Akande blames underutilisation of human resources on poverty

By  Jimitota Onoyume
PORT HARCOURT—UNEMPLOYMENT and poverty have been identified as the twin problem responsible for underutilization of human resources in the country.

Director General, Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic research (NISER), Prof Tunji Akande, who made the observation  in Port Harcourt when he paid a visit on the state Commissioner for Budget and Economic planning, Mr. Gogo Charles, noted that the situation of unemployment and under-employment breeds endemic poverty, social exclusion and marginalization.

He advised that manpower and employment planning should continually receive consideration to ensure rapid human and capital development that would translate to economic progress and advancement of human person.

Prof Akande also called on the state government to consolidate steps in institutionalizing manpower planning machinery at the state and local government levels, noting that it would help address the human capital development issues and problems of the state.

Appealing to the state government to provide a permanent office space for the zonal office of NISER in Port Harcourt and a vehicle to facilitate movement of officers round states in the South- South, Prof Akande explained that the reform in the federal civil service led to the functions of the defunct National Manpower Board (NMB) to be taken over by NISER.

He added that the functions of NISER, among other things, included providing consultancy services to the federal and state governments in the area of economic and social developments as well as carrying out research into manpower and employment planning for the three tiers of government in the country.