The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday called on the Federal and state governments to declare state of emergency on the rising unemployment rate in the country.
The lawmakers also want the federal government to set up an unemployment fund to pay stipends to unemployed Nigerians.
The resolution followed the consideration of a motion sponsored by former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, titled “Escalating rate of unemployment in the country”.
Ekweremadu in presenting his motion, quoted the Minister of labour and productivity, Chris Ngige who said unemployment rate will reach 33.5 per cent by 2020, saying that was dangerous to the existence of the country.
He decried the large number of graduates from higher institutions of learning roaming the streets in search of nonexistent jobs describing that as a “time bomb waiting to explode”.
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He said: “Any nation with such number of unemployed but employable youths is only sitting on a keg of gun powder. The most pressing demand on the hand of every legislator and public officer is the rising number of curriculum vitae and application for employment from constituent Nigerians.
“A situation where every school graduate has to queue up for job only in government offices is an indication of the breakdown of private sector which is the major driver of world economies.
“Unemployment is one of the major reasons why insurgency, kidnapping, armed robbery, Cybercrimes and other vices are on the increase.
“These energies and potential talents that are lying idle and wasting away are usually misdirected toward many unprofitable and harmful ventures and lifestyles.”
Contributing, Smart Adeyemi (APC, Kogi West), said unemployment was an issue that should be taken seriously.
