The Senate on Wednesday passed for second reading, a bill seeking the establishment of a National Internship and Unemployment Benefit Scheme.
The passage of the bill followed a lead debate by the sponsor, Afolabi Salisu (APC, Ogun Central) and contributions made by other Senators.
According to Salisu, the bill aims to offer unemployed graduates in Nigeria some part-time jobs where they can gain experience and earn stipends, preparatory for big offers.
The proposed law, he said intends to create a database of unemployed Nigerian youths, particularly graduates, with their respective disciplines and also establish a framework that will guide the provision of part-time jobs for youths while they search for full-time jobs.
According to him, the scheme, when established, would provide hope for graduates and allow them to acquire experience before they secure full-time employment.
The lawmaker also noted that the scheme would help address insecurity and criminal activities, arising from unemployment.
He also acknowledged existing agencies such as the National Directorate of Employment and the Industrial Trust Fund, stressing however that they have not been targeted adequately at the beneficiaries.
He believes that the scheme, which will have a database, will be more effective in streamlining interventions to the beneficiaries.
Though many lawmakers who made contributions supported the proposed legislation, Ahmed Wadada ( SDP Nasarawa West), argued that the bill may not be the solution needed to tackle unemployment in the country.
He added that the focus should be on creating an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive and consequently create jobs and not thinking of benefits for the unemployed.
“If the environment is enabling enough to up to 10 Dangotes, the rate of unemployment will be reduced to the barest minimum. The emphasis at all times should be to create the needed enabling environment,” he said.
After passage for second reading, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the plenary session, mandated the Senate Committee on Labour and Productivity to look at the issues raised and report back to the House in four weeks for further legislative action.