TheCable

Chris Ngige, minister of labour and employment, says President Muhammadu Buhari has created seven million jobs since coming to office in 2015.

Ngige said this while speaking with journalists after meeting with Buhari at the presidential villa in Abuja.

The minister explained that Nigerians quantified jobs in terms of “white collar jobs” but do not want to look at the “blue collar jobs.”

He said apart from agriculture which has provided five to seven million opportunities, the N-power programme has also provided Nigerians millions of jobs.

“We promised jobs when we came on board, but what has happened is that people tried to quantify jobs in terms of ‘white collar’ jobs for graduates from universities, polytechnic but they don’t want to look at the ‘blue collar’ jobs,” Ngige said.

“Agriculture and its chains alone have created more than five to seven million jobs. Talk in terms of rice; from rice tilling, harvesting, sending to the paddies, mills, and even where people are making the jut bags, transportation, people are getting jobs. So, that value chain alone from agric is enormous. Take the N-power, we have created millions of jobs from here.”

dHe also said the National Directorate of Employment Nigerians (NDE) has provided skills for Nigerians which has led to the creation of jobs.

“Skill acquisition from the NDE and other agencies of government, jobs are being created. We give them tools as plumbers, electricians, cosmetologists, shoemakers, tilers and several other areas. We have created several jobs,” the minister said.