Reps want automatic employment for First Class graduates

By Christiana Ekpa 

The House of Representatives on Wednesday urged the Federal Ministry of Education to liaise with relevant government agencies to ensure automatic employment for first-class graduates of Nigerian Institutions.

The House equally  mandated its Committees on Tertiary Education and Services, and Labour, Employment and  Productivity to ensure compliance.

The House resolutions followed the adoption of a motion on the “Need to Grant Automatic Employment to First Class Graduates, moved by Hon. Chinedu Emeka Martins:

Presenting the motion, the Lawmaker noted  that “Nigerian Universities produce hundreds of First-Class graduates annually at the end of every academic year, a great percentage of them find it difficult to secure employment and contribute to nation-building.

“Concerned about the growing rate at which employable First-Class graduates in Nigeria are unable to secure jobs thus, forcing them to leave the country and become assets to other countries that offer employment; 

Aware that some Universities award their first-class graduates with automatic employment as assistant lecturers or student lecturers in their specific courses”.

He said “Also aware that recently, the University of Lagos offered employment to no fewer than 100 graduates of the University who made First-Class in various fields of study in the University, and it is common knowledge that some firms in the country consider applicants with First-class honours before other categories of graduates, which is in line with global best practices;

“Concerned that same job opportunities are not obtainable for First-class graduates in the Ministries Departments and Agencies and Parastatals, who are by virtue of their position as government agencies, saddled with the responsibilities of driving the country’s economic and infrastructural development.

“Cognizance that Nigeria’s inability to leave the status of a developing nation may not be unconnected with the insensitivity and lack of political will of the ruling class and policymakers to introduce a reward system that ensures that the best brains automatically occupy important positions according to their area of competence.

“Also concerned that according to research, Nigeria has continued to unwittingly give away her best brains and intellectuals to other countries.”