The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will soon unveil an unemployment benefits scheme aimed at reducing the impact of joblessness among Nigerian youths. Kalu made this known during a town hall meeting of the Renewed Hope Partners (RHP) held in Bende, Bende Local Government Area of Abia State. He also revealed a N1 billion empowerment package for 2,000 small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) across the state.
Kalu explained that the planned unemployment benefits scheme forms part of a broader set of social protection initiatives being developed by the Tinubu administration to ease economic hardship and improve citizens’ welfare.
Addressing participants at the event, Kalu said, “My people, there are several other programmes in the pipeline, including the unemployment benefits scheme soon to be launched by Mr President to cater to our unemployed youth. Your legislature is working. Your President is working. And your Deputy Speaker, from Bende to Abuja, is working tirelessly, accountable to you, driven by the conviction that Nigeria’s best days are not behind us but ahead of us. I ask you today: Support President Tinubu. Support our party, the All Progressives Congress. Support the Renewed Hope Agenda. Support Nigeria. We are not just rebuilding a country; we are building a legacy for our children.”
During the event, the Deputy Speaker distributed trailer loads of rice, other food items, and N100 million in cash to over 100 churches, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and several support groups. He explained that this gesture was part of efforts to strengthen party structures and support vulnerable groups across the state.
Kalu recalled that about six months earlier, he donated N500 million through the Renewed Hope Partners to assist businesses in Abia State. He said the newly announced N1 billion SME intervention would cover all 17 local government areas in the state. According to him, the programme would be implemented in partnership with key financial institutions, including the Bank of Industry, Bank of Agriculture, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), and the Nigeria Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP), which are expected to match the funds provided.
“We are going to support 2,000 businesses with N1 billion across the entire Abia State. Each business will get about N500,000 to start with. From there, we will invite the Bank of Industry, Bank of Agriculture, SMEDAN, CREDICORP and others to partner with us and match our fund,” he said.
Kalu also instructed the Director-General of the Benjamin Kalu Movement, Pastor Emma Trumps Eke, to ensure that eligible businesses are identified and properly structured before the empowerment exercise begins in the first quarter of next year.
Describing Abia as a highly enterprising state with many traders and business owners, Kalu said the initiative was designed to boost economic growth and strengthen productivity at the grassroots level. He added that the empowerment scheme aligns with his commitment to improving livelihoods through business support, skill development, and access to credit.
Highlighting his legislative achievements, Kalu, who represents Bende Federal Constituency, said he had sponsored 127 bills in the last two years. These bills, he noted, cover areas such as governance, inclusion, infrastructure, security, and economic reforms. He also pointed out that more than 50 constituency projects had been completed or were ongoing across the 13 electoral wards in Bende. These projects include the construction of schools, ICT centres, health facilities, roads, agricultural processing centres, electricity restoration, water projects, and skills acquisition centres.
Beyond infrastructure, Kalu disclosed that over 150 individuals from his constituency had benefited from employment facilitation, scholarships, and overseas training, while about 1,600 people had accessed the Benjamin Kalu Grants. He emphasized that his office remains committed to empowering the people through tangible and sustainable projects.
Kalu also commended President Tinubu for what he described as bold and decisive economic and financial reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy, fiscal and tax policy reforms, power sector improvements, social protection initiatives, and measures to strengthen food and national security. He encouraged Nigerians to remain patient and supportive of the administration, assuring that the government would deliver on its promises.
“We must give honour where it is due. In the last two and a half years, our nation has navigated turbulent global economic waters. That we are standing strong today is a testament to the steady hand of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Kalu said.
He further praised the President’s leadership and his efforts to unite the country. “I want to use this platform to thank Mr President for his role as the Unifier-in-Chief. He has not only stabilized our great party, the APC, but has also engendered a harmonious relationship between the Executive and the Legislature that is unprecedented in our democratic history. This stability is not accidental; it is the bedrock upon which development is built. Because the centre is holding, we in the legislature can work,” he said.
The Deputy Speaker reaffirmed his commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda and to working closely with the federal government to ensure that Abia State and Nigeria at large benefit from ongoing and upcoming economic programmes. He urged citizens to stay hopeful and united, noting that collaboration between government and the people remains essential for progress and stability.
