Job creation, food security barometer for measuring economic growth – Oshiomhole

Benin -  Edo governor, Adams Oshiomhole said on Tuesday in Benin that  job creation and food security constituted the barometer for measuring economic growth.

The governor made the declaration on Tuesday in Benin when he featured at an interview session.

Oshiomhole said  that government should lead in job creation to set the standard for the private sector and stressed that was why he promised and was determined to create jobs for the teeming youths of the state.

He noted that the basics for legitimacy of any government were the provision of food, jobs and security for the people.

He said: “It is not a favour, but a service to the people. Creation of jobs is the only way of measuring whether economy is delivering or not.

“It is the sensible thing to do. Not just to make promise. The state must lead by example.’’

“And so, it is not just that I promised, I think it is what is sensible for us to do.

“There are a couple of ways we can approach job creation. First, is that I do not accept the argument that the state has no business creating jobs.

“The state must lead by example. There are a lot of public works which can engage a lot of our young people.

“Most parts of Nigeria can be described as dirty and filthy. Just getting people to clean them up will open up jobs for hundreds of thousands.’’

Oshiomhole said government set up the Youth Employment Scheme to engage the energies of youths positively and it had generated 15,000 jobs.

He explained that crime could be checked through employment for youths and equipping law enforcement agencies adequately.

On flood control and road construction in the state, the governor said his administration had decided to tackle the flood challenge in the state head-on.

Oshiomhole explained that a comprehensive `Benin City water storm plan’ had been designed to channel storm water away from the city centre whenever it rained.

He said that his administration refused to settle for any substandard design and execution of work in the construction and rehabilitation of roads and that it had so far paid off.

The governor told NAN that about 25 roads were currently being constructed across the state and noted that “we had to bring in external quality control consultants to supervise the design and the execution of the project.’’

Oshiomhole said some of the consultants had been sacked because they compromised on the standards set by government. (NAN)