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Youth advocates speak as APC vows to fulfil N5,000 unemployed graduate allowance promise

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has reassured Nigerians that it would fulfill the N5,000 unemployment allowance promise it made during electioneering, despite the country’s money shortage.

This came on the heels of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) statement on Wednesday, November 4, 2015 in which the party noted that the APC only used the monthly stipend as campaign strategy and never intended to implement it, after APC senators refuted a motion moved by the PDP to pay all unemployed youth.

However, in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday (November 6) by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, the APC defended its position, saying that though the PDP government plundered the nation’s common wealth, it had come up with creative ways to block all financial leakages.

It added that the non-implementation of the payment policy so far is due to the fact that it was not included in the 2015 budget, which was prepared by the Jonathan Administration.

To feel the pulse of the youth on the matter, ENCOMIUM Weekly spoke with some youth advocates…

 

’I’m not comfortable with the decision’ – Malcom Tagbarha

Malcolm Tagbarha
Malcolm Tagbarha

What are your thoughts on the 5,000 APC has vowed to pay unemployed graduates?

I am not comfortable with the decision because in my view it is anti-creativity. I would prefer a situation where the government will provide enabling environment that fosters entrepreneurship amongst young graduates. Instead of giving them fish, government should teach them how to fish.

Do you think it is feasible considering our current financial situation?

It is not feasible because we don’t have the data base of unemployed Nigerians in general let alone unemployed graduates.

Do you favour the allowance instead of the government creating job opportunities, training entrepreneurs and supporting SMEs?

I support government creating opportunities, training entrepreneurs and supporting SMEs. This is because this will have multiplier effects on the economy in general since it will not create employment, but also reduce restiveness, crime rates and other social vices that are associated with the youths.

 

‘It’s a good development’ – TIMOTHY UKUTA

TIMOTHY UKUTA
TIMOTHY UKUTA

What are your thoughts on the N5,000 APC has vowed to pay unemployed graduates?

I believe it’s a good development. In other climes, such programs are implemented.

Do you think it is feasible considering our current financial situation?

For now, I choose not to have an opinion. I want to believe they are credible Nigerians who made these promises, and they are going to deliver on it.

Do you favour the allowance instead of the government creating job opportunities, training entrepreneurs and supporting SMEs?

I believe a serious minded government can deliver both. So let’s be vigilant in pressuring the present administration in fulfilling their campaign promises.

 

‘It wouldn’t make any sense, to pay unemployed graduates N5,000 and not create jobs’ – Yoma Victor

Yoma Victor
Yoma Victor

What are your thoughts on the 5,000 APC has vowed to pay unemployed graduates?

The N5,000 is meant to be a form of social security, these normally have terms and conditions tied to them. If the youths are getting engaged in criminal activities for much less than N5,000 and the comparative advantage of paying the stipend to unemployed graduates mitigates that, then it is a good move.

Do you think it is feasible considering our current financial situation?

Our current financial situation is mostly man-made. The last administration is reckoned as having stolen more than any before it.

The TSA is reckoned already to have saved billions and plugged loopholes. The world economy at the moment is undergoing a lot of pressure, Nigeria is no different. If Government can find the money for it, fine. But it shouldn’t be funded at the expense of other pressing matters.

Don’t you think the government could use the money to instead create job opportunities, train entrepreneurs and support SMEs?

The government has not said it is suspending job creation and training of entrepreneurs to pay unemployed graduates or assist SMEs. As a matter of fact, the government has employment creation as one of its cardinal points. It wouldn’t make any sense, to pay unemployed graduates N5,000 and not create jobs.

Encomium

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