Stakeholders in Ikeja Constituency II in Lagos State on Friday called on Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode to create more jobs for the unemployed youths in the area.
They made the appeal at the Constituency Stakeholders’ Meeting organised by Mr Folajimi Mohammed, the lawmaker representing the constituency at the State House of Assembly.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2017 edition of the Stakeholders’ Meeting organised simultaneously across the 40 state constituencies was tagged: “True Representation and Accountability”.
In his remarks, Mr Wale Amole, the Auditor of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ikeja Local Government Area, said that many youths were yet to be engaged after graduation from colleges and universities.
Amole said: “We want employment for our youths. The governor has done so much, but we need more job opportunities. We need assistance from our performing governor.’’
According to him, if youths are adequately engaged, crime rates will drastically reduce in the area.
Also, Alhaja Iyabo Akerele, the APC Chairman, Onigbongbo LCDA, who commended the grassroots developmental activities of Ambode and Mohammed, said that attention should be given to employment for youths.
“This Constituency Stakeholders’ Meeting is a noble initiative and we saw the result of our suggestions last year. The most important thing we are looking for now is employment for our youths.
“We want our governor to give this a priority. We want our governor and representative to bring more empowerments to the grassroots for the youths.
“When youths have jobs in their hands, they won’t be roaming around the council or the House of Assembly for money,’’ the party chief said.
In his comment, Mr Augustus Sawyer, said that there was need for a primary school in Oregun area of the constituency.
Sawyer said that if the school was provided, greater access would be given to many children to a attend school not far from their residence.
Reacting to the requests, Mohammed, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Energy and Mineral Resources said that though legislators were limited in what they could do, he would influence more projects to the area.
“There are certain issues that are within my parameters that I can do in terms of intervention, programmes, poverty alleviation and creation of wealth. I am pretty much limited to the extent I can intervene.
“With respect to employment at large, these are things that are within the ambit of the executive.
“What I can do is to relay back the messages of my constituency to the executive and see how I can influence them.
“The essence of today stakeholders’ meeting is just to engage the constituents, feel their pulse, and understand what their feelings are like and see how we can bridge the gap,’’ he said.
Mohammed said that the House, under the leadership of Mr Mudashiru Obasa as the speaker had exhibited great determination and deep commitment to ensure that people have meaningful representation.
“ We do this through laws that guarantee infrastructural development, creation of more jobs and qualitative education for the benefit of all.
“Also, we want to ensure affordable healthcare delivery system, wellbeing of our people and establishment of a security system that promises safety of lives and property, among others,’’ he said.