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Ambode, Ikpeazu, Obaseki decry high unemployment rate

By Seye Olumide
17 February 2017   |   4:20 am
Prominent Nigerians, which include governors of Lagos, Abia and Edo states, Akinwunmi Ambode, Okezie Ikpeazu and Godwin Obaseki, have decried the high rate of unemployment in the country.

*Bode George flays banks for advertising on CNN

Prominent Nigerians, which include governors of Lagos, Abia and Edo states, Akinwunmi Ambode, Okezie Ikpeazu and Godwin Obaseki, have decried the high rate of unemployment in the country.

They warned that unless something urgent and decisive in terms of right government policies, collective responsibilities and strict anti-graft measures are taken, the country may be heading for disaster.

Others, who also expressed concern over the situation include former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George; former governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel; National Coordinator of O’dua Peoples Congress (OPC), Gani Adams; Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dakuku Peterside; Secretary General, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Musa; and Managing Director, Freedom Online, Gabriel Akinadewo.

Speaking at the inaugural lecture titled: ‘Unemployment: How Do we Tame This Monster?’ organised by Freedom Online in Lagos yesterday, Ikpeazu, who was the guest lecturer, said employment is fundamental to the development of any nation but where it is not available such a country is under serious threat.

According to him, unemployment has become a socio-economic problem, which had led to criminal activities, among other vices.

Ambode, said youth unemployment was a challenge both to the government and individuals in the country, while his Edo State counterpart, Obaseki, described it as a monster that must be tackled before it destroys the country.

Obaseki lamented that the present rise in crime wave like kidnapping, robbery, 419, prostitutions, are all consequences of unemployment.

George called on the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the National Assembly to look into the indiscriminate manner Nigerian banks advertise on Cable News Network (CNN).

He said: “We have high youth unemployment, so how can our banks be placing adverts on CNN, considering the stupendous money they pay in hard currencies? I want to suggest that the National Assembly pass a bill to make them and others pay 90 per cent tax on what each bank pay for the adverts and such profits be invested in creating employment opportunities for our people.”

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