The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar, has released his policy document ahead of the commencement of his campaign proper today (Monday).
In the document released on Sunday, the former vice president, promised to create three million jobs every year if he is elected as president in the 2019 election.
The document details a seven-year timeline in which he intends to deliver on his campaign promises.
In it Atiku gave a breakdown of the rate of unemployment in the country, saying, “Close to 16 million people are unemployed, nine million more than in 2014.
“Over two million new entrants join the labour force each year meaning the unemployed share of the labour force more than tripled in less than a decade: from 5.1% in 2010 to 18.8% in 2017
“Unemployment for women and young people is at 33%, 70% of unemployed youths are uneducated and unskilled.”
He therefore promised to create jobs in order to lift Nigerians out of poverty.
“Creating jobs and economic opportunities for these people will be vital both for reducing the pool of easy recruits for violent groups and reducing underlying grievances that feed the conflict”.
He also promised to “Launch a new, more efficient, cost-effective and sustainable national Entrepreneurship Development and Job Creation Programme.
“Target the creation of up to three million self and wage-paying employment opportunities in the private sector annually.
“Target all categories of youth, including graduates, early school leavers as well as the massive numbers of uneducated youth who are currently not in schools, employment or training.
“Create incubation centres, clusters and industrial/commercial hubs to provide a marketplace for MSMEs and SMPs.
“Champion the repositioning and streamlining the activities of the existing Federal and State Government Job Creation Agencies”.
Apart from job creation, the document also lists three other areas of priority namely infrastructure development, human capital development and poverty eradication.
Atiku also stated that he has plans to privatise the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and also sell all four national refineries.
Other areas of focus in terms of infrastructure is the construction of 5,000 kilometres of roads, and 5,000 kilometres of modern railway.
Atiku Campaign Organisation, had earlier explained that Atiku’s decision to kick-start his presidential campaign with the launch of his policy document was to reiterate his commitment to running an issue-based campaign.
The intention, it said, was to take their policy directly to Nigerians and to register Atiku’s belief that it would take the collective efforts of every Nigerian to rebuild the country.