NANS Condemns Senate’s Rejection of Bill Empowering Unemployed Graduates

By Samuel Oluwasina

Consequent upon the throwing out of a bill seeking to provide monetary incentives to all unemployed graduates in Nigeria, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has condemned the rejection of the bill, which was sponsored by Arua Arunsi (PDP, Abia).

The bill sought to amend the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) Act 2004 to cater for unemployed graduates of tertiary institutions who could not secured employment.

It was to design and implement 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.

The National Secretary General of NANS, Com. Daniel Godson Momodu, in a statement made available to newsmen at the Obafemi Awolowo University campus, berated the National Assembly for rejecting the bill for unemployed graduates to be paid #20, 000 monthly.

He noted that #20, 000 is a meager compared to the wages and allowance received by the national lawmakers.

Conversely, he believed that the country should not encourage its youth to depend on it for monthly handout but rather, the leaders should fine-tune strategies at ensuring that the unemployed graduates are employed and absolutely catered for.

Notwithstanding, the National Secretary General of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Com. Godson Momodu said the body was ready to support the unemployed graduates as plans are already concluded to mobilize the unemployed graduates to storm the national assembly while it's in session.

“NANS will have the Hobson's choice to team up with the millions of unemployed graduates who will occupy the Federal Capital, Abuja and Lagos soon”.

Com. Godson huge the unemployed graduates to form an alliance to fight for their rights and ensure that their demands are channeled through the lawful means. The Edo State-born Secretary General of NANS stated that “NANS believes that the governor of Edo State, Com. Adam Oshiomhole would intervene in this imbroglio soon; he is just closer to the youths”. He said.

Com. Godson has, however, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to create and provide more job opportunities for the wandering graduates to stop them from pervading the society like monsters.

He said “NANS calls on our leaders to reshape their ideas in line with the reality of a fast changing world”

By Samuel Oluwasina
Obafemi Awolowo University