Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, has tasked government institutions and agencies to consider offering permanent jobs to personnel from the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) before anyone else when there is a need for job recruitment and they qualify.

Mrs Osei-Opare, who was the special guest at the Module Implementation Partners (MIPs) stakeholder meeting with NABCo in Accra on Monday, 9 July 2019 said the trainees would have gained knowledge and experience with the institutions under which they are posted, hence, operating effectively when given permanent jobs under the same institutions should be an easy task.

She told the MIPS: “You are taking young people through your various institution and work that you do. I think it is important but it is rather incumbent on you that when you are doing future recruitment that your institutions prioritise these NABCo trainees. It is important that when there are vacancies they are considered first,” she said.

She expressed the view that such a move will go a long way to reduce the graduate unemployment rate and increase productivity in the public sector.

The Chief of Staff said the NABCo trainees are privileged to be part of a programme like what has been introduced by the government because employers are interested in skilled and active youth due to their experience and NABCo will provide that intervention.

She was hopeful that NABCo will help build a pool of competent and skilled workforce for increased productivity in the country.

“ It is our hope that through this NABCo programme, in the very near future we will achieve a considerable number of youth with skills and competences; youth who are discipline who will contribute to the advancement and development of this country.

“Indeed I think it's a privilege to be part of NABCo. You are the pioneers of this Nation Builders corps. You have selected the path that should know progress and growth in various ways, both personally for your career development and also for the nation. I admonish you to take advantage on the security provided that for the next few years you will have an opportunity not only to work and earn something but actually to build yourself in a career path that will improve your employability,” she advised the beneficiaries.

She added that the President and his Vice have declared their pledge to ensure that the programme is fruitful.

“The commitment of the leadership of this country, the president and the vice president is unparalleled, they hold this NABCo dearly and, therefore, they are always asking for information. If there are any issues that come up in the press they ask for updates and documentary evidence of all the things that we hear. So I just want you to know that this is a programme that is dear to the leadership of this country and we'll do everything to support you and make sure that this thing works for the nation,” she added.

For his part, the CEO OF NABCo, Dr. Ibrahim Anyars in an interview with Accra-based CTV, said that the GHS900million annual budget for the programme will be used judiciously.

Each NABCo trainee benefits from a monthly salary of GHS700 and has been assigned to various posts to render services.

NABCo is a government initiative intended to address graduate unemployment. The focus of the initiative is to provide public service in health, education, agriculture, technology, governance and drive revenue mobilization and collection.