REPS’ REJECT BILL TO PAY UNEMPLOYED GRADUATES MONTHLY STIPEND

 Members of the House of Representatives, Wednesday opposed the proposed bill which seeks to provide monetary incentives to unemployed graduates across the country.

Arua Arunsi, sponsored the bill for an Act to amend the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) laws, 2004 by creating by creating specific functions and objectives to specifically cater for unemployed graduates of tertiary institutions failed to scale second reading as it was rejected by voice vote.

The bill also seeks to pay certain amount of allowance to the unemployed graduates in Nigeria; design and implementation of programmes to combat mass unemployment for graduates that are between the ages of 18 to 35 years and also between third to fifth year of post graduation experience.

Some of the lawmakers who favoured the passage ofthe bill include Fort Dike, Hassan El-Badawy, Peace Nnaji, among others supported the bill noted that the country can afford to give the monthly allowance to the unemployed youth.

Other lawmakers who spoke against the passage of the bill include James Faleke, Ibrahim El-Sudi, Essien Ayi, chairman, House Committee on Labour and Productivity, Peter Onyemaechi, among others.

For James Faleke argued that provision of such monetary incentive would further compound the economy challenges facing the country.

According to him, since the Nigerian economy was not production-based, industrial revival efforts would be defeated, “Rather than turn our unemployed youths into lazy ones, government should channel the monthly stipends towards the revival of our industries.

“In other words, lets teach them how to fish instead of giving them the fish. When our industries are revived, the economy will be able to a absorb them.

However, the antagonists of the bill pointed out that the provisions of the bill failed to meet critical criterium  of filling gaps inherent in the existing laws it was seeking to amend.

Ibrahim El-Sudi noted the bill has nothing new as a similar programme for unemployed graduates was already in existence at the NDE saying,  “There is a graduate attachment programme that does exactly what this bill is seeking

“Even, a similar programme is existing for non-graduates on the social aspect for unemployed non-graduates at the NISTF. What should happen is for the authorities to strengthen these Programmes”.

In his view, Peter Onyemaechi expressed concern over the programme which he said could be compromised, citing previous poverty alleviation programmes that have failed.

“How do we verify the beneficiaries abducted how do they qualify, because of corruption, the list would just keep expanding. People would no longer look for work since there is easy money coming in every month ” he added.

Chairman, Committee on Labour, Employment and  Productivity Essien Ayi, who also opposed the bill, argued that there was no need for the bill as an earlier bill on National Social Insurance Trust Find (NSITF) has already addressed the issue stipends and if this should scale through, it would disallow the organization from carrying out its duties.

They also faulted opinions that the stipends would turn the beneficiaries into lazy youths.

While they argued that the monthly stipends would only serve as motivation as well as keep them out of mischief, the protagonists of the bill noted that such gesture would keep the youths from restiveness and other vices.

However, faulty public address system halted the debate midway send the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal was forced to put the bill to voice vote using his campaign voice.