APC govs urge private sector to tackle unemployment

Governors of the All Progressives Congress, under the aegis of Progressive Governors Forum, held their first Progressive Governance Lecture in Ibadan on Monday, where the nation’s unemployment rate was occupied the agenda.

In a paper delivered by the Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, titled, ‘Unemployment and the Crisis of Governance in Nigeria’, the governor said each time the forum would be held, major issues of governance would be addressed with the aim of adopting practical solutions that could be easily implemented.

He described unemployment in the country as unacceptable, adding that it was a danger to the social, economic and political stability of Nigeria.

“Unemployment also impacts negatively on our ambitions as a country, after all, how can Nigeria, with over 20 million youths who have no jobs and millions of others wasting away, aspire to be a major power in the comity of nations? That claim will be laughable if not tragic. We can no longer remain insensitive to issues around unemployment and the crises of governance in Nigeria,” said Okorocha.

He however pointed out that it was impossible for government to create jobs for all the youths, acknowledging the important roles that the private sector played in job creation.

“We therefore task our experts to assist us (governments) to develop policies that would stimulate the private sector and bring about economic activity, thereby creating quality jobs for our people. APC has decided to shun lip service and engage issues practically, that process starts with recognising the root causes of the problems,” Okorocha added.

The governor further said the vision of PGF was to proactively change Nigeria through responsive governance that would stimulate political and socio-economic growth and development of the nation in a way that it would guarantee citizens’ well-being.

The day’s lecture also explored alternative and innovative solutions that could lead to mass creation of jobs and good governance in Nigeria. It also addressed basis for public confidence and development of relevant frameworks to tackle unemployment in APC states and at the federal level.

Host and Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, in his welcome address, described how his administration had redefined the concept of governance in about 1,000 days in office.