VOWS TO CAPTURE 50% OF NIGERIANS UNDER SOCIAL SECURITY NET.The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige says the decision of the Federal Government to employ 200,000 graduates in the first phase of its social intervention scheme, despite teething economic challenges, is an eloquent expression of its dogged commitment to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty and promised that more jobs were coming. Ngige similarly vowed that at least 50 percent of the country’s population would be captured under the social security net within the tenure of the present administration
“Social Intervention is one of the cardinal progammes of the present administration in Nigeria. Our objective is to tackle youth unemployment and restiveness through job creation notwithstanding the tough economic challenges we face.”
“Some of the programmes in our integrated social protection scheme are already being implemented as evidenced in the 200,000 graduates who will commence work by next month. More of the jobs are in the offing. Our target is to ensure that millions of Nigerians are lifted out of poverty line while at least 50 percent of the population are captured in the social security net.”
Sen. Chris Ngige made the assertion while presenting the country position at the on-going World Social Security Summit in Panama City, Panama. Speaking under the theme, “Evolving Role of Social Security in a Changing World,” Sen. Ngige stated that despite teething economic challenges faced by Nigeria, the Federal Government remain undeterred in pursuing its social security goals, adding that priority being given to healthcare delivery to the rural dwellers was core to the agenda of government. He also said government was geared to give more support to the operations of the National Health Insurance Scheme as well as that of the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) and assured that the activities of the National Social Insurance Trust Fund ( NSITF) were being enhanced to make it more responsive to achieving social security goals.
The Summit is being organized under the auspices of the International Social Security Association ( ISSA) a major social partner of the International Labour Organisation ( ILO) and hosted this year by the Government of Panama. The Summit brings together Ministers and representatives of International Organisations in order to complement the commitment of ISSA members to excellence in the administration of social security through emphasis on the vital role of political will as well as innovative policies as contained in the United Nations Organisation’s sustainable goals.
Earlier on the sidelines of the summit, Sen. Ngige sought the assistance of China in developing and deepening Nigeria’s social protection programmes. In a bilateral discussion with the Chinese Minister of Human Resources and Social Security, Mr. Yin Weimin, the Labour and Employment Minister revealed that Nigeria would tap into the Chinese model of Social Security Academy in order to institutionalize social security practices in the country . China won the best Social Security Nation for year 2016, having captured one hundred million persons yearly into her social security, totalling a billion in the last decade.
Samuel Olowookere
Deputy Director (press)
