By Aisha Gambo

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Kaduna Directorate on Monday commenced the training of 638 youth,women on various vocational skills to address high unemployment rate in the state.

The NDE also disbursed loan in form of equipments to 11 beneficiaries who had undergone training with the directorate as resettlement in order to start up their businesses.

The 638 participants would be trained under the Basic National Open apprenticeship Scheme(B-NOAS), Advanced National Apprenticeship Scheme (A-NOAS) and Quick fix demand driven skills.

Mrs Victoria Williams-Dada,acting state coordinator NDE,stated that 460 participants would benefits from the B-NOAS training while 138 would be trained under A-NOAS and 40 under the Quick Fix Demand Driven Skills.

She explained that beneficiaries of the resettlement equipment were selected from the past (B-NOAS) graduands who had undergone training in various skills.

“Today,these youths are being provided with equipment to enable them start their own businesses. I urge you to make judicious use of the equipment given to you so that you can employ other youths.

” Following the increasing rate of youth unemployment, the B-NOAS, A-NOAS and Quick Fix Demand Driven Skills of the NDE was put in place for training unemployed persons especially youths and women in various vocational trade”,she said.

Williams-Dada explained that the aim of the training was to equip youths and women with marketable and functional skills to enable them secure either wage or self -employment.

Earlier, Malam Abubakar Nuhu-Fikpo the Director General NDE who was represented by Ibrahim Sulaiman,head,North-West zone urged participants to take their training seriously.

He also urged the resettlement beneficiaries to make good use of their working equipment adding that officials of the NDE would continue to mentor them to ensure they achieve success.

In his remark, Mal. Isah Abdu, the director Vocational Skills Development(VSD)department,represented by Mr. Charles Aye urged participants to be in their best of manners during the training.

He advised them to help create employment and contribute towards the economy of their family, state and the nation at large.

Meanwhile some of the beneficiaries commended NDE for the resettlement and promised to use the equipment for business.

Maryam Ibrahim, a fashion designer said she had received sewing machine, pressing iron,mannequin and other sewing materials to kick start her fashion business.

“I will make sure I empower other youth and train them on the skill so that they can be self reliant “, she said.

Similarly,Yusuf Abubakar who received electricity installation kits expressed his joy saying he would make use of the opportunity he got through NDE to empower himself and others.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)reports that equipment disbursed included that of Carpentry,Fashion design, Electrical installation,Computer operation, Phone repairs ,Plumbing and Barbing.

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Buhari refuses to sign electoral amendment bill, gives reasons

JUDE EGBAS

December 21, 2021 8:37 AM

The bill had the direct primary provision, which means that during political party primary elections, all party members can vote.

President Muhammadu Buhari presents N16.39trn 2022 Budget proposal to joint session of NASS. [Twitter-Punch]

President Muhammadu Buhari has withheld his assent on an electoral amendment bill which civil society groups believed could have revolutionized the election process in Africa's most populous nation.

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The bill contained electronic voting and electronic transmission of election results provisions.

The piece of legislation which was transmitted to President Buhari by the National Assembly on November 19, also contained provisions like direct primaries for political parties--a clause which could make the process of electing candidates from within the political parties, more transparent.

The president had until December 19 to sign the bill into law or risk the National Assembly overriding his veto.

According to ThisDay, the president has now written to the lawmakers to say he couldn't have signed the bill into law because of factors like monetisation and litigation arising therefrom.

ThisDay quotes the president as writing that: “The amendment as proposed is the violation of the underlying spirit of democracy, which is characterized by freedom of choices of which political party membership is a voluntary exercise of the constitutional right of freedom of association."

The president also cited security as a factor in withholding assent.

The report also states that: “The president said the prevailing situation in the country will not allow him sign the bill. Among other reasons, the president cited high cost of conducting direct primaries, the security challenge of monitoring the election, violation of citizens’ rights, marginalization of small political parties.

“Buhari also notes that adopting direct primaries has implications on the rights of citizens to participate in the government, as constitutionally insured.

“According to the president, the conduct of direct primaries will lead to a significant spike in the cost of conducting primary elections by parties, as well as the increase in the cost of monitoring such elections by INEC.

“He explained that the direct consequences of the high cost are monetization and that it will drive and increase financial crimes and constitute further strain on the economy.

“In his view, it will also stifle smaller parties without the enormous resources required to mobilize all party members for the primaries, a situation which he says is not healthy for the sustenance of multi-party democracy in Nigeria.

“The president further states that security agencies will also be overstretched, as direct primaries will be open to participation from all and sundry.

“Such large turnout without effective security coordination will also engender intimidation and disruptions, thereby raising credibility issues on the outcomes of such election.

“President Buhari also says the proposed amendment might give rise to a plethora of litigations based on diverse grounds and issues of law, including but not limited to the fact that the proposed amendment could not work in retrospect, given that the existing constitution of the parties already registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) permits direct, indirect and consensus primaries.

“Buhari said his decision is based on informed advice by relevant ministries, departments and agencies of the government, and careful review of the bill in light of the current realities prevalent in the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the circumstances.”

President Buhari, 79, has repeatedly stated that he intends to bequeath a legacy of free, fair and transparent elections, as he shuts the Aso Villa revolving doors behind him on May 29, 2023.