Nigeria Government has flagged off the Extended Special Public Works Programme to reduce unemployment and caution effects of COVID-19 pandemic in Kano State.
In line with the tenet of the programme, 44,000 youths were selected across the 44 LGAs in Kano state to participate in the scheme, as 1000 slots are allocated to each of the 774 council areas in the country.
774,000 youths were drawn to participate in the scheme across the country as each of the 774 LGAs in the country were given 1000 slots
The scheme is being implemented by the National Directorate of Employment, NDE, and entails payment N20,000 per month to each of the beneficiaries for three months.
The Acting Director-General of NDE, Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo, at the flag off ceremony held at Bayero University, Kano, said the scheme is targeted reducing unemployment rate in the country as well as caution effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The scheme is a very significant step in Nigeria’s quest to win the war against mass unemployment as well as to ameliorate the effect of COVID-19 pandemic.”
“The programme as the best and most far-reaching grass-root based employment creation in the history of Nigeria,” said Fikpo.
He then charged the beneficiaries to reciprocate the gesture by the President and be dedicated to their job.
He said for security reasons and to avoid evasion all the beneficiaries were well documented and accounts opened with BVN in reputable banks.
He said the scheme was tagged Extended Public Works programme because it is an extension of the pilot phase carried out in 8 states across the federation earlier, which President Muhammadu Buhari commended and gave approval for its extension to the 36 states of the federation.
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The Acting DG was represented at the event by the Director Procurement of NDE, Aliyu Bichi.
The Chairman Selection committee Prof. Adamu said to the beneficiaries were carefully selected involving politicians, religious leaders, Civil Society organisations among others to ensure transparency.
“We employed unbiased strategy in the selection and made sure that those selected were deserving, unemployed and come from nooks and crannies of the state.”
The youths are expected be involved in public works that involves cleaning, painting, horticulture among others.
One of the beneficiaries, Mohammed Aliyu said he is hoping that the money and skills to be acquired from the programme will be used to further develop himself at the end of the three months.
On display were tools bought to be used for the public works
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