Senate summons labor minister over high unemployment rate

The Nigerian Senate has summoned Labour and Productivity Minister, Dr. Chris Ngige to provide insight into government’s roadmap towards tackling the unemployment rate in the country.It also wants the government to declare a state of emergency on unemployment with a view to confronting the challenges head on. This was part of the resolutions reached at plenary.Senate’s decision to summon the Minister follows a motion on unemployment in Nigeria, sponsored by Senator Duro Faseyi representing Ekiti North Senatorial district of western Nigeria.Other senators who supported the motion want the private sector to be involved in providing job opportunities for Nigerian youths.They urged the federal government to declare a state of emergency on unemployment with a view to reducing the danger it poses to the society.At the end the plenary, Senate directed government ministries, agency, and parastatals, as well as the security outfits to enlist more Nigerian youths as a measure towards enhancing security in the country.Recent figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) put the unemployment rate at a double digit of thirteen point three percent (13.3%).