President has created 7 million jobs - Ngige

Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has claimed that President Muhammadu Buharis administration has created seven million jobs since the president assumed office in 2015.

While addressing State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday, November 2, 2017, the minister said people always focus entirely on quantifying only 'white collar' jobs and neglecting 'blue collar jobs'.

Using the agricultural sector and and the N-Power initiative as examples, he said the government has created millions of jobs for Nigerians.

He said, "We promised jobs when we came on board, but what has happened is that people tried to quantify jobs in terms of 'white collar' jobs for graduates from universities, polytechnic but they don't want to look at the 'blue collar' jobs.

"Agriculture and its chains alone have created more than five to seven million jobs. Talk in terms of rice; from rice tilling, harvesting, sending to the paddies, mills, and even where people are making the jut bags, transportation, people are getting jobs. So, that value chain alone from agriculture is enormous.

"Take the N-power, we have created millions of jobs from here. Skill acquisition from the NDE and other agencies of government, jobs are being created. We give them tools as plumbers, electricians, cosmetologists, shoemakers, tilers and several other areas. We have created several jobs."

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He also disclosed the purpose of his meeting with the president at the Villa on Thursday, revealing that they focused on job creation, labour administration and the issue of national minimum wage.

The minister also revealed that the president has approved nominations into the committee that will come up with a new minimum wage for workers.