Management of Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has said that there are no plans whatsoever to relocate the headquarters of the agency from Jos in Plateau State to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos yesterday by the special assistant to the director general, Meshack Idehen.

ITF said this explanation has become necessary, due to the persistent and unfounded rumours that the director- general, Dr. Juliet Chukkas Onaeko, has already concluded arrangements to relocate the interventionist agency to Abuja, instead of Jos where it has been headquartered since it was established in 1971.

According to the statement, the people of Plateau State do not have any reason to fear or be worried, neither do they have to do anything that will lead to uproar as is being anticipated by those spreading the false rumours.

Idehen quoted the DG as saying that Jos in Plateau State would always remain the ITF’s headquarters. He explained the recent evacuation of tenants from its six -story building in Abuja was part of the agency’s plan to remain highly effective and functional in the execution of its mandate and objectives.

The special assistant pointed out that evacuation of occupants of the building was because of the need to expand the Model Skills Training Centre (MSTC) of the agency and also to expand and integrate the functions of the Abuja Area Office as well as the corporate office all located in the building.

He noted that the ITF has been collaborating with several international agencies and embassies in its quest to create and surpass the two million jobs it has set out to achieve.

He said the ongoing activities at the Abuja office would create easier access for these international organisations partnering with the agency to relate and interact with the ITF.

According to the special assistant , the director-general of ITF, Dr Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko who only assumed office in May last year is not at the centre of the headquarters transfer saga, adding that any plan to relocate the ITF headquarters is a policy issue that only the president of the country can decide upon.

Christian Youths Commend ITF For Job Creation

Christians Youths organisation in Plateau State (CYP) has commended the effort of the director general of Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Dr. Juliet Chukkas Onaeko for working hard towards creating job opportunities for the youths in the state.

The group in a press statement signed by its leader, Evangelist Joshua Ringsum and made available to newsmen said the Industrial Training Fund through the leadership of the Director General has organised meaningful and laudable training programmes aimed at providing gainful employment for the teeming youths in the state.

“We collectively want to commend Dr. Onaeko for being resolute and focused by ensuring that the ITF delivers on its mandate and we equally wish to salute her courage in ensuring that the headquarters of ITF is not relocated to Abuja”.

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ITF Not Relocating Hqts From Jos To Abuja – DG