In a policy document spanning seven years period, Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, promises Nigerians jobs, eradication of poverty, roads, healthy economy, among others

By Emeka Ejere

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has promised to create three million jobs every year if he is elected president next year.

The promise is one of the key points in the policy document released by the PDP flagbearer at the weekend, which details a seven-year timeline in which he intends to deliver on his campaign promises. Giving a breakdown of the rate of unemployment in the country, Abubakar said: “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.

“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.”

As a solution, he said his administration, if elected in 2019 will, “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.

According to the former vice president, he has plans to lift 50 million Nigerians out of poverty, by 2025.

Furthermore, he 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 include the construction of 5,000 kilometres of roads, and 5,000 kilometres of modern railway.

According to Atiku Campaign Organisation, his decision to kick-start the presidential campaign with the launch of his policy document was to reiterate his commitment to running an issue-based campaign.

It added that the intention 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.