By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday said the report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on unemployment in the country was an indictment on the All Progressives Congress (APC) government.
The NBS report which was released on Tuesday put the country’s unemployment rate at an alarming 33.3 percent.
The PDP said the unemployment rate was a direct confirmation that the much-orchestrated claims of massive job creation by the Buhari Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) were mere statistical hoax used to deceive Nigerians.
A statement by Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP National Publicity Secretary, which was made available to TheNiche said “the report by the NBS that no fewer than 21.7 million able-bodied Nigerians have lost their jobs and means of livelihood while many more have become underemployed under the APC misrule further shows the despairing and despondent situation that APC and its administration has brought our nation.”
The statement reads further: “The rise in unemployment from the alarming 27.1 percent in Q2, 2020 to 33.3 percent in Q4 2020, despite the bogus claims of the APC administration, confirms that indeed, there is no hope in sight under the Buhari Presidency and the APC.
“It is clear that the direct cause of the escalating unemployment is the incompetence as well as the widespread corruption and treasury looting in the Buhari administration, where APC leaders are reported to have looted over N15 trillion, which should have been used to create wealth, develop our country and provide jobs for our citizens.
“It is rather distressing that, as shown in the NBS report, unemployment rate among young and very enterprising Nigerians, within the age of 15 to 34 years, had risen to 42.5 percent; a revelation that put a lie to claims by the Buhari administration, of mass employment, job opportunities and economic empowerment of our youths.
“It is now obvious that under President Buhari and the APC, the Federal Government created jobs only in their fake statistics while in reality, they are taking no concrete steps to empower our hard working citizens.
“More frustrating is that the APC and its administration have promoted a huge racket where Nigerians are deceived to pay for non-existent jobs in ministries, department and agencies at alarming costs, ranging between N2 million to N6 million, depending on the agency.
“The APC administration, in its corruption, is allowing such evil enterprise, while millions of Nigerians are weeping on the streets after being defrauded of their hard-earned money, life savings and pensions of aged parents by job fraudsters in official circles.
“The only achievement by the APC administration is the impoverishment of Nigerians and turning of our dear nation of hitherto very happy and prosperous people, into world’s poverty capital.
“Our party charges President Muhammadu Buhari to accept his incompetence, take urgent steps to recover the over N15 trillion allegedly stolen by his party leaders and allow more competent hands to revamp our economy before it is too late.”