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Bola Tinubu Asserts Abundance of Manpower for National Development

President Bola Tinubu says Nigeria has the requisite and sufficient manpower to spur development across all sectors of the economy.

President Bola Tinubu said on Friday that Nigeria has the requisite and sufficient manpower to spur development across all sectors of the economy.

Several Academic Staff Union of Universities chapters attributed the mass departure to the challenging work conditions in public universities and issues surrounding the Federal Government’s Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System

Amidst these challenges, President Bola Tinubu expressed confidence in Nigeria’s ability to overcome obstacles and achieve national development. According to Tinubu, the country possesses the requisite manpower to drive growth in diverse sectors of the economy. His optimistic stance raises questions about how Nigeria can harness this manpower effectively and address the specific concerns raised by the academic community.

Nigeria, as the most populous country in Africa, undeniably boasts a large pool of human resources. However, the effectiveness of manpower depends not only on quantity but also on factors such as education, skill development, and work conditions. To fully understand the implications of Tinubu’s assertion, it is crucial to examine the current state of the labor force in Nigeria and the challenges that may hinder its optimal utilization.

One of the primary issues contributing to the departure of academic staff from public universities is the challenging work conditions. Inadequate infrastructure, limited research funding, and outdated facilities have been persistent problems. Additionally, the implementation of IPPIS has been met with resistance from ASUU, with concerns about the system’s impact on the autonomy of universities and individual academic staff members.

For Nigeria to harness its manpower effectively, addressing the challenges faced by academic staff is imperative. Investing in infrastructure, providing adequate research funding, and upgrading facilities can create an environment conducive to academic excellence. Furthermore, a collaborative effort between the government and academic institutions is crucial to ensuring that policies such as IPPIS do not compromise the autonomy and functioning of universities.

“Who says that we do not have it as a country? Commitment to research and development; that high level of inquisitiveness; the manpower needed is here,” said Tinubu when he received a report titled ‘Industrialization, Energy Security, and Climate Change: Issues, Challenges, and Prospects,’ submitted by the Senior Executive Course 45 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies at the State House, Abuja.

The president’s comments come on the heels of the exodus of qualified professionals in Nigeria’s workforce, ranging from academics, healthcare practitioners, engineers, techies, and lots more.

Several Academic Staff Union of Universities chapters attributed the mass departure to the challenging work conditions in public universities and issues surrounding the Federal Government’s Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System.

Additionally, in 2022, the Nigeria Medical Association stated that around 2,000 doctors had left the country to work abroad in a span of two years, with more planning to do so. Despite having 80,000 doctors registered, only about 24,000 are presently practicing in Nigeria.

However, the President argued recently that the country still possesses enough human resources to drive its developmental aspirations.

Tinubu, upon receiving the NIPSS report, assured graduates that his administration would examine the document and incorporate important recommendations into existing policies and programs within the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed this in a statement titled ‘President Tinubu: Nigeria has sufficient manpower for economic and national development.’

Commending the report’s wealth of research and recommendations, he said, “I give you credit for a good job done. This report will be treated with all seriousness. You have fished out the issues.

“You have noted the challenges, and you have recommended very constructive solutions and showed the roadmap to achieve sustainable development goals for our country. Definitely, our hope is renewed.”

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