National Assembly Advocates for Increased Stipend for NDE Trainees to Boost Employment Initiative

The National Assembly has pledged to support the increment of the monthly stipend for trainees under the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) from five thousand to fifty thousand Naira.

This commitment was made by the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Labour, Honourable Adebayo Adefarati, during the 2025 Budget defense of the NDE, where the Director General, H.E. Silas Agara, was present.

According to the lawmakers, the House of Representatives is poised to support the empowerment of youth under the Renewed Hope Initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, alongside the Ministry of Labour and relevant stakeholders, under the supervision of the NDE. “Our youth should be encouraged and supported to be educated and acquire various skills, allowing them to be self-employed and helping to mitigate youth restiveness.

However, if they are enrolled as beneficiaries and receive only five thousand Naira for the first month, the majority may abandon crucial training programs in tailoring, culinary skills, solar installation, and more.

I fully support the increment to fifty thousand Naira,” Adebayo Adefarati stated.Honourable Adebayo Adefarati commended the NDE under Honourable Silas Ali Agara and his team for their dedication to training youth to become self-reliant.

Echoing this sentiment, Director General Silas Agara emphasized his alignment with the committee’s desire for an increase in the stipend, sharing that he has already reached out to the Salaries and Wages Commission, and the Office of the Secretary to the Federal Government for approval.

He is now awaiting the Minister of Finance’s endorsement to implement this significant change.Moreover, Agara urged stakeholders to fully support youth training initiatives, enabling them to evolve into responsible citizens who will contribute to national growth and development.

“In my short time in office, I have adopted international best practices, improved staff morale, and implemented ICT-driven computer-based tests for staff promotions across the country, achieving a 76 percent performance rate on the assessments. We are committed to ensuring that our trainees receive the resources and support they need to excel,” he added.