Reps Urge FG on Automatic Employment for First Class Graduates

House of Reps

The House of Representatives has urged Federal Government agencies to consider first class graduates for automatic employment when recruiting their members of staff.

The House passed this resolution in Abuja on Wednesday following a motion on notice moved by Rep. Chinedu Emeka Martins.

However, some members suggested that a bill should be sponsored to give the appropriate legal framework to the idea by defining specific relevant fields where first class graduates could be encouraged and appreciated.

The session was presided over by the Speaker Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, who relentlessly pushed for the motion to be passed.

The motion is reproduced below:

The House notes  that  at  the  end  of  every  academic  year,  Nigerian  Universities  both  Government  and  Private  owned  produce hundreds  of  First-Class  graduates,  where  a  huge  percentage  find  it  difficult  to  secure  jobs  or  establish  a  place  to give back  to the society  or  make commensurate  input  to nation-building.

Also  notes  that  graduating  in  First-Class  in  any  Institution  of  learning  is  an  indication  of  a  ”  Grade  A  –  brain”,  as the  journey  to  such  feat  is  not  only  characterized  by  the  smartness  or  intellect  of  the  graduating  student  but  riddled with  challenges  such  as  superlative  effort,  resilient  hard  work,  determination,  and  irrepressible  stress,  with  a  strong will  that  showcases  the  inability  to  accept  failure  in all  circumstances.

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Regrets  the  growing rate  at  which  employable  First-Class  graduates  of  Universities  in  the  Country  are  going  jobless or  leaving  the  country  in  droves,  after  their  National  Youth  Service,  while  the  lower  grades  whose  relations  are connected,  get  the  option  of  first  refusal  irrespective  of  the  growing  national  concern  to  get  the  nation’s  best  brains aboard.

Aware  that  the  lack  of  job  opportunities  for  First-class  graduates  is  not  just  a  result  of  non-preparedness  of graduates,  since  some  lucky  ones  do  get  privileges  for  postgraduate  scholarship  awards;  skip  Master’s  Degree  to Ph.d,  or  get  instant  job  opportunities,  as  some  Universities  are  magnanimous  to  award  their  first-class  graduands with  automatic  employment  to  become  assistant  lecturers,  student  lecturers  and  so  on,  in  their  specific  fields  of learning.

Cognisant  of  the Presidential  Scholarship  Award,  and  Nigerian  Federal  Government  First-class  Scholarship  award, that  are  aimed  at  reducing  the  financial  burden  on  students  by  assisting  the  scholar  in  the  payment  of  institution charges,  fees,  and  personal  maintenance  in  fields  such  as  Medicine  and  Surgery,  Education,  Environmental Science, Entrepreneurial  Studies, and Agriculture;   Also  aware  that  as  recently  as  a  year  ago,  the  University  of  Lagos  offered  employment  to  no  fewer  than  100 graduates  of  the  University,  who  made  First-  Class  in  various  fields  of  study  in  the  University;  while  it  is undeniable  that  there  are  some  firms  in  the  country  with  define  quality  and  excellent  policies  that  consider applicants  with First-class  honours  before other  categories  of  graduates, which  is  in  line with  global  best  practice.

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Concerned  that  same  job  opportunities  are  not  obtainable  for  First-class  graduates  in  the  Ministries  Department and  Agencies  and  parastatals,  who  are  by  their  position  as  government  agencies, saddled  with the responsibilities of  driving  the country’s economic and Infrastructural  development.

Also  concerned  that  Nigeria’s  inability  to  leave  the  status  of  a  “developing  nation”,  may  not  be  unconnected  with the  insensitivity  and  lack  of  political  will  of  the  ruling  class  and  policymakers  to  introduce  a  reward  system  in  a way  that  the best  brains  will  automatically  occupy  important  positions  according  to their  area of  competence.

Further concerned  that  according  to research, Nigeria  has  continued to unwittingly  give away  her  best  brains  and intellectuals  to  other  countries  who  by  their  robust  policies  on  a  value  system,  reward  diligence  and  excellence,  as evidenced  in  the  way  and  manner  that  Nigeria  has  continued  to  export  her  highly-rated  professionals  such  as Medical  Doctors  and Nurses, who  were unable  to get  jobs within  the Country  after  graduation.

Further  notes  a  recent  report  by  higher  education  data  experts,  (QS)  that  the  single  biggest  factor  that  students consider  in  Countries  such  as  the  United  Kingdom,  United  States,  Germany,  France,  Australia,  China,  Canada, when  choosing  a  University,  is  their  chance  of  landing  a  good  job  the  Country  offers  when  they  complete  their course;   Believes  that  First-class  graduates  are  mostly  needed  in  all  fields  of  human  endeavour,  especially  in  Nigeria,  where they  can  contribute  in  their  areas  of  competence  such  as  economic  planning,  manufacturing;  small  and  medium scale enterprise, engineering  and  Infrastructure,  etc.

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Also  believes  that  such  automatic  offer  of  a  job  for  first-class  graduates,  will  not  only  be  a  source  of  motivation  for students  in  all  fields  to  work  harder,  but  maximise  their  potential  in  preparation  for  different  economic  roles,  future leadership  positions  and ultimately  reduce  unemployment  while  helping  to  achieve development  targets.

Worried  that  irrespective  of  her  ability  to  produce  First-class  brains  at  the  end  of  every  academic  year,  Nigeria may  not  only  continue to  unwittingly  export  her  best  brains to  more  purposeful  Countries,  but  witness  a  high  rate of  unemployment,  and  stagnate  in  her  status  of  a  “developing  nation”  if  nothing  is  done  urgently  to  establish  a reward system  for  diligence  and excellence.

It was passed in a majority voice vote.

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