Senate proposes N1.36bn for national internship, unemployment benefit scheme
A bill that seeks to establish a national internship and unemployment benefit scheme in the country on Wednesday, May 8, scaled second reading in the Senate.
The scheme, according to a financial compendium accompanying the Bill, would gulp N1.36billion annually.
The Bill was sponsored by Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu (APC-Ogun Central).
Salisu in his lead debate noted that the proposed law holds immense promise for Nigerian youth and the future of the workforce.
Salisu said: “The legislation seeks to establish a structured and comprehensive framework for a National Internship and Unemployment Benefit Scheme that will serve as a catalyst for skills development, job readiness, and seamless transition of our graduates into the professional realm.
“As we all know, unemployment remains a critical challenge in our country, particularly among the youth. Each academic year, universities and polytechnics admit close to 2 million students and produce about 600,000 graduates.
“The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has linked unemployment in Nigeria to the phenomenon of jobless growth, increased number of school graduates with no matching job opportunities, a moratorium on employment in many public and private-sector institutions, and continued job losses in the manufacturing and oil sectors.
“This bill is a testament to our commitment to addressing this challenge head-on by creating a platform that bridges the gap between academic knowledge and practical skills demanded by the job market in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present government.
“The National Internship and Unemployment Benefit Scheme aims to provide our young graduates with hands-on experience, mentorship opportunities, and exposure to real-world work environments.”
Senators in their contributions supported the bill and approved that it be read for a second time when it was put to voice vote by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Akpabio thereafter referred the Bill to the Senate Committee on Labour and Productivity for further legislative input and to report back to plenary within four weeks.
