The Federal Government is ready to introduce a labor statistics system whereby unemployed Nigerians at home and abroad can apply for jobs in Nigeria.

Labor and Employment Minister Chris Ngige told a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday that the move was part of the government’s efforts to tackle the high unemployment rate in the country.

“With labor statistics and comparison, unemployment can be combated.

“Nigerians in the diaspora, particularly specialists who want to return home, can look at job statistics to see where there are vacancies,” NAN was quoted as saying by him.

The minister assured that labor statistics would be available in two months

He recalled that the ministry earlier set up a job board system to merge and match labor supply and demand in Nigeria.

“In our electronic job board system, applicants and employers can access the system and decide what to do.

“We do what’s called cross-matching and people get gainful employment through it. This is the facilitation of employment,” she stressed.

He said the ministry had been involved in some international projects and partnerships, adding that the US government was providing a grant for women and children in Nigeria and Liberia.

“America is giving the grant to stop child labor which is a function of poverty.

“People who ask their children to go to work in the mines or cacao plantations or send them to sell merchandise while their classmates are at school are looking for money.

“There are two programs. One is five million dollars and the other is four million dollars to get children out of child labor,” she said.

Ngige also told the press conference that a Nigerian implementer had been appointed for the programmes, while the International Labor Organization (ILO) would provide technical assistance.

He praised the ILO for being up to date in the area of ​​technical assistance and urged the organization to keep up the momentum.

He said that the ministry had completed the validation of the new labor laws and that the Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP) could become a full-fledged Commission in the short term.

“We are hoping to get the bills approved by the National Assembly before the end of February,” Ngige stressed.