News: Federal government to create 490,000 jobs

Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment 

The Federal Government says it's ready to create 490,000 jobs. 

In order to enable youths to maximize productivity in agricultural value chain, the Federal Government says it is ready to create 490,000 jobs through Smart Farmer Scheme.

It however stated that, this scheme is intended mainly for the diversification of the country’s economy and make agriculture lucrative to Nigerians.

Dr Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment, made this known in Lagos particularly in his statement on Wednesday during the National Directorate of Employment Special Day.

He said the government, through the NDE, had inaugurated the Smart Farmer ICT platform in Abuja, assuring the public that the government would not relent in its efforts in designing relevant and sustainable schemes to create jobs.

The minister said in his words thus:

“The Smart Farmer’s Scheme of the Federal Government will create about 490,000 jobs into the economy in the next three years. Another scheme, Agricultural Park, with a pilot scheme in Sabuwa, Katsina State, and Akunnu, Ondo State, will soon be inaugurated. This scheme will create another 3,000 jobs.”

Ngige however enjoined beneficiaries of NDE Programmes to be steadfast in their chosen businesses with the ultimate objectives of becoming employers of labour.

Mr Kunle Obayan, the Director General of NDE, added that the directorate was committed to providing innovative job models that would continue to complement the micro economic policies of the Federal Government.

He said:

“In pursuit of this objective, the NDE is making concerted efforts towards the manufacturing of tooth-picks and pencils locally,”.