Residents of Port-Harcourt have faulted the empowerment scheme of the federal government for jobless youths.
The Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme, launched by President Muhammadu Buhari, is to create 774,000 jobs for unskilled and less educated youths across the local government areas in the country. They are to be paid N20,000 each month for the period of three months.
Responding to the scheme, a resident said the money was small for those under the programme while another resident said that it was “modern-day slavery”.
For David, the youths should be encouraged to go into production where the creation of job was involved.
Another resident also said although the money was small it could be used by those under the programme.
He said those under the programme should not scoff at the amount and make good plans with it.
Another resident however said that those who registered for the programme should not complain since the specification was clear.
A resident said the empowerment was only for those ready.
Another resident also said that the country should conceive other ways of empowering the youths of the country.
For Babatunde, people would need to change their mindset in order to grow.
Also responding, Mr Zion had described the programme as “insulting” and “demeaning” for youths.
Mr. Zion said: “Such news is not surprising under this administration. Nigeria is too rich for the youths to be suffering. The kind of leaders we have are the reflection of the kind of people we are. We don’t think. We don’t read. So we lack imagination”.
He regretted that graduates would end up looking for jobs on the streets.
They reacted on a radio programme in Port-Harcourt last week.
For Pleasant Charity, who reacted on Facebook, wondered how the government could give wheelbarrows and cutlasses to youths as part of the programme and said it was “disheartening”.
Another social media user also advised the youths to get something else to do.
The social media user advised youths to get skill and earn a living.
For Joseph Chukwudi, who pulled off comedy, said “maybe they want to industrialize Nigeria with cutlasses and wheelbarrows”.
A social media user said it was “menial” job adding though some travel overseas to do them.
For Chinoyerem Chris, the programme was “modern-day slavery” while another resident said the money should not be in private pocket.
The Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Festus Keyamo, had reportedly come under fire over the programme.
At the launch, President Buhari said that the programme was a “cornerstone” of his administration’s social and economic development policies and part of its overall policy to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty.
