Unemployment: Reps want Buhari to build industries in 360 constituencies

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives Wednesday asked the federal government to build industries across the 360 federal constituencies in order to combat unemployment and crimes among the youths.

The House also mandated its committee on labour, employment and productivity to develop a comprehensive

industrial revolution template featuring both economic and social impact projections and report back

within six (6) weeks for further legislative action.

These followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Chinedu Emeka Martins on the urgent need to combat unemployment and social vices through establishment of industries across the federation.

Presenting the motion,the lawmaker noted that the unprecedented rate of unemployment is the root of the social vices currently being experienced in the country.

He said 33.3% unemployment and the 28% youth unemployment rates amounting to over 11 million unemployed youths, verifies the lack of cottage industries in the country, which should have played a critical

role in engaging youthful energy positively in the production of raw materials as well as semi–finished products.

According to him,  this will distract young people from taking up social vices as the only alternative for survival and social mobility.

“Cognisant of the need for a comprehensive industrial revolution, an intervention at this point in the history of our nation, given the recent developments in the political, social and economic spheres of the country, which re–emphasise the fact that youths are important stakeholders in the Nigerian project;

“Aware that the predominance of industrial clusters in South East Asian countries has motivated industrial growth in the form of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and massive decline in unemployment, making way for stability in the economy, political leadership and lower crime rates as a result of their remarkable success in industrialisation”

He said a similar strategy of building cottage industries has worked agreeably in some African

countries like Rwanda, Mozambique, Ghana and South Africa, “an indication that grassroots industrialisation produces an array of positive economic and social impacts”

Martins, however, expressed worry that Nigeria is yet to positively harness the human capital resources accruing from its youthful

population through the creation of industrial clusters to engage the youths.

He submitted that it has become imperative for government to re–strategise by establishing industries in the 360 federal constituencies, which would play a critical role in curbing the unemployment problems and boost the country’s Gross Domestic Products.

“Also believes that such an Industrial Revolution Scheme, if implemented and sustained will entrench the

culture of hard work and regrow moral values lost in the wake of cybercrime, human trafficking, kidnapping and drug consumption;

Further believes that the siting Industries in the 360 federal constituencies will facilitate Federal presence at the grassroots and positively impact lives of rural dwellers through employment, infrastructural development.