The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, William Alo, says Nigeria needs assistance from the U.S in tackling the unemployment challenges bedeviling the country.

He spoke in Abuja when he received in audience a delegation from the U.S. Department of Labor, led by Kurt A. Petermeyer, the Regional Administrator, Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The Minister stated that assistance from the U. S. to upgrade the skill acquisition centres in the country would be of immense benefit to Nigeria, as it would enhance job creation.

Listing such crimes as child labour, forced labour and other ills as fallouts of unemployment, he believed that the repositioning of the Skills Acquisition Centres in the country would create more employment opportunities for the unemployed youths and others.

The Permanent Secretary acknowledged the U. S. as a long-standing dependable partner to Nigeria, and felt assured that U.S’ intervention would help to reduce the crime rate among the youths, as many of them would get off the crime track when employed.

He noted that the visit was a follow-up to an earlier visit where Nigeria had sought assistance from the U.S. on the upgrading of the country’s Skill Acquisition Centres and on other areas that would help in reducing unemployment in the country.

Speaking earlier, the Regional Administrator, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Kurt A. Petermeyer, said the group was on skills and facilities assessment visit to determine areas of possible assistance to Nigeria.