Some beneficiaries of government’s youth employment flagship program, NABCO, have received notification that NABCO has ended. Their concern now is what next?
The Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) is a government project aimed at reducing graduate unemployment and addressing social issues.
The initiative’s main goals is improve public service delivery in the areas of health, education, agriculture, technology. Other areas includes governance as well as to increase revenue mobilization and collection.
Key objectives
Provide temporary employment
Improve skills and employability
Improve public service delivery
Improve revenue mobilization
Improve access to basic public services
The first batch of 100,000 beneficiaries have successfully completed the 3 (three) year cycle of the program. The program, although a temporal employment intervention provided entrepreneurial training to the beneficiaries to complement the experience acquired. NABCO beneficiaries are expected, among other things to start their own businesses. The exit plan for the program is to get some of them employed and the remaining to become entrepreneurs.
Under The Programme, Graduates were trained and equipped with the necessary work tools. They were assigned to seven strategic areas of the Ghanaian economy. They included; Educate Ghana, Health Ghana, enterprise Ghana, Feed Ghana, digitize Ghana, revenue and civic Ghana.
The Notification letter stated ‘In line with your exit arrangements you will be given an opportunity to join the exit preparation talent pool pending future job and training opportunities’. The letter explained further that NABCO beneficiaries are independent and hence can negotiate any new arrangements with assigned institution.
The statement ended by expressing appreciation for participating. it read ‘we value and appreciate your growth while on the scheme, and we will encourage you to take advantage of the skills and experience acquired in your future career pursuit’
to this end ‘NABCANS’ are expected to engage in entrepreneurial activities to keep them going whiles hoping for job opportunities. The program has offered them a 3-year work experience that will enthuse employers to consider them for employment.
WHAT NEXT?
The government and the NABCO Secretariat will be expected to announce the enrollment of the next batch of beneficiaries. There are speculations that the program was is not sustainable and was designed to meet some political mission which seems achieved. others claim that although its a good program, it created some burden on government’s budget as each of the 100,000 beneficiaries walked out of the program with about GHS25,000 for the period.
The government has an opportunity to tell a complete story of the program and the plans ahead. This will clear the air on the misconceptions.
