Senator commends Buhari over plans to recruit 500,000 teachers

The Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources and Upstream, Senator Gershom Bassey, has commended the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to recruit 500,000 unemployed graduates as teachers.

Bassey, who represents Cross River South Senatorial District in the National Assembly under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, gave the commendation on Thursday in an interview in Calabar

While presenting the 2016 budget to the National Assembly, Buhari announced that his government would employ 500,000 teachers and give scholarship to outstanding science and technology students in the country.

Bassey added that the move would curb the escalating rate of unemployment in the country.

“The decision to recruit 500,000 unemployed graduates as teachers to curb the escalating rate of unemployment in the country is a welcome development.

“The recruitment of these teachers is timely. One of the challenges facing Nigeria as a country is that of unemployment.

“If we can engage our unemployed graduates in meaningful activities, I think Nigeria will be a better place for all of us,” he said.

The lawmaker however, advised President Buhari to also create employment opportunities in other sectors of the economy.

According to him, this will also accommodate unemployed graduates who have no interest in teaching.

“We have some unemployed graduates that would reject the teaching job no matter how long you persuade them. Other may want to work in a radio or television house, while some want to practise as engineers, accountants and others.

“We need to support the 2016 budget of N6.08tn because it touches on grey area of the country’s economy. I am confident that if the budget is passed and effectively implemented, it will definitely address major challenges in the country,” he assured.

He promised members of his constituency of effective representation in the senate, adding that he would always identify with them in areas of assistance.