Experts have urged the Federal Government to look outside the oil sector to diversify the economy which would accelerate productivity and decent employment opportunities in the country.
The President, Nigerian Economic Society Prof. Sarah Anyanwu made the call during the quarterly research presentation by Oanalytics Research and Development Initiative (ORADI) held in Abuja on Wednesday.
Anyanwu said that the recent unemployment statistics released by National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) 23.1% is on the high side, thus, diversification of the economy would further reduce poverty to the barest level.
According to the journal, decent work and economic growth which is Goal 8 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), encourages all United Nations (UN) member countries to do more to empower individuals through the promotion of sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all by 2030.
The International Labour Organisation defines ‘decent work’ as employment that respects the fundamental rights of the human person as well as the rights of the workers in terms of conditions of work, safety, and remuneration (Frey and MAcNaughton 2016).
While commending the current administration for the implementation of the new national minimum wage of N30, 000, she urged the state government should follow suit.
Speaking, Ebere Onwudiwe, Publisher and Editorial Director, SDGs Monitor while delivering his speech noted that low economic growth has been a major cause to income gap in the country.
He urged that government should improve the quality of life for its citizenry.
