State Government to employ 12,750 sanitation, traffic officers in 4 yrs

The Kaduna State Government says it would create 12, 750 jobs over the next four years as part of efforts to provide direct employment to its youths.

Gov. Nasir El-Rufa'i disclosed this in a state-wide broadcast Wednesday night, while explaining his administration’s proposal to develop the economy for the next four years.

"Our drive to recruit 50 youths per ward in the next four years to work in some government agencies as traffic, environmental and sanitary inspectors will commence this year with about 10 persons per ward.

"We have reconstituted the board and leadership of KASTELEA to enable this process to start soon. These job openings will be advertised soon.''

El-Rufai said those engaged would drive the 'Clean Kaduna Campaign' designed to keep the state clean through public enlightenment, enforcement and provision of improved public waste management system.

"We have initiated a scheme to revive taxi services in our major urban centres, starting with 200 branded, air-conditioned cabs in Kaduna.

"Prospective owner-drivers are expected to deposit about 10 per cent of the discounted price of the vehicles and pay the balance in instalments over a period of four years.

"Hundreds of our youths have now been short-listed for training with a view to empowering them as owner-drivers in due course.’’

According to the governor, a massive urban renewal programme designed by the government will improve transportation, traffic management, leisure, shopping facilities, recreational and neighbourhood centres.

He added that this would, thereby, create thousands of jobs in several sectors.

"We have signed an agreement with UAC Property Development Company (UPDC) to build a shopping mall in Kaduna. The mall is scheduled for commissioning by December 2016.

"A number of other investors have also indicated interest in building additional malls and 5-star hotels which would create jobs and make Kaduna, a centre for domestic tourism.

"It will also be an outstanding venue for national and international conferences and other events,’’ El-Rufai added.

On physically-challenged and destitute persons, the governor said the administration planned to introduce a microcredit scheme to assist them start small businesses after undergoing training.

He added that the government would retool all rehabilitation centres in the state to be enable to impart viable skills.