Recession: We have taken measures to curb unemployment-Ayade
Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River state yesterday in Calabar reassured
Cross Riverians that his government has taken all the necessary actions to
prevent loss of jobs in the state as the country battles economic
recession.
Giving this assurance at the opening ceremony of a 3-day high-level
training workshop for gender desk heads in ministries, departments and
agencies in the state at the Transcorp Hilton, Governor Ayade said it is
no hidden fact that our country is currently experiencing an unemployment
challenge.
“The situation is further exacerbated by the present economic recession
which has caused many private businesses to fold up across the country. As
a government, we must at all levels, take necessary actions to stem the
situation if we must avoid the catastrophe of other challenges that may
arise from the unemployment situation,” he said.
He disclosed that his administration’s goal in establishing the Calabar
Garment Facctory, which is reputed to be one of the largest in the world
as well as other on-going initiatives are geared towards employment
generation for the teeming unemployed youths in the state and wealth
creation.
Ayade, who was represented by his deputy, Prof Ivara Ejemot Esu, said:
“Conscious of the need to address the hitherto inherent bias against women
in employment matters, my administration has dedicated 90 percent of
employments into the ultra-modern Cross River Textile and Garment Factory
to women, notably, widows and other vulnerable persons in the society.
“The idea is not to create another inequality in the system, but to
balance the present proportion of women to men in the state's civil
service. Going forward, we shall ensure a proportionate engagement of both
women and men into all spheres of our state economy.
Governor Ayade said the decision of his administration to create a
distinct department on Gender was borne out his conviction that all impact
of all policies and programmes on women and men should be considered at
every stage of policy planning, implementation and evaluation, with a view
to promoting equality between both sexes and combating gender based
discrimination.
“Building upon the huge attention accorded to gender parity by the
immediate past administration, we have taken practical steps to ensure
active women participation in all sectors of administration in the state.
A great percentage of female appointees hold key and strategic positions
in crucial MDAs and I am happy to note that they are so far all performing
excellently well,” he stressed.
Earlier in her presentation at the event, the Special Assistant on Gender
Development, Helen Isamoh commended Governor Ayade for his commitment to
issues of gender development and assured him of total support of all
womenfolk in the state.
She said the training will have a huge positive impact on gender
mainstreaming in government ministries and departments.
In her goodwill message at the workshop, the Commissioner for Women
Affairs, Mrs Esther Odey praised Governor Ayade for making the 35 percent
affirmative action on women a reality in the state with th appointment of
women into key sensitive positions in the state.
She further commended the governor for empowering women in the state
stating that his action has gone a long way in addressing gender
inequality in the state. The representatives of someĀ international
agencies like CUSO,PIND and HFC 360 were actively involved the workshop.
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