Osinbajo contradicts APC, Buhari’s promise of 3 million jobs annually

The Presidential and vice-presidential candidates of Nigeria’s largest opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo may have contradicted themselves on the job creation policy of their party.

 This is because APC had in its Christmas message to Nigerians issued in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, promised the nation that it would create 3 million year in, year out.

The APC statement in its eight paragraph, said ”Our eight pledges for a better Nigeria, which are highlights of our manifesto, form the core of our social contract with Nigeria. During our first term in office, we pledge to create 3 million new jobs a year through public works programmes and by shifting the economy towards value-added production will be our primary economic target.”

Similarly, on last Tuesday, APC presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, assured that he would create 3 million jobs every year to tackle unemployment and also jail corrupt politicians.‎

Buhari at a rally in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to Umana Umana as APC governorship candidate in the state, also stated that “When we come into power, anyone who steals Nigerian money will end up in Kirikiri Maximum Prisons. We are going to make sure that Nigeria’s wealth belongs only to Nigerians.”‎

Buhari’s interesting promise of 3 million jobs every year, is half of what United States President Barack Obama has created in six years of his presidency.

However, APC vice presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has at least on two occasions contradicted the “3 million” statement.

According to him, APC plans to introduce a social security scheme for every elderly or disabled Nigerian, just as he promised that its government will provide “720,000 jobs in its first year”.

Osinbajo stated this last Thursday in Benin City when he met with the people of Edo State where reeled out APC’s social and economic programmes.

Addressing a large crowd at Imaguero College Hall, Osinbajo said, “For the first time in the history of Africa, we are introducing a social security scheme. It means the elderly who are poor and the disabled will be given stipends.

“Now the reason why that is important is because our country has continued to be one of the poorest 35 countries in the world despite our resources. We have 110 million people who are extremely poor, so we need to lift people out of poverty,” said the Professor of Law.

Osinbajo added that the APC will ensure that state governments will, with the backing of the Federal Government that has 52% of the revenue control, employ 20,000 young persons per state acting as an emergency relief.

A day earlier (last Wednesday) at the Osogbo City Stadium, Osun state, Osinbajo made the same statement.

Addressing a crowd at the end of a 10-kilometre walk tagged “Walk for Change Nigeria,” Osinbajo lamented the massive youth unemployment in the country, saying a Buhari-led APC government would tackle this.

“We will provide 20,000 jobs in each of the states of Nigeria when we are elected. We will revive our agricultural sector by providing a ready-made market for farmers and encourage them, as the government will be purchasing their farm produce,” Osinbajo promised.

Source: The Herald Ng