A member of the Plateau State House Assembly, Hon. Nannim Joseph Langyi, has called on the state government to, as matter of urgency, revamp technical and vocational education in the state.
He said skills development for decent work and livelihood is key to sustainable peace and stability of any nation.
Langyi, who represents Langtang North-North State Constituency, made the call while presenting a motion on the floor of the State Assembly.
According to him, “Equipping youths with relevant knowledge and right attitude to work will make them self sufficient and not to depend on white collar jobs which is not even available.”
He argued that the rate of unemployment among the youths in the state is quite alarming as a result of government neglecting technical and vocational education.
“It is a known fact that Plateau State Government through the Ministry of Science and Technology has established a parastatal under the Ministry of Education called Relevant Technology Board with six training centres located in Laranto, Kwal, Pankshin, Wase, Langtang North and Qua’an Pan LGA.
“Also sited in Laranto in Jos North LGA, is a Science Equipment Production Centre which has also suffered neglect and in dire need of government intervention.
“I’m calling on the state government to urgently revamp all the neglected technical and vocational centres and make them functional for the teeming youths of the state who desire to acquire skills that will make them self employed and contribute their quota to the socio-economic development of the state,” he said.
Speaker of the Assembly, RT. Hon. Moses Sule, thereafter mandated the House Committee on Technical and Vocational Education to carry out oversight function with the view to visit the neglected centres and report back to the House; so that they can present it to the executive for immediate action.
