774,000 Jobs: “Anything for the Youth Without the Youths is Against the Youths”- Lukman Salahudeen

The Nigerian Youth Compact on Covid-19 (NYCC-19) held their 5^th edition of “One Stop Youth Talk” Live streaming programme on Zoom yesterday, 9^th July.

Looking out the issues arising from the Federal Government initiative to recruit 774,000 youths across the 744 Local Government Areas in the 36 States of the federation, the NYCC-19 has used this medium to critically x-ray the ‘774,000 Public Works Recruitment’ which the federal government has designed for the Nigerian Youths.

‘774,000 Public Works Recruitment’ is an initiative mapped out by the government to help cushion the effect of covid-19 on the Nigerian youths.

Uzoh Ifeanyi, Head of Advisory NYCC-19

Chinonyerem Emmanuella, Admin Manager NYCC-19

Lukman Salahudeen, The Head of Assessment and Economic Impact on NYCC-19

Bonaventure Nwankwamma, Head of ICT

One Stop Youth Talk Team

The public works recruitment according to the head of Advisory NYCC-19 ‘Mr. Uzoh Ifeanyi’ is targeting 1000 youths from each of the 774 L.G.A. in the 36 States of the federation and a 20-man committee were selected from each state to supervise this project.

The recruitment will be channeled to the maintenance of Road and Public Infrastructures across these 774 L.G.A. this project is a 3-months programme which will commence from October to December, 2020 with ₦20,000 monthly renumeration for this job.

This initiative has generated a lot of concerns in Nigeria and up till now nothing concrete has been concluded on this project.  Mr. Uzoh Ifeanyi drew the pointer to the ‘Exit plan’ and the ‘Budget’ of this project.

He therefore, suggested that young people should be included in the decision process of any government initiative that concerns the youths.

Uzoh Ifeanyi, Head of Advisory NYCC-19

“A Noble course does not need majority to drive it. NYCC-19 is a global concept. A monitoring and Evaluation Committee will be set up to ensure the concerns of the youth are duely implemented” He added.

Putting into consideration the standard of living of an average Nigerian Youth, he stated that the project shouldn’t be politicized.

Patience Nnedinso, head of Palliatives NYCC-19 suggested that FG should look out for a long-term youth programmes with a sustainability plan.

In her statement, she said; “ 3 months is just too short and the renumeration for the 3 months is still too small (₦20,000)… What happens to the Youths after the 3 months programme?? They will definitely go back to the streets”

The NYCC-19 Imo State coordinator ‘Francisca Ekwonu’ advised FG to invest in Capacity development for the Nigerian Youths that will cut across various economy sectors. “the government should adopt the market system approach which should be a partnership between the public and private sector to employ the youths after each capacity development programme” she stated.

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According to Ijeoma Eze ‘Enugu state Coordinator’, speaking from a human resource experience – she said;

“The problem of this Nation is not lack of Jobs but most Nigerian youths including young graduates are unemployable”. Therefore, suggested FG should consider professional trainings for youths that will make them employable and relevant to the economy of the nation.

In the same light, taking critical look at the FG Initiative for the 774,000 Youths, the Head of Assessment and Economic Impact on NYCC-19 ‘Lukman Salahudeen’ commended the government for this initiative and expressing his concerns he said;

“The ₦20,000 renumeration is very insulting and the timeframe is too short… the youths are trying to help build the nation”.

“Anything for the youths without the youths is against the youths” He added.

Lukman Salahudeen, The Head of Assessment and Economic Impact on NYCC-19

Doing the calculation of the ₦20,000 monthly payment, it implies that each youth earns about ₦700 daily which cannot cater for an average Nigerian daily expense.

However, he suggested that those youths effected by the Covid-19 pandemic should be Considered first in this Initiative.

Innocent Nduanya, Special Assistant on Youth Mobilization, Anambra state has advised the youths to reject the programme because it is not sustainable. He also suggested that the minimum wage of an average Nigerian ought to be ₦200,000.

“This program is for the L.G.A. not for the youths… the program is already dead on arrival because it has been hijacked even before arrival” He said.