The House of Representatives, on Tuesday tasked the Federal Government on the need to replace the recently discovered and removed 23,000 ghost workers with unemployed youth.
The resolution followed a motion on matters of urgent public importance brought by Hon. Dickson Tarkighir (APC, Benue) calling the federal government attention to the growing need of employment by the youths, saying that the development was an opportunity for the government to create the needed employment.
Tarkighir explained that since the government system had demonstrated the financial capacity to withstand the pressure of catering for 23,000 plus none existing staff over the years, it should be able to engage 23,000 unemployed youth.
He said: “I am not in doubt of the many curriculum vitae my colleagues have continued to collect from educated but jobless constituents”.
“This House has the identity of one commitment which is to ease the plight of Nigerians and of our youths especially.
“We will therefore, be living the essence of our stewardship if we once again show them that we care about their welfare and progress.
“There is no task more honouring than that, when ghost workers were discovered, we spoke out vehemently asking that Nigerian youth, eager and willing to work are made to replace ghost workers”, he said.
He further explained that, 23,000 staff drawn from each state plus Abuja was about 621 employees from each state based on the federal character principles.
“This is about 14 persons per Local Government (LG). From Kano state that has 44 LG, its about 27 applicants off the unemployed cadre.
“From each of the 23 LG of Benue state, it about 36 applicants off the street.
“Do the maths per state, Federal constituency and you will have a grasp of what effect the decision of this House on this day shall have on the nation”, he added.
Tarkighir also reminded the House of the ambitions and targets of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration with regards to the creation of employment for about 3million applicants.
The lawmaker urged the House to do everything within its powers to come to the aid of unemployed Nigerians.