FG Unveils Five-Year Strategy to Tackle Unemployment

By Omoyeni Ojeifo

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to employment creation and skills development as the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) unveiled its five-year strategic plan for 2027–2031.

PerSecondNews correspondent reports that the plan was unveiled on Thursday in Abuja by the NDE in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).

In his keynote address, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Kamil Ayinde Shoretire, described the plan as an important step towards aligning employment interventions with Nigeria’s changing labour market needs.

“The launch of the NDE Five-Year Strategic Plan for 2027–2031 marks an important step towards strengthening Nigeria’s employment framework and aligning skills development, entrepreneurship and job creation with labour market demands,”he said.

He said the plan would improve access to relevant skills training, support aspiring entrepreneurs and expand sustainable employment opportunities, particularly for young Nigerians.

“The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment remains committed to supporting the NDE in implementing this strategic plan through stronger collaboration with development partners, employers and other stakeholders to expand skills training, strengthen enterprise development and create sustainable employment opportunities for Nigerians,” he added.

Shoretire called on stakeholders to sustain their support for the directorate to ensure effective implementation of the plan and achieve its employment objectives.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity, Sen.Diket Plang, pledged legislative support for the plan, including stronger institutional frameworks, budgetary support and effective oversight.

“The committee is committed to strengthening the legal and institutional framework for employment promotion and ensuring that this plan translates into real jobs, relevant skills and enterprise opportunities for Nigerians,” Plang said.

On his part, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity, Adegboyega Adefarati, represented by the committee’s deputy chairman, Peter Aniekwe, urged the NDE management to prioritise implementation, innovation and measurable outcomes.

“I encourage development partners, the private sector and other stakeholders to deepen their support for the directorate to ensure the plan delivers tangible employment opportunities for Nigerians who need them most,” he noted.

In her goodwill message, Country Director, Vanessa Phala, commended the NDE for developing a strategic plan aligned with Nigeria’s evolving labour market needs.

“The strategic plan provides a framework for strengthening labour market responsiveness, fostering sustainable enterprise development, enhancing stakeholder collaboration and expanding access to economic opportunities, particularly for groups facing greater barriers to employment,” Phala said.

Commending the NDE, representative of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Comrade Sunday B. Joseph, Secretary of the FCT Council in Abuja, urged the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to prioritise decent work, workers’ welfare and measurable employment outcomes in implementing its five-year strategic plan.

“No matter how many jobs we create, what matters is the kind of jobs we create. A job that cannot feed a worker, guarantee their health or provide for their retirement is not job creation; it is mass impoverishment,” he said.

Earlier, the Director-General of NDE, Silas Ali Agara, described the launch as a defining step towards establishing the agency’s priorities for the next five years.

“The strategic plan represents our collective resolve to move from fragmented interventions towards a more coordinated, evidence-based, measurable and results-oriented approach to employment promotion,” Agara said.

He stated that the strategy focuses on demand-driven skills development, entrepreneurship, enterprise development, stronger institutional capacity, strategic partnerships and inclusive employment opportunities.

“The success of this plan will depend on our ability to translate its priorities into practical actions, backed by clear responsibilities, adequate resources, measurable targets and effective monitoring mechanisms,” Agara said.

Agara identified the need to rehabilitate and modernise the directorate’s skills acquisition centres, agricultural training centres and common facility centres to meet current training demands.

He also emphasised the importance of aligning training curricula with industry requirements and strengthening collaboration with employers to help beneficiaries secure jobs, establish viable businesses and sustain their livelihoods.

Agara commended both organisations for providing technical and financial support towards developing and launching the document.

The event was attended by representatives of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the National Assembly, the ILO, GIZ, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress and other stakeholders.