Artisans advocate for inclusion in the implementation of Arise Agenda
The President of Association of Skilled and Vocational Artisans of Nigeria, ASVAN, Comrade Esu Effie, has made a passionate appeal to the administration of Pastor Umo Eno to integrate their members into planning and execution of the Arise Agenda blueprint of the government.
Esu, who called in from Abuja during the inauguration of Pastor Umo Eno as the Executive Governor of Akwa Akwa Ibom State, expressed delight and confidence in the new administration to recognize and utilize the vast resources of artisans for full accomplishment of the governor’s vision to regig the micro small sector of the economy for more growth, noted that though artisans form the second largest contributor to the state’s economy after agriculture, have suffered neglect from previous administrations.
His words: “As we have been ushered into the Golden era of Akwa Ibom State, we are very confident in the ARISE Agenda of His Excellency, Pst. Umo Eno. Artisans as we know is the second largest employer of labour across the globe. The sector also referred to as the Blue and Grey collar sector had been seriously downplayed, either by ignorance or through deliberate inconsideration.”
Lamenting the exploitation of the sector, he said: “This sector had long been considered a necessary week labour force to use for cheap affordable household work. Ranging from the painter, tailor, plumber, fashion designer, caterer, auto-mechanic, vulcanizer, electrician, masonry, computer operator and the likes. Others are house keeper, cosmetologist and craftsmen.
However, he noted that, though the sector has over the years been considered as informal, it has contributed enormously to the IGR of the state. But according to him, the contributions of artisans have “never been quantified because most of their revenue contributions had been diverted informally.”
He bemoaned the tax burden of the sector and lack of recognition in the state or national budget, as government negativity view them as hustlers, who survive by daily casual undertaking. He therefore appealed for formal recognition, restating their preparedness to collaborate with government and lack of recognition in the state or national budget, as government negativity view them as hustlers, who survive by daily casual undertaking. He therefore appealed for formal recognition, restating their preparedness to collaborate with government.
Esu, who is also a pastor, said: “We, through the Association of Skilled and Vocational Artisans of Nigeria, ASVAN, having been working with Artisans for the past six years now, in training, capacity building, empowerment and advocacy and collaborating with SON, SMEDAN, UNIDO, ITF, Ministries of Trade and Investment, Information, Economic Development, Science and Technology, Labour and Incubation Center, do wish and very ready to partner with His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, to properly coordinate and reorganize this very important sector of the economy to further create more industries and increase the IGR of the state.”
The ASVAN boss also stated: “While congratulating His Excellency, we wish to state here that we have already developed and unveiled our ASVAN WOKAS APP which is already available on the goggle playstore . This App will amongst other things help curb the increase of quacks and also monitor the rate of criminality and abuse of both the artisan as a provider and the customer as users.
Furthermore, the proper organization of this sector as have severally been solicited will lead to better development of the sector in form of training and Certification which in turn will improve the local content workforce we so desperately are soliciting.
We have begun talks with relevant government agencies and parastatal. We hope and believe that Artisans under the platform of ASVAN will work tirelessly to make the ARISE AGENDA a huge success.”
