Job creation bill scales second reading in House of Representatives
A bill for an Act to repeal the National Directorate for Employment Act, Cap N28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and to establish the National Agency for Job Creation and Human Capital Development has scaled second reading in the House of Representatives.
The bill sponsored by Representative Bamidele Salam (Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore and Ejigbo Federal Constituency of Osun state), is intended to be ‘responsible for stimulating job creation, fostering business growth, and connecting employers with skilled workers; promoting human capital development to ensure a strong, qualified workforce that fuels a vibrant and prosperous national economy’.
While making case for the new agency at the lead debate time during plenary on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, Rep. Salam explained that the agency will be responsible for stimulating job creation, fostering business growth, connecting employers with skilled workers, and promoting human capital development to ensure a strong, qualified workforce that fuels a vibrant and prosperous national economy.
He recalled that the NDE was established in response to the economic recession of the 1980s, which led to a significant reduction in capacity utilisation and the closure of many industries in Nigeria emphasising that the resulting surge in unemployment has had severe consequences for the country.
“Despite various governmental efforts to reduce unemployment, including policies and programmes such as the National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy (NEEDS), Subsidy Re-Investment and Empowerment Program (SURE-P), National Youth Service Corps Scheme, and others, unemployment remains a critical challenge.
“The World Bank has noted that the unemployment rate has worsened significantly since the 2015-2016 economic recession, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, rising inflation, supply-chain bottlenecks, and global tensions like the Russia/Ukraine conflict”, he stated.
According to the lawmaker, the persistent high rate of unemployment has led to increased rural-urban migration, a decline in national output, heightened poverty, and rising crime rates. Despite numerous job creation policies and initiatives, the intended objectives have not been fully realised.
“This Bill proposes the repeal of the National Directorate for Employment Act and the establishment of the National Agency for Job Creation and Human Capital Development. Human capital is crucial for innovation, growth, and sustainability, and investing in human capital is essential to reducing unemployment”, he noted.
“The objectives of this bill are to: repeal the National Directorate for Employment Act Cap N28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria; establish the National Agency for Job Creation and Human Capital Development as part of deliberatestrategy to stimulate job creation; foster business growth; connect employers with skilled workers as well as promote human capital development to ensure a strong, qualified workforce that fuels a vibrant and prosperous national economy”.
The Bill consists of twenty-one (21) clauses and a schedule: clause 1 provides for the objectives of the bill; clause 2 covers the establishment of the National Agency for Job Creation and Human Capital Development; clause 4 deals with the establishment, membership, and functions of the Board of the Agency; clause 10 addresses the financial provisions of the Agency; clause 18 provides for the repeal of the National Directorate for Employment Act Cap N28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, clause 21 provides for the citation of the Bill.
“Every day we delay enacting this bill, the cost of inaction grows, and the citizens continue to doubt the government’s determination to reduce unemployment. As champions of the Renewed Hope Agenda, we honour our commitment to a better Nigeria by passing this landmark legislation today. Therefore, with a sense of urgency, I urge you, my honourable colleagues, and the able Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to consider and pass this bill; Rep. Salam concluded.
The motion to read the bill for the second time was seconded by Hon. Henry Okojie after which Deputy Speaker, Rt. Honourable Benjamin Okezie Kalu subjected it to vote and it was unanimously supported by the House.
The bill was referred to the House Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity for further legislative action.
