The former governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on unemployment among youths to enhance peace and security in the country.
Saraki made the call in Ilorin while speaking at a one-day technical summit for unemployed youths in the state.
The lawmaker, who spoke on “youths unemployment in Kwara State, the way forward”, said there was need to extend the declaration of state of emergency to youths’ unemployment.
According to him, similar emergency is in the power and water sectors among others, and it has worked out well.
Saraki said although Kwara had just nine per cent unemployment rate, government should do more to reduce the figure.
“We still need to do more as even one percent rate is unacceptable as there cannot be any stability, peaceful environment and prosperity of any sort with youth unemployment,” he said.
The state governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed endorsed the call for the state of emergency on youths unemployment, stressing that “As the largest component of our population and the inheritors of the future, youths are our most vital resource.
“We must nurture, support, and prime them for productive engagement through appropriate training and tangible opportunities,” he said.
According to the governor, as a youth-focused administration, his government has implemented several interventions to get more youths into employment and various businesses since 2011.