Consider job creations as a matter of national emergency, ECWA President tells FG

Joy Obakeye

The Federal Government of Nigeria has been charged to address challenges of high rate of unemployment and poverty, which was believed to often breed discontent and insecurity in the country.

President of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Rev. Stephen Panyanbaba made the call at a briefing in Lagos, where he urged the federal government to take advantage of the human capital skills of youths and create the enabling environment for engagements and productivity.

According to him, it is the constitutional responsibility of the government to put in place the enabling environment to create jobs and allow for innovative ideas to thrive.

“We appeal to the government at all levels to consider job creations as a matter of national emergency to save the country from the mass exodus of Nigerian citizens to other countries in search of means of survival who end up perishing in the oceans and desert, while those who remain take to various heinous crimes as a means of livelihood.”

He, however, hailed the government for suspending the Ruga settlement, and listening to the agitation of Nigerians.

While commending the government for listening to the agitations of most Nigerians to suspend the programme, he said: “We wish to emphasize the importance to always carry Nigerians along, especially critical stakeholders in the conception and implementation of socio-economic policies for the unity and prosperity of the country.

“Perhaps the RUGA settlement policy which is meant to accommodate roaming herders wouldn’t have been grievous concern for Nigerians save for the violence which herders have become synonymous with lately.

Unfortunately, the kid gloves with which they have been treated by the government in glaring cases of infractions on the law have made hosting them a huge risk for most communities.”

“Most importantly, Ruga or any other socio-economic and socio-cultural schemes like it should be a matter of choice for each state, and every state subscriber should be allowed to establish and manage such schemes as they deem fit.”

“More so, livestock or animal farming is a private business and must be treated as such. The standard the world over is ranching and Nigeria cannot be an exception.

What government needs to do is to provide the enabling environment for businesses to thrive without conferring undue advantages on any group or race.”