Despite being ranked as the country with the second-highest unemployment rate globally, the ruling APC says President Muhammadu Buhari’s employment programme is one of the largest ever job-creation initiatives in Nigeria’s history.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that its commitment to progressive reforms and its electoral promises remains unwavering.

Mr Akpanudoedehe claimed that in six years of Mr Buhari’s regime, Nigeria had witnessed an unprecedented renewal of vital infrastructure designed to support the continuous expansion of the country’s economy.

He further noted that no government in the country’s history had taken steps to create jobs and alleviate poverty like Mr Buhari’s regime.

“In the Social Investment Programmes like the N-Power with an approved intake of one million participants and the Homegrown School Feeding Programme, 774,000 young Nigerians have been gainfully employed under the Special Public Works (SPW) programme targeted at poor and low-skilled youths.

“This is one of the largest ever job-creation initiatives in Nigeria’s history, courtesy of the Buhari-led government. The security challenge faced by the country for over a decade is being successfully brought under control,” said John Akpanudoedehe, APC’s National Secretary of its Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC).

Last March, the country’s unemployment rate jumped to a record 33.3 per cent. The National Bureau of Statistics also said the number of underemployed Nigerians worsened in the same period rising to 22.8 per cent.

Mr Akpanudoedehe noted that 2021 Democracy Day coincided with the sixth anniversary of Mr Buhari’s regime and the 22nd year of continuous democratic governance in Nigeria.

“As Nigerians mark the 2021 Democracy Day, it is important to note that Africa’s most populous country remains the largest economy on the continent under the leadership of President Buhari,” he said.

He said this was especially so, as the country’s gross domestic product stood at $514 billion as published in the latest World Bank report.

Mr Akpanudoedehe said this was despite lower oil production caused by the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy.

“The proactive and successful implementation of the N2.3 trillion Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) has not only stimulated the economy and prevented business collapse amid the COVID-19 global pandemic.

“It has also created jobs through support to labour-intensive sectors such as agriculture, public works, and extending credit to small- and medium-scale enterprises.

“The proactive measures paved the way for Nigeria’s quick exit from recession,” the APC scribe said.

He further stated that the country’s economy had returned to steady growth due to prudent economic management despite the lean resources available to the government.

(NAN)