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ITF seeks intervention fund from PenCom, SURE-P, SWF

By BusinessNews Staff on June 19, 2014

The Industrial Training Fund on Tuesday called on the Federal Government to provide an intervention fund to enable the agency equip its training centres across the federation.

The Director-General, ITF, Dr. Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko, made the appeal in Abuja during the first graduation ceremony of the students of the ITF Model Skills Training Centre.

She said the fund could be made available from either the Subsidy Re-Investment and Empowerment Programme, the pension fund currently with the National Pension Commission, or the Sovereign Wealth Fund.

The ITF boss also called on all employers of labour that were liable under the ITF amended Act 2011 to remit their training contributions as at when due, adding that technical and vocational skills training had become capital intensive.

She said the move would not only help to provide the required skills for the development of the country, but also ensure inclusive growth through job creation and poverty reduction.

Chukkas-Onaeko said the agency was determined to provide the needed skills to support the industrialisation plan of the Federal Government, noting that plans were already in place for the establishment of 38 industrial skills training centres and six centres for advanced training for employment.

She said, “The centres and indeed ITF require the support of the government and all stakeholders to be able to expand skill acquisition opportunities for Nigerians. Technical and vocational skills training is capital intensive due to the huge number of workshops and laboratory equipment, tools and consumables required for effective training delivery.

“It is for this reason that we urge all employers of labour that are liable under the ITF amended Act 2011 to remit their training contributions as at when due.

“In the same vein, we urge governments at all levels, particularly the Federal Government, to extend some funds from either the SURE-P, PenCom or even the SWF so that the centres can help in providing the skills required in the national economy.”

Chukkas-Onaeko said the mandate of the ITF was to provide training for two million people annually in key areas, adding that the rising socio-economic vices plaguing the nation would be reduced drastically if this was achieved.

Also speaking, the Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, said the skills acquisition programme reflected the commitment of the Federal Government to the actualisation of the National Industrial Revolution Plan and the National Enterprise Development Programme recently launched by President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said the setting up of the MSTC in August 2009 was a response to the yearnings of unemployment in the continent.

This, according to him, is aimed at stimulating inclusive growth through youth empowerment and gainful employment through the provision of technical and vocational skills in various trade areas.

With the globalisation of world economies, the minister said great emphasis had been placed on trade services and production processes, adding that this had made it imperative to develop skills in relevant trade areas.