Assemblyman Tasks NASS Over Unemployment

The representative of Eti-Osa Constituency 2 at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Gbolahan Yishawu, has urged the National Assembly to strengthen the Labour and Immigration Acts in order to protect jobs where skills and expertise are available for the exclusive preserve of unemployed Nigerians.

Yishawu, who lamented that foreigners have taken over jobs that could ordinarily be done by Nigerians, added that this has further increased the rate of unemployment in the country which the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) puts at 23.9 per cent in 2011.

Yishawu said unemployment has also been compounded by the epileptic power supply that has stifled the manufacturing industry coupled with unfriendly lending interest rate, which has crippled the entire business environment.

According to him, “it therefore stands to reason that the few jobs existing should be exclusively for Nigerians, as it is done globally, because a large number of non-Nigerians are currently employed all over the country, especially in Lagos and other major cities, undertaking jobs in areas for which Nigerians are suitable.”

The lawmaker called on the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, the Nigerian Immigration Service and other relevant agencies to curb illegal immigration into the country.

—Eromosele Ebhomele