... It will take youths off the streets, Victor Udofia assures
A bill for a law to create employment opportunities for indigenes of Akwa Ibom State by Corporate Organizations operating in the state, has been passed into law by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
The bill titled: 'a bill for a law to create and regulate employment opportunities for indigenes of Akwa Ibom State in Corporate Organizations operating in the state and for other matters connected thereto", was passed, Thursday following the adoption of the report of the House Committee on Labour and Productivity by the House with minor amendments effected.
The bill which is sponsored by the member representing Ikono State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Victor Udofia, seeks to, among others, ensure that Akwa Ibom indigenes with requisite qualifications and needed skills are not discriminated against by Corporate Organizations doing business in the state.
The bill which commences from June 7, specifies the employment and training procedure which will require investors in the state to employ a stipulated percentage of Akwa Ibom youths at various levels of the labour force. It also aims at ensuring that the benefit lAkwa Ibom youths seek to obtain from Foreign Direct Investment including improved technology and managerial skills are integrated into the domestic market and would also ensure that there are linkages between foreign enterprises and the local economy.
Throwing their weight behind the bill, the lawmakers agreed that implementing bill will boost the efforts of the State government to encourage investors to promote a culture of local ownership and participation in all aspects of the State's productive economic activities.
The lead sponsor of the bill, Rt. Hon. Victor Udofia and representative of Ikono State Constituency in the State Assembly while addressing newsmen in his office after plenary stated that the bill was borne out of his strong desire to see Akwa Ibom youths become productive and self sufficient. The bill having been passed into law will boast the job creation drive of his Excellency the Governor, create employment opportunities for our teeming youths, hold companies operating in the State accountable by assisting government engage local content and also empower the Ministry of labour and productivity to coordinate and oversee the activities and operations of corporate organisations within the State vis-à-vis provision of employment opportunities for Akwa Ibom Citizens. Furthermore, the two-time lawmaker indicated that the law stipulates that every corporate organisation doing business in the State with staff strength of not less than twenty shall ensure that ten percent of her senior staff and seventy percent of junior staff are youths and indigenes of the State
The Speaker of the 6th Assembly, Rt. Hon. Barr. Onofiok Luke hailed the lead sponsor of the bill, Rt. Hon. Victor Udofia, co-sposnors as well as Chairman of the House Committee on Labour and Productivity, Hon. Uduak Ududoh and the entire members of the House for their legislative dexterity which enabled the bill to sail through third reading and eventual passage.
"Akwa Ibom State job creation and enforcement law does not only reflect our collective support for His Excellency's job creation ambition. The law will promote a culture of local ownership and participation in all aspects of the State's productive economic activities. Let me restate for the benefit our constituents that when signed by the Governor, His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel, this law will position our youths to be firsthand beneficiaries of existing and prospective job opportunities in our state. It will integrate our youths into domestic market and prepare them for foreign opportunities through training in technologies and managerial skills".
"The law will promote peace and a sense of local ownership while discouraging youth restiveness especially those often emanating from host communities. This is because there is now a specific quota of youths to be considered for employment into junior and senior staff positions in corporate organizations operating within the state".
Meanwhile, the House has adjourned plenary to June 19.
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