Dr. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment has clarified that not every graduate is entitled to the promised N5,000 by the federal government.
The minister made this known at the 5th anniversary of Bina Foundation and graduation ceremony of its students in Enugu.
Ngige added that most graduates will be employed as teachers to reduce the rate of unemployment in the country.
He explained that contrary to the widely-held belief that the N5,000 was meant for all youths, only the vulnerable ones amongst them would benefit.
He said, “The APC government anchored delivery on three pillars; security of lives and property, improving economy under which employment creation is the third sub-head, and infrastructure revival.
“You can see that employment creation is the main issue. We have heard people say we are waiting for N5, 000. We did not say we are paying N5,000 to all the youth. We are saying it is for the most vulnerable.”
“Most unemployed graduates would be converted to teachers. The move is equally aimed at boosting the education sector,” he said, when asked how the Federal Government plans to combat unemployment.
Ngige noted that majority of the current crop of teachers in public schools were half-baked.
“Most of our schools have half-baked teachers. We want to redefine our schools and make them what they are.
“We are also building skill acquisition centres. We have 12 of them across the country. The era of white-collar industry is gone.
“Nobody in Nigeria will be unemployed, people will learn how to use their hands.”(Pulse)