May Day: Commissioner debunks unemployment figures in A/Ibom
Isaac Job, Uyo
The Akwa Ibom state Commissioner for Economic Development, Labour and Manpower Planning, Ekong Sampson has refuted the figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on the current ranking of the state as having the highest unemployment rate in the country.
Addressing labour leaders during the 2019 pre-workers’ day symposium on the theme: “The Akwa worker in the emerging age: Harnessing value and opportunity” held in Uyo, Sampson said such insinuations misrepresented the state in view of its industrialization drive that has generated much employment in the state.
Sampson further said that the report by the statistics bureau that the state has the highest rate of unemployment is debatable and cannot stand scrutiny.
“The industrialization drive of Gov. Udom Emmanuel has raised the rate of employment in the state and such reports cannot be substantiated,” he stated, adding that the state government is keeping to the social justice aspect of labour engagement through the prompt payment of salaries as well as the timely upgrade of workers for more productivity
“Considering the Akwa Ibom state model, the state government ably led by is already keeping to the social justice aspect of labour engagements. The governor has readily put in place a conducive working environment for workers.
This can be seen through the prompt payment of salaries, on-the-job motivation and round the clock upgrading of workers for more productivity, among others,” he said.
The commissioner stated that the current administration has opened up the state through industrialization which has brought food to the table of more Akwa Ibom people.
Sampson, who declared the symposium open, commended workers for their efforts and contributions to the state government, but urged them to always bring morality and professionalism to bear in the discharge of their duties.
He observed that the productive world has moved from pity to value and charged workers to add value to their services so that they can be relevant at all time.
