Employers warned over defrauding graduate internship scheme.

Employers of labour and graduates that are participating in the Federal Government’s Graduate Internship Scheme have been warned against attempts to defraud the programme.

The GIS, which is under the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme is aimed at developing the capacity of graduates and also providing them with employment opportunities.

Speaking at the orientation training for interns and employers’ representatives in Enugu, the GIS Project Director, P. M. Papka, said that there have been some attempts by “bad eggs” to defraud the scheme.

Although he did not name the culprits, Papka, who was represented by a Project Implementation Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Eronini, said that they included employers and the interns.

He warned against further attempts to defraud the scheme, noting that those apprehended would be removed from the programme.

“I wish to use this opportunity to caution both interns and their employers against abuse of opportunity provided by the scheme.

“It is true that some bad eggs on both sides have attempted to defraud the scheme through unethical practices.

“This will be resisted vehemently and may lead to them removal from the scheme,” he said.

The project director explained that as a result of the GIS, many graduates now venture into entrepreneurship instead of waiting for jobs from the government.

According to him, the scheme has equally provided opportunities for full employment.

He said, “Many interns are beginning to jettison the idea of waiting for jobs from the government, as some are venturing into entrepreneurship both individually and as cooperative groups.

“Because of the commitment they have shown, some interns have got into full employment even before the end of their tenure. Others are acquiring professional qualification and membership supported by their employers while others have secured full employment at the end of their internship, either with the same firms or with others who had given them better offers.”

Orajiuka Rita, the Development Officer of TOUCHIAN Consulting Limited which facilitated the training, assured that the scheme would support any intern that plans his own future after the internship programme.