Niger Embargoes Political Appointments

Gov Babangida Aliyu of Niger on Wednesday in Minna placed embargo on the appointment of political office holders.

Aliyu made the announcement at an interactive session with commissioners, special advisers and council chairmen.

He said that government had also begun a census of unemployed youths who would serve as data base for the SURE-P scheme in the state, noting that the embargo would allow the State Government to assess the situation on the ground.

The governor directed all his political aides to collaborate with Local Government Council chairmen to produce comprehensive data on unemployed youths within one month as the government prepared to implement the SURE-P scheme in rural areas.

Aliyu who expressed concern over the high level of unemployed youths in the state, called for immediate action to forestall the youths constituting themselves into nuisance in future.

He said that his administration already had a list of 17,000 university, college of education and polytechnic graduates to be screened for engagement under the graduate employment scheme.

Aliyu said the census would determine the educational qualification of each unemployed youth and suggest possible placement.

He said part of the two billion naira? in the SURE-P account in the 25 local councils in the state would be used for the commencement of the? empowerment programme? after the necessary data had been collected on the youths.

The governor assured qualified youths of placement in the primary schools voluntary teaching scheme.

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