Akwa Ibom Assembly passes job creation bill into law

The Akwa Ibom state House of Assembly yesterday passed a bill to make corporate organizations operating in the state to create employment opportunities for indigenes of the state.

The bill, which was entitled, ‘A bill for a law to create and regulate employment opportunities for indigenes of Akwa Ibom State in Corporate Organizations operating in the state and for other matters connected thereto” was sponsored by the member representing Ikono State Constituency, Mr. Victor Udofia.
It seeks to, among others, ensure that Akwa Ibom indigenes with requisite qualifications and required skills are not discriminated against by corporate organizations operating in the state.

Also, it specifies the employment and training procedure which would require investors in the state to employ a stipulated percentage of Akwa Ibom youths at various levels of the labour force.
The lawmakers unanimously agreed that the implementing the bill would boost efforts of the state government to encourage investors to promote a culture of local ownership and participation in all aspects of the state’s productive economic activities.
Speaker of the House, Mr. Onofiok Luke commended his colleagues for supporting the bill and for ensuring its speedy passage, saying that the implementation would reduce restiveness among the youths and promote peace in the state.

His words, “Let me restate for the benefit of our constituents that when signed by Governor Udom Emmanuel, this law will position our youths to be firsthand beneficiaries of existing and prospective job opportunities in our state.
“It will integrate our youths into domestic market and prepare them for foreign opportunities through training in technologies and managerial skills. The law will promote peace and a sense of local ownership while discouraging youth restiveness especially those often emanating from host communities.
“This is because there is now a specific quota of youths to be considered for employment into junior and senior staff positions in corporate organizations operating within the state. And our increasing young population makes it imperative that government takes more definite steps towards the integration of the youths in our economy.”