The Comptroller General of Customs, Ahaji Dikko Abdullahi, has faulted a proposal by the Buhari-led administration to give N5000 monthly allowance to the unemployed youths. He said he would rather the money be committed to providing jobs.
Abdullahi stated this at a forum between the Textile Value Chain Stakeholders and the Nigeria Customs which held on Tuesday in Abuja.
The Comptroller General of Customs, Ahaji Dikko Abdullahi, has faulted a proposal by the Buhari-led administration to give N5000 monthly allowance to the unemployed youths. He said he would rather the money be committed to providing jobs.
Abdullahi stated this at a forum between the Textile Value Chain Stakeholders and the Nigeria Customs which held on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said rather than give ‘handouts’ to youths, emphasis should be given to job creation, because of the drop in oil revenue so that Nigerian youths could be more engaged to develop their skill.
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde on Tuesday faulted
Shipping Position Daily recalls that Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo had recently announced that FG will soon commence payment of N5,000 monthly stipend to poor and unemployed Nigerians.
The Customs CG, while urging government to commit resources and policy to creating jobs for the unemployed youths said: “I will rather prefer to finance the local industries with SURE-P, than to give ordinary persons N5000 because the common sense is that don’t give me fish but teach me how to fish.
“So by giving him the N5000, you are killing him-after the N5000 now what? He’ll come back and if you don’t give him, he becomes violent because he believes it’s his legitimate right to get money he didn’t work for.”
He also stressed the need for revival of Nigeria’s textile sector to boost the economy, especially in the area of job creation.
The customs boss urged the forum to fashion out plans to revive the textile industry to secure the future of the country.
He added that “Nigeria is our only country; we do not have another. So we have to do everything possible to sustain a stable present and secure the future of this country.
“The political stability of a country is determined by its economy; we will support sectors that invest capital to expand and improve employment of youths.’’
He called on other government agencies, including the Consumer Protection Agency, Standards Organisation of Nigeria and the Nigeria Immigration Service to join forces with the Nigeria Customs Service in the execution of its statutory functions.
He said “we must all resolve to carry out our duty diligently without fear of anyone because our national interest must always supersede our personal interest.
“I want to assure you that the day I am required to compromise my integrity, I will choose the path of honour and leave.
“I am sure that the present administration is a government that is guided by the rule of law; it is a government that has passion for the development of this country.’’
Earlier, the Sector Chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr Salisu Umar, had told the Customs boss that textile industries were necessary indices for assessing development of countries.
Umar said Nigeria had a large number of textile industries which were ranked second to government in providing employment to Nigerians some 15 to 20 year ago.
He said that “in the past decade, the sector declined due to high cost of doing business and influx of cheap textile mainly from China.’’
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