4 Key Promises In Atiku’s ‘Peoples Policy’

There are four key points to note in the policy document released on Sunday by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

One of them is the promise to create at least three million jobs yearly if elected as Nigeria’s president in the election that comes up in February, 2019.

Atiku 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”.

The former Vice President said to solve the above mentioned problems, he 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 market place for MSMEs and SMPs.

“Champion the repositioning and streamlining the activities of the existing Federal and State Government Job Creation Agencies”.

The three other key promises made by the Waziri Adamawa bordered on infrastructure development, human capital development and poverty eradication.

Atiku promised to lift 50 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2025 if given the chance to man the number political office in the land.

He equally revealed his plans to privatise the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and sell off all national refineries in the country.

The former Vice President also promised to construct 5,000 kilometres of roads as well as 5,000 kilometres of modern railway.

Atiku will be contending primarily against incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC)

Both presidential candidates hail from the North and have their presidential running mates picked from different regions of Southern Nigeria.