-Describes Onyejeocha as quiet architect of progress
-Uzodinma: FG, states must partner for LEEP’s success
- Onyejeocha: with initiative, labour ministry takes new direction
- NLC backs initiative, calls for proper implementation
By Eshioromeh Sebastian, Abuja
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared yesterday that the newly launched Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP) represents the fulfilment of his administration’s promise to tackle Nigeria’s unemployment crisis, while paying special tribute to the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, whom he described as “the quiet architect of this progress.”
The President’s message was delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the programme’s official launch at the State House Banquet Hall.
SPEAR NEWS reports that President Tinubu had in October 1st, 2024 in during a national broadcast, announced the Federal Government LEEP initiative under the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, pledging to creat over 2 million jobs in two years, through digital economy and other platforms that would generate direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians across board.
In a keynote address titled: The Future We Build Together, the Vice President framed LEEP as Nigeria’s strategic response to the global transformation of work, where artificial intelligence and digital ecosystems are disrupting traditional employment models.
“This is what led to our announcement, just a few months ago, of a national initiative designed to expand employment opportunities, equip Nigerians with critical skills, and drive economic empowerment through innovation and technology. That vision has brought us together today. I am honoured to share in the promise of this occasion with all of you” Shettima stated.
He explained that the future of work in Nigeria compels us to rethink the dynamics of a rapidly evolving world, noting that the programme positions Nigeria to harness these changes rather than fall victim to them.
“The Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme, LEEP, is a well-considered response to a pressing national need. As jobs become increasingly vulnerable to technological disruption, our duty is not to lament but to prepare. LEEP aims to provide comprehensive training that equips our people with the right skills to compete and contribute in today’s global economy”, he said.
The Vice President revealed that LEEP goes beyond conventional job creation approaches by focusing on comprehensive skills development for both existing and emerging sectors, including the gig economy.
“This intervention isn’t just about creating jobs. It is about transformation,” he emphasised, outlining plans to connect employers with skilled workers through innovative digital platforms while leveraging diaspora expertise via a Comprehensive Skills Database.
Shettima particularly commended Onyejeocha’s leadership in developing the initiative, noting her “purpose and clarity” in steering the Ministry of Labour and Employment towards its new role as an engine of job creation rather than merely a labour dispute resolution body
“LEEP”, he declared, “is the fulfilment of the promise made by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to build a national ecosystem where every Nigerian worker can reach their full potential, and where technology enhances, not threatens, our labour market. This vision demands forward-thinking, and I commend the Honourable Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Barrister Nkeiruka Chidubem Onyejeocha, for steering us to this point with purpose and clarity
“The leadership and staff of the Ministry deserve our deepest appreciation. You are the quiet architects of progress,” he said, echoing the President’s praise for the Minister.
The Vice President called for unprecedented collaboration between government, private sector and development partners to ensure the programme’s success, warning that “we either gather to achieve this today or prepare for the consequences of a world where we aren’t prepared for the demands of the changing world.”
Meanwhile, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma has praised the initiative, urging the Federal Government to establish the necessary framework for states to adopt the programme. He further stressed the importance of rigorous implementation by the central government to ensure its effectiveness.
In her keynote address, the Honourable Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, had described the initiative as a fundamental shift in the ministry’s approach to job creation.
She emphasised that the ministry was moving beyond its traditional role as a regulatory body to become “a central engine of job creation” and “a catalyst for inclusive prosperity” across all sectors of the economy.
Onyejeocha outlined LEEP’s four-pronged approach: expanding sustainable employment opportunities, equipping Nigerians with industry-relevant skills, stimulating entrepreneurship, and serving as a national clearinghouse for labour market intelligence. “Our role is not only to settle disputes but to create opportunities,” she stated, adding that the programme would support workers “in factories, farms, tech hubs, markets, and every corner of our national economy.”
The Minister framed Nigeria’s unemployment situation as “a clear and present danger to our collective future,” requiring urgent action. “LEEP is not just a programme; it is an institutional shift,” she asserted, explaining that it represents the ministry’s commitment to its full constitutional role in workforce development. The initiative will prioritise youth, women and persons with disabilities while serving all Nigerian workers across formal and informal sectors.
Key components of the programme include partnerships with multiple stakeholders, a Comprehensive Diaspora Skills Database to harness expertise from abroad, and a digital platform connecting job seekers with employers in real time. The Minister called for collaboration across government agencies, private sector participation, and international support, stating: “We are open to all who want to transform a generation, not just fund a project.”
In her closing remarks, Onyejeocha emphasised that LEEP’s success would depend on “collective leadership, private-sector innovation and the unyielding resilience of the Nigerian workforce.” The programme forms a critical part of the administration’s strategy to address Nigeria’s unemployment rate, which stood at 4.1% in the first quarter of 2023 according to the National Bureau of Statistics, though underemployment remains a significant challenge.
“Let us seize this moment. Let us make it count,” the Minister urged stakeholders, concluding with a prayer for divine blessing on the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The launch event was attended by representatives from various government agencies, private sector organisations and development partners expected to play key roles in implementing the initiative.
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has applauded the Federal Government’s introduction of the Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP), describing it as a timely intervention to address the nation’s unemployment crisis.
NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero gave the endorsement during his goodwill message at the programme’s official launch at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja.
Ajaero expressed optimism that the initiative, if properly implemented to deliver sustainable employment opportunities, could significantly reduce crime rates across the country.
The NLC’s backing comes as the Federal Government aims to create 2.5 million jobs through the scheme within two years, an initiative under the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
“I want to acknowledge the programme today, the labour movement, we identify with any programme that enhances employment. And employment is the best way to cope with our social crisis.
“People that are engaged, people that are working, will not think of other social crises. The level of militancy, the level of kidnapping will come to the barest level if we create jobs. And that is why the labour movement identifies with this, 100%.
“If this is properly implemented, because I think that’s the greatest problem we have, is poor finishing. I think if this is properly implemented, Nigeria will be heaven of sort. And I want to say, at any stage where the input of the labour movement is required, where our assistance is required, we’ll be there, because it will benefit the people of Nigeria.
“This is not a speech making day, but I think main message is to identify with the programme. I think at every point in time, we need to be involved in what is happening, to see where it is pinching us. Programmes without the input of the workers are not the best.
“And I wish to advise all policy formulators to coordinate with the implementers of such policies, so that we have a level playing ground and end it successfully.
The Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP) was officially launched today at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja, by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, represented by Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON.
This initiative marks a strategic repositioning of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment towards active job creation, with an ambitious target of generating 2.5 million direct and indirect jobs within two years.
The programme featured three key components: a pioneering digital employment platform for real-time job matching, a Comprehensive Diaspora Skills Database to harness global Nigerian expertise, and nationwide skills development initiatives targeting critical sectors from agriculture to technology. Designed as the employment pillar of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, LEEP represents a fundamental shift from the ministry’s traditional regulatory role to becoming Nigeria’s central hub for job creation and workforce development.
The ceremony witnessed the gathering of Nigeria’s political leadership, including Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu represented by the wife of the Deputy Senate President, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi SAN, and several cabinet members. Key attendees included Minister of Health Dr. Mohammed Ali Pate, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar, and Minister of State for Finance Doris Uzoka-Anite representing the Coordinating Minister of the Economy.
The subnational government was strongly represented by His Excellency Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, Governor Abdullah Sule of Nasarawa, and deputy governors from Kogi and Kaduna States. The event also brought together heads of labour-related agencies, ILO, NLC TUC, leadership of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, and other distinguished guests, all united in their support for this groundbreaking initiative to tackle Nigeria’s employment challenges.
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