NIGERIANS on the social media have expressed outrage over presidential spokesman Femi Adesina’s claim that it is not the government’s responsibility to create jobs.
Adesina made the comments while speaking on President Muhammadu Buhari’s achievements on Arise TV on Tuesday, May 2.
Adesina said the only responsibility of the government is to create enabling environment for job creation, while the private sector creates jobs.
Read Also:
- We can’t have a nation of jobless youths and want peace — Fayemi, others, speak on democracy, leadership in Nigeria
- Media group condemns govt plan to restrict media freedom in Kano
- Malaria: Global health communities celebrate 2 billion mosquito nets delivered worldwide
- Yellow Fever: With 47 death in 2019, NCDC seeks improved vaccination, surveillance
- Contradictory reports arise in case of man detained by DSS for owning Hanan Buhari‘s SIM card
Responding to a question on Buhari’s promise to create three million jobs yearly, Adesina noted the President didn’t give a specific figure.
“Did you say three million was the promise? I wouldn’t say he put a figure. What I recall was that President Buhari gave the per cent of joblessness in the country. I wouldn’t recall that he gave a specific figure for the number of jobs we are creating. For all you know, that may have come from anywhere.
“Regard as it may, it is the job and the duty of the government to create an enabling environment for jobs in the country. It is not the government itself that creates jobs. All it does is to create an enabling environment.”
According to him, most of the jobs “you need in a country would come from the private sector”. “As long as you have an enabling environment, it is the private sector that will create the jobs.”
He, however, noted that Buhari has achieved remarkably in all sectors including oil and gas, infrastructure, legislative matters, and security.
Buhari reportedly promised to provide three million jobs for unemployed youths if voted as the President in 2015.
Some Nigerians who reacted to Adesina’s comments on the social media expressed outrage at the presidential spokesman’s claims.
However, some also agreed with him to a certain extent, but said the government has failed to provide an enabling environment for private sectors.
Many of them identified insecurity, unstable electricity, police brutality, bad roads and infrastructures as major issues that the Buhari administration failed to address while in office.
A Twitter user with the name Bobola Mercy reacted by saying that the government could feed on citizens’ taxes but does not want to create jobs.
“But it is the duty of the citizens to pay taxes to the government that is being collected from their self-established jobs that will be used as their highly corrupt salary which they did not work for.”
@GodsDawta1 questioned why Buhari campaigned with the promise of providing jobs every year: “Agreed….My own queshun is “Why then campaign with the promise of providing jobs every election year” since it’s not govt duty?”
Another user wrote: “When a govt has totally failed. They begin to look for lies to wash their lies.”
Thomas Bassey said although he agreed with Adesina, the Buhari administration failed to create an enabling environment for job creation.
“Yes to some extent I agree… but it is 100% the duty of the government to create an enabling environment where people can work, live well and create jobs for others… and as far as am concerned the Government failed WOEFULLY! . So it takes us back to status quo!”
OfonzeNews also said it is the government’s responsibility to provide electricity and support small businesses to grow.
He wrote: “But you must provide electricity, build good roads, develop the rail transportation, build solid infrastructures and support small businesses to grow. In fact it’s your duty as a government to create the environment that will support businesses and industries that will create jobs.”
