President Bola Tinubu has launched the Labour, Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP), an ambitious initiative designed to create 2.5 million jobs and opportunities for unemployed Nigerians within two years. Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the launch in Abuja, Tinubu emphasized Nigeria's readiness to lead in the future of work and meet the demands of a changing global landscape.

LEEP, a flagship program of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, is built on six core pillars: a job portal, digital nomad initiatives, vocational and entrepreneurship programs, centers for learning spaces, a digital academy, and job fairs. Tinubu expressed confidence in Nigeria's vast opportunities for its youth and the country's potential, along with Africa, to become the world's next major destination for growth and innovation.

Tinubu stated that LEEP fulfills the promise of a Nigeria where every worker can reach their full potential and where technology enhances, rather than threatens, democracy. He acknowledged potential challenges but expressed confidence in collective effort, determination, and shared potential for success. He called it a declaration that Nigeria is ready to lead in the future of work and prepared for the demands of the changing world.

President Tinubu appealed to Nigerians, especially the youth, to stay and develop the country instead of seeking opportunities abroad. He highlighted the abundance of opportunities within Nigeria, emphasizing the need to upgrade and re-skill the youth. He encouraged them to create jobs from their homes, citing the strength and ingenuity of the Nigerian people.

Tinubu called for a multisectoral collaboration, involving the private sector, civil society, trade unions, and international partners, to build an inclusive progress. He stressed that the government cannot achieve this alone and that collective effort is essential.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, addressed the severe social problem of unemployment among youths, attributing it to economic instability, inadequate education and training, and challenging business circumstances. He stated that LEEP is a deliberate effort to mitigate these challenges through skilling and entrepreneurship, aiming to create millions of jobs annually and significantly reduce the unemployment rate.

Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, described Nigeria’s high unemployment rate as a “clear and present danger” and emphasized the ministry's commitment to empowering Nigerians with the skills and platforms needed to thrive. LEEP is designed to expand access to sustainable employment, equip Nigerians with industry-aligned skills, stimulate entrepreneurship and economic diversification, and serve as a national aggregator of real-time labor market data.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) and organized labor, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), urged the government to ensure that jobs created under LEEP are decent, sustainable, and pay above the new minimum wage of N70,000. They emphasized that meaningful employment is the best way to address social vices such as banditry, insurgency, and kidnappings.

Country Director of the ILO, Dr. Vanessa Phala, stressed the need for the federal government to ensure that the jobs created are decent and that workers are paid above the minimum wage. President of NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, cautioned against using LEEP to create casual jobs with meager pay and emphasized the importance of worker involvement in policy formulation.

Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Mr. Silas Agara, noted the government's commitment to tackling unemployment through various strategies and models, pledging to engender decent jobs, promote economic growth, create wealth, and reduce poverty through skills and employability training. He called on all stakeholders to partner with the Ministry under the LEEP umbrella.

President Tinubu also noted the evolving nature of employment, with machines and AI increasingly replacing human labor. He charged stakeholders to devise innovative ways of generating jobs, emphasizing that the future of work in Nigeria must compel a rethinking of rapidly evolving global dynamics. He said LEEP aims to provide comprehensive training to equip people with the right skills to compete and contribute to today’s global economy.

Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State pledged the support of state governors to the successful implementation of the program, noting its potential to significantly impact the economy through reduced unemployment and criminality.