The Federal Government is to address youth unemployment through pragmatism and active involvement of critical stakeholders of the economy on the job creation.

The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Youths and Students Affairs, Nasir Adhama, said: “The recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) which indicates that the unemployment rate in the country climbed to 10.4 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2015 requires pragmatic approaches to tackle the scourge.

“Even though NBS’ data gave a figure of 22 million unemployed or under employed in Nigeria, it can only be adduced that about 8 million youths may likely be within the category of the unemployed.

“The current administration is working assiduously to ensure that the rate of unemployment is reduced through special interventions efforts, capacity building and skill acquisition where beneficiaries can also be employers of labour.”

Adhama, who was speaking at a workshop on drug abuse among youths in Kaduna, said: “Idleness and joblessness can contribute to drug addictions which can squarely be addressed through active involvement of youths in productive activities.

“The youths must be engaged in productive endeavours not only towards contributions to the economic development but also to dissuade them from drug abuses and other social vices.”

Represented by Youth Ambassador, Umar Galadima, the Presidential Aide further called on Nigerian youths to watch out for positive developments once the Federal Government commences the implementation of 2016 Budget.

NBS in its recent data had noted that the unemployment rate in the country climbed to 10.4 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to 9.9 per cent in the previous quarter. The rate was recorded at 8.2 per cent in Q2 2015.

While putting the active labour force of the country at 76.96m, the bureau explained that a total of 22.45 million of the total labour force of 76.96 million were either unemployed or underemployed in Q4 compared to 20.7 million in Q3 and 19.6 million in Q2.

The statistical agency further stated that the labour force population – those within the working age population willing, able and actively looking for work – increased to 76.96 million from 75.94 million in Q3, representing an increase of 1.34 per cent during the quarter.

It added that the economically active population or working age population-persons within ages 15 and 64 increased to 105.02 million in Q4, from 104.3 million in Q3, representing a 0.68 per cent increase over the previous quarter and a 3.2 per cent rise when compared to Q4 2014. (PRNigeria)

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