"Federal Govt created 1.4 million jobs in the past three years" - Finance Minister, Okonjo-Iweala

The federal government has created 1.4 million jobs in the past three years in a bid to address unemployment in the country, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said on Monday.

She said this at a conversation meeting on government policies, programmes and activities organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Abuja.

While acknowledging that unemployment was one of the major challenges facing the government, she said that efforts were ongoing to adequately address the challenge.

“The administration of President Goodluck Jonathan is working tirelessly to create 1.8 million jobs in each year but we have made tremendous impact by creating 1.4 million jobs in the past three years.

“This shows that we are making progress in developing the economy of the country.’’

According to her, the president is also making progress to create about two million jobs in the near future so as to bridge the unemployment gap.
 
She said that the Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YouWin) programme had also created about 22,000 jobs.

“It is an innovative business plan competition aimed at job creation by encouraging and supporting aspiring entrepreneurial youths in Nigeria to develop and execute business ideas.

In addition, she said the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE- P) programme was also creating jobs for youths.

“It is also worthy of note that the Graduate Internship Scheme of SURE-P has placed many Nigerian graduates on jobs while some of these graduates have been employed by their employers.”

Credit: ThisDay