By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo
Akwa Ibom State Government has faulted latest report by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS which listed it as the state with the second highest unemployment rate in the country.
In a statement by state information commissioner, Barr Ini Ememobong in Uyo on Saturday, it described the NBS latest Unemployment and Underemployment Report unbelievable as it contradicted the reality on ground.
The statement said that though the reality would not indicate the non existence of unemployment in the state, efforts made at industrializing the state and expansion of employment opportunities in the state civil service would counter such reports.
“The reality on ground in our state is in contradistinction to the Bureau’s report. A juxtaposition of the said report with the reality of the existence and operation of the numerous industries in our state, the recruitment into the civil and public service, Public Private Partnership initiatives.
“Also the award of direct Labour contracts, our airline and general aviation businesses, qualitative cash support and interest free loans to entrepreneurs, financial and input support to farmers.
“The obvious conclusion will confirm that indeed the current administration has created quality jobs in an unprecedented manner. This reality is not attempting to deny the existence of unemployment-which is a global phenomenon worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.” It said.
The statement said the state government would engage the Bureau to ascertain the veracity of their processes and results and would seek answers to the some questions.
“What was the sample size used in the survey?What was the spatial spread of the sample?What population figure did they use to obtain the percentage recorded for Akwa Ibom ?What quality assurance mechanisms did they employ?
“What was the temporal spread of the data used in the analyses?
In order to ensure trust and confidence in statistical output, with which agency of the state government was the data source authentication done?” It querried.
Unemployment it said has its permanent corollary as increase in crime and youth restiveness wondering why the state could be one of the safest in the country, witnessed influx of industries and other economic activities, purveyed by local cum foreign investors and still be the state with the second largest unemployment percentage.
“The role of data in a survey is to reflect the existing reality, not to project the imaginary.” The statement concluded.
