Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has noted with regret, the increasing rate of unemployment around the world, assuring that his administration will not relent in current efforts at creating jobs for the youths of the state.
Describing unemployment as a global phenomenon, the governor noted that his government had employed more Bayelsa youths more than any other government. He stressed that about 200 forestry guards from different local government areas had recently been engaged on the basis of equal representation.
According to the governor, in order to reduce unemployment in the state, the government appointed youths into positions of trust, besides the recent recruitment of 100 graduates and 1,000 non-graduates into the Bayelsa Volunteers scheme.
Governor Dickson, who addressed journalists at the Government House, said he had also authorised the employment of science teachers to fast track and enhance the teaching of science subjects in all schools in the state.
“There are some employments we have authorised, and let me assure you that we have employed more youths than a lot of governments have done. Do you know that we have employed over 200 on the basis of equality of local governments?”
Restating government’s commitment to creating jobs, Dickson said the situation was more challenging for states like Lagos and Kano with population of about 15 million, stressing that the problem of unemployment was aggravated by the dwindling resources of the state and the over-bloated wage bills.
He, however, declared his administration’s intention to fight poverty and unemployment in collaboration with youths by creating wealth through agriculture and investments in relevant sectors of the state’s economy.
The Bayelsa State chief executive, who lamented the nonchalant attitude of the youths, noted the near absence of Bayelsa youths at most of the construction sites around the state, saying the menial jobs that did not require special skills were done by outsiders.
He said as the custodian of the resources of the state, he owed the people a duty to ensure that the resources were meticulously and justifiably spent in the overall interest of the people, adding that government planned to collaborate with the private sector, especially non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to create a direct labour agency, as a platform to engage enterprising youths.

Dickson laments high rate of unemployment