By Chuks Eke
Lawyers from Ebonyi state practicing in Anambra state, under the umbrella of Anambra-based Abakaliki lawyers Association have given a pat on the back of Anambra state House of Assembly for passing the Apprenticeship scheme (Igba boi) bill into law in the state.
Chairman of the Association, Barrister Victor Alo who disclosed this in a press statement issued from his law chambers at the weekend at Nkpor in Idemili North Local Government Area of the state shortly after their quarterly meeting, stressed that the Apprenticeship law, when fully enforced, would be a catalyst for youth empowerment and economic development in the state.
Alo further stressed that the passsge of the bill into law is more beneficial to non-Indigenes living in Anambra state, most of whom have fallen victims of maltreatment and wilful expulsion by their masters without settlement after many years of their apprenticeship scheme.
According to Alo, “In many occasions, after spending years of serving their masters with or without any written agreement, the master (Oga) will either expel the apprentice (Nwa boi) or label him anything he likes in order to scuttle his settlement, just like giving a dog bad name in order to hang it”.
“Often times, Alo continued, such a victimised apprentice will end up becoming useless and frustrated in life to the extent that if he or she gets any opportunity to borrow money to start up any business, he or she may end up being a hawker as a result of the frustration, instead of starting up the particular trade he or she learnt from his or her master over the years while some who have no means of borrowing will end up roaming in the street doing nothing.
Alo further disclosed that he is currently handling over 10 cases of such nature pending before courts in Anambra state involving Ebonyi indigenes who had engaged themselves into apprenticeship scheme and at the end of the day, they were not settled by their masters after serving them for many years without any written agreement.
Highlighting some of the provisions of the law which made the bill to stand the test of time, Alo said the bill included the provision for the maximum of seven years apprenticeship, instead of indefinite services and the provision for the minimum of junior secondary school certificate as qualification criteria for any person to engage into apprenticeship in the state”.
“lam therefore using this medium to request that other states Houses of Assembly in the country, particularly in the Southeast region should emulate Anambra House of Assembly by passing a similar bill into law for the overall interest of our youths, their empowerment and economic development in the country”, said Alo.
