Yenagoa- The Bayelsa Government on Monday pledged to roll out more empowerment programmes geared toward promoting the standard of living of the people of the state.
Gov. Seriake Dickson, in an interview with newsmen in Yenagoa, said that the state government would step up efforts toward creating job opportunities, among other ways of empowering people.
According to him, this is aimed at reducing the high level of unemployment in the state.
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He also expressed commitment to the development of physical infrastructure and human capacity in the state.
Dickson said that there was a need to focus more on manpower development in 2015 through the establishment of a Micro Credit Scheme, to improve people’s welfare.
The governor said that his administration had secured a preliminary licence from the Central Bank of Nigeria to float a micro credit scheme to assist indigenous businesses.
He urged the youth to avail themselves of such opportunities.
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“In 2015, we are going to step up our game in terms of engagement of our people.
“I call on all our youths to be ready to fit into these programmes.
“The microfinance scheme will also start off. We already have a preliminary licence from the Central Bank geared toward assisting indigenous businesses,” Dickson said.
Commenting on the establishment of a state-owned security outfit code named Izon Ibe Security Company, Dickson said that the company would create job opportunities for the indigent youth.
He said that the company would collaborate with relevant authorities for the purpose of securing consultancies and surveillance jobs from oil companies for protection of pipeline facilities and government projects.
“We have this idea we have developed, which is the incorporation of a security company. This will be like any other security company with the necessary approvals.
“This company is wholly owned by the state government and the idea is to enable the company to employ lots of Bayelsa people.
“It will work with the relevant authorities and give them some basic enlightenment about what their jobs entail and deploy them to secure pipeline facilities and government projects.
“Already, the understanding is that most of the oil companies will give their consultancies and surveillance jobs to the company, apart from providing jobs to generate revenue.
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“I want that company to be self-sustaining and employ as many as 20,000 young people and deploy them to various communities,” the governor said.
Dickson said his administration had planned an agricultural engagement scheme that would soon come on stream to absorb the teeming unemployed youths.
The governor expressed the state government’s resolve to diversify the economy through agriculture.
He said that the state government would continue with the existing welfare programmes like scholarship and social welfare scheme for the elderly.
Dickson said that the payment of West African Examination Council (WAEC), National Examination Council (NECO) and Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) fees would continue to receive priority attention. (NAN)
