Abuja – Sen. Ighoyota Amori (PDP – Delta Central) has urged the Federal Government to initiate a bill to the National Assembly for a welfare package to cater for the unemployed and the aged.
Amori made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday.
He said the bill would be a long-term measure in tackling social security issues in the country, adding, however, that in the interim the government should evolve ways to pay allowances to the unemployed.
NAN reports that the senator’s call may not be unconnected to a call by the House of Representatives on Nov. 29 that the Federal Government should declare a state of emergency on unemployment.
On Wednesday, the Senate rejected a motion calling on the government to pay N5, 000 monthly as allowance to unemployed youths in the country, recalling that it was a campaign promise of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The motion ‘’died’’ after the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, ruled in favour of majority of the senators, who opposed it.
Amori said that the rate of unemployment among youths in the countty was rising astronomically and must be tackled speedily in the interest of the nation.
He said that it was worrisome that the country was still handling unemployment issue with levity, and warned that the development had dangerous economic implications.
He suggested that the government could kick start the process with the redemption of the electioneering campaign promises of the ruling party of paying monthly allowance to unemployed youths.
The senator said that tackling the danger of the increasing unemployment rate would help to stem many vices in the society.
‘’Unemployment is a serious economic challenge in the country and it should be the concern of everyone.
‘’While thinking of what major measures to adopt in tackling the problem, the government should first, begin to pay allowances to the youths, having whetted their appetite with the campaign promise,’’ he said.
He recalled that the senate attempted to contribute to the process through a motion calling for the payment of monthly allowance to unemployment youths but regretted that the motion was scuttled.
‘’Unemployment is a national problem and it should not be politicised; we don’t have to play politics with everything.
[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
‘’If nothing tangible is done about the challenge, it will continue to spiral and may become more difficult and dangerous to handle.
‘’So, I strongly advise the Federal Government to take urgent steps to begin the process of redeeming its electioneering promise to the people,’’ he said.