YOUTHS EMPLOYMENT: ACN LAUDS AREGBESOLA

Osun State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN) has commended the State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola for sustaining the Osun Youths Employment Scheme(O'YES) programme which is significantly reducing  the menace of unemployment in the state.

The party also opined that if a scheme like that could be initiated across the country, the scourge of unemployment and its negative impact on the nation and the crime rate  and insecurity threatening the peaceful co-existence of the country would be reduced drastically.

This commendation was made by the director of Publicity, Research and Strategy of Osun ACN, Barrister Kunle Oyatomi through a statement issued and made available to LEADERSHIP in Oshogbo.

He was reacting to an invitation by the government of the state requesting for a new set of unemployed youths to apply and benefit from the revolving O'YES scheme that has taken about 20,000 youths off the streets and gainfully put them in employment according to their skills.

It would be recalled that the government started the O'YES scheme about two years ago in fulfilment of Ogbeni Aregbesola's campaign promise to provide employment opportunities for youths if the ACN was elected.

He said, 'Although the scheme was viciously criticised by the PDP in the state, but it was commended by local and international organisations (including United Nation's Agencies)'.

LEADERSHIP learnt that the programme has since been replicated by a number of states in the country.

'With the scheme in its 2nd phase of execution in the State of Osun, critics and political opponents of the Ogbeni Aregbesola style and policies will have cause to take a second look at what the man and his government are doing and at least acknowledge progress', Oyatomi added.

'We are proud of the achievements of Ogbeni's government, and urge him to keep the tempo of progress to confound critics and opponents alike who may not want to acknowledge the quality of his leadership and the significance of the transformational projects and programmes his administration is effecting in the State of Osun', ACN spokesperson stated.