Governor Godwin Obaseki says his administration has created at least 157,000 jobs so far in Edo State.
The governor, who is seeking re-election, disclosed this on Sunday during the governorship debate organised by Channels Television in partnership with the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room.
The figure, he said, is part of the evidence that shows his government has really tackled unemployment effectively.
“We promised that we will generate a minimum of 200 thousand jobs in a 4 year period. Just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we had created direct and indirect jobs for Edo people as much as a hundred and fifty-seven thousand,” Obaseki revealed.
Edo Election: My Predecessor Borrowed Recklessly, Says Obaseki
According to him, the jobs came from the way the government decided to address the economy.
“Government’s role is being an enabler, creating an enabling environment to come and invest so that the economy can thrive,” the governor explained.
He said his government had to create a sense of order where people will not be harassed when they come into the state.
The governor also noted that he created a sense of purpose for those in the civil service to enable individuals to realise that their purpose is to provide service and compliment the progress of the private sector.
Obaseki stressed that the government is not in the business of competing with the private sector.
Reacting to the governor’s claim as regards job creation, the candidate of the APC in the coming governorship election, Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu, said the figures put forward by the incumbent is inaccurate.
“If it is true that we are able to have the number of jobs that the Edo State governor claims, our IGR will not be where it is. There will be a significant leap,” he said.
