Senate Minority Whip, Senator Osita Ngwu, has raised concerns over Nigeria’s growing unemployment crisis, urging the federal and state governments, as well as the private sector, to take immediate and decisive action.
In a statement released on Friday, the senator representing Enugu West described the situation as alarming, stressing that urgent measures were needed to prevent further economic and social distress.
Ngwu pointed out that Nigerian universities and polytechnics produce around 600,000 graduates annually, yet job creation has not kept pace, leading to a significant gap between the labor market’s supply and demand.
“Unemployment in Nigeria has remained an unresolved issue since the Second Republic. With approximately 2 million students admitted into tertiary institutions annually and about 600,000 graduates entering the job market each year, the country faces a widening gap between job seekers and available employment opportunities,” he said.
While acknowledging President Bola Tinubu’s economic initiatives aimed at job creation, food security, and poverty reduction, Ngwu emphasized that declaring a state of emergency on unemployment would accelerate these efforts.
“I commend President Tinubu’s commitment to remodeling Nigeria’s economy, but we need urgent action. Declaring a state of emergency on unemployment will fast-track policies aimed at job creation, stimulate economic growth, and reduce poverty,” he added.
Ngwu announced his intention to present a motion in the Senate, urging the Federal Government to formally declare a state of emergency on the country’s unemployment crisis.
“In the coming days, I will bring a motion before the Senate calling for immediate government intervention. We cannot afford to ignore the plight of our unemployed youths. Governments at all levels and the private sector must collaborate to create jobs and opportunities. We owe this to our people and the future of our nation,” he stated.
