on Tuesday, 8th November 2016, resolved to invite the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Sen. Chris Ngige to provide insight into Federal Government’s roadmap towards tackling the rate of unemployment in the country.

Moving the motion titled ‘‘Intolerable Upswing of Unemployment in Nigeria’’ Sen. Duro Faseyi (PDP:Ekiti) noted that the number of unemployed and under employed Nigerians had risen from N24.4 million in the first quarter of 2016 to 26.06 million in its second quarter according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). He was also worried that companies had began considering the option of downsizing in a bid to cut overhead costs and optimize profit which would further compound the unemployment situation and worsen the economic crisis in the country. He was of the opinion that social strife and insecurity would be on the increase if the Government failed to consciously increase job creation.

Following the motion, the Senate agreed to have a one day retreat to discuss the issue of unemployment and arrive at lasting solutions to the problem. It also urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on unemployment in view of confronting the challenge.

In a related development, the Senate also considered a motion sponsored by Sen. Matthew Urhoghide (PDP:Edo ) on ‘‘The Need to Unburden the Recruitment Requirement and Modes to Remove Undeserved Hardship for Job-seekers in Nigeria’’ which noted the recurring prevalence of most Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDA’s) in specifying an age bracket as a pre-requisite for recruitment to available vacancies. He also noted the consistent violation by many MDAs who engage in ‘‘REPLACEMENT’’ to fill vacant positions rather than inviting applications from qualified Nigerians through public notice and as required by Law.

Sen. Urhoghide explained that some MDAs and Corporate Private Sector unfairly demand cognate and requisite experience before employment and added that if applicants were not given the opportunity to work they would gain no experience. He warned that if the trend was not curtailed it could lead to an unproductive society, social chaos and increase in insecurity.

The Senate thereafter mandated MDAs to de-emphasize the age bracket requirement and cognate experience in its recruitment exercises for the benefit of applicants seeking to be employed for the first time. It also urged MDAs to adhere to the Federal Character directive in recruitment exercises.