Youths welcome unemployment scheme, implore finance minister on action

The Society for the Welfare of Unemployed Youths of Nigeria (SWUYN) has expressed support for the upcoming launch of the National Youth Unemployment Benefits Scheme, urging the government to take decisive action.
The group appealed to the Minister of Finance, Mr. Adebayo Olawale Edun, to ensure the scheme becomes operational, pointing out that similar promises in the past had failed to tackle the country’s rising unemployment rate.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, SWUYN’s National President, Amb. Preye Tambou, highlighted that poor implementation strategies had hindered the success of previous initiatives. He called on the federal government to learn from these past shortcomings and implement the scheme effectively this time.
“The Nigerian government’s plan to launch a National Youth Unemployment Benefits Scheme is a welcome development, but we have heard promises like this before. The Minister of Finance, Mr. Adebayo Olawale Edun, disclosed this plan on December 2, 2024, but we need to see action, not just words.
“From what we know, the government has been working on social protection policies alongside economic reforms to address the high cost of living, unemployment and poverty reduction in the country. The Minister of Finance has also emphasized the importance of direct transfers to bank accounts or mobile wallets to ensure the integrity of payments.
“While this scheme is a step in the right direction, the announcement is nothing but a drop in the ocean. We have been down this road before. We need to know more about how it will be implemented, how beneficiaries will be selected, and how the government plans to fund it. What measures will be put in place to prevent corruption and ensure that the benefits reach those who need them most. We also need to see a clear timeline for implementation and a plan for monitoring and evaluation. The devil is in the details, and we won’t be swayed by empty promises.
“The government has a history of announcing grand plans, but we need to see tangible results. Its high time for the government to move beyond rhetoric and take concrete steps to address the unemployment crisis in Nigeria.
“SWUYN have witnessed numerous grand policies aimed at addressing the unemployment crisis in Nigeria. However, we have consistently seen poor implementation strategies, which ultimately hinder the effectiveness of these policies.
“The lack of clear planning and coordination, insufficient funding, corruption, and limited capacity among implementing agencies are just a few of the challenges that have plagued previous initiatives. Poor communication and engagement with stakeholders, including the unemployed youths themselves, have led to a disconnect between the policy makers and the intended beneficiaries.
“As we await the implementation of the National Youth Unemployment Benefits Scheme, the government need to learn from past mistakes and prioritize a robust implementation strategy. This includes providing clear timelines and milestones, allocating sufficient funding and resources, and establishing transparent and accountable management systems.
“The government must engage with us, the unemployed youths, and other stakeholders to ensure that our needs and concerns are addressed. We will be watching closely to see if this scheme is just another empty promise or a genuine attempt to address the unemployment crisis in Nigeria,” parts of the statement read .