The Senate continued the deliberation on a bill seeking to establish a National Internship and Unemployment Benefit Scheme even
as the bill scaled second reading yesterday.
The bill was sponsored by an All Progressives Congress senator representing Ogun Central Senatorial District, Salisu Shuaib.
The proposed legislation enjoyed the support of majority of the lawmakers during plenary.
The bill intends to create part-time jobs for unemployed graduates with a view to allowing them to acquire working experience and earn stipends during the period.
Shuaib, while leading a debate on the bill, stressed the need to create the unemployment benefit scheme.
The Senator explained that the scheme would restore the hope of youths and unemployed graduates by giving them the opportunity to acquire working experience before securing a full-time employment.
The Senator said the scheme would create a database for unemployed graduates and would be more effective in its intervention programmes than existing government agencies such as the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and the Industrial Trust Fund (ITF).
Majority of the senators who contributed to the debate supported establishment of the scheme.
Ahmed Wadada (SDP, Nasarawa West) supported establishment of the scheme.
Wadada said that the focus should be on creating an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive and consequently create jobs.
Okechukwu Ezea (Enugu North ) also supported establishment of the scheme.
Ezea lamented the high rate of unemployment in the country.
He suggested that the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) scheme could be expanded to cover the unemployment scheme.
He said, “In my constituency, I face a barrage of demands for jobs. Our youths are impoverished.
“Some wander for jobs until they pass the employment age. It is an emergency situation. It should not be suspended until the enabling environment is created” Eze said.
