A proposed bill to pay monthly stipends to unemployed graduates in Nigeria suffered setback on the floor of the House of Representatives.

The bill, sponsored by Hon Arua Arunsi, was rejected through a voice vote by majority of the House members.

The bill seeks for an Act to amend the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) laws, 2004, by creating some specific functions to cater for unemployed graduates of tertiary institutions.

Some opposing members of the bill argued that paying a monthly stipend to unemployed graduates in Nigeria would compound to the economic woes of the country.

They said that the programme would further make its beneficiaries lazy as they will feel relaxed to get a job since a regular amount of money gets to them on a monthly basis.

The lawmakers also explained that the programme might be hijacked as the list of beneficiaries will swell with various names. They said the programme might be another source of corruption.

However, the supporters of the bill maintained that Nigeria is rich enough to pay her unemployed graduates monthly stipends.

They said the programme with take many unemployed graduates off social vices. Hassan El-Badawy, Peace Nnaji and Fort Dike supported the bill while James Faleke, Essien Ayi and Peter Onyemaechi, House Committee Chairman on Labour and Productivity, opposed the bill.

Source: www.aproko247.com/?p=997


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