Nigerian government has flagged off Extended Special Public Works Programme across twenty three local government areas in Sokoto.
Declaring the programme open in Sokoto, President Buhari said it was implemented in eight states of the Federation to address unemployment and insecurity issues in some parts of the country.
The President who was represented by the Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Dingyadi said the Special public works was an outcome of extended activities to rural area approved by President Buhari and implemented by National Directorate of Employment, NDE in early 2020.
“This strategy was adopted to fast track the achievement of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (2017-2020).
However, to cushion the effect of COVID-19,P Buhari also directed the Ministry of Labour and Employment to adopt a proactive measure by engaging in some important economic sector.
This will facilitate the creation of productive and inclusive societies in the country,” he said.
He said the programme was also aimed at shielding the vulnerable from the ravaging effects of COVID-19 pandemic which includes hunger, poverty, environmental degradation and joblessness.
According to him, the federal government target was to engage 23,000 selected unemployed indegenes of Sokoto State to execute selected projects across 23 local government areas.
He said all the required tools and equipment have been provided, “therefore federal government expects strong commitment from all stakeholders in ensuring efficient implementation”.
Dingyadi said Sokoto State alone would benefit from the programme with the sum of N 1, 380,000,000 billion naira.
He explained that the federal government would closely monitor the implementation of the programme to ascertain the efficient utilisation of resources committed to the programme.
The Minister commended the State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, for his support and cooperation to all the federal government policies and programmes.
He solicited for more support in ensuring effective implementation of the programme across 23 local government areas of the Sokoto State.
The Acting Director General National Directorate of Employment, NDE Abubakar Nuhu, said the extended Special Public Works (SPW) programme was designed as a veritable tool through which the lives of 774,000 unemployed Nigerians would be positively touched in the next three months.
The Director General who was represented by a Director in the Agency, Hannatu Dantama, said communities would receive a facelift through the activities of the participants as they would engage in variouscommunity/environment specific public works activities ranging from, drainage clearing and maintenance, vegetation control, feeder roads maintenance, irrigation, great green wall and orchard maintenance among many others.
He said appropriate working tools and protective wears have been provided for all the participants in their daily work schedule.
He explained that all participants have been duely documented and their details captured by designated banks to guarantee a fraud free, transparent and fair service delivery.
He said to ensure effective monitoring of the programme, supervisors have been appointed in all the electoral wards of the country to conduct supervisory roles.
The Director General charged all the participants to reciprocate the gesture of the President Muhammadu Buhari, (GCFR) led Government by diligently executing their assigned tasks throughout the duration of the programme.
He also used the opportunity to request Nigerians living within all the benefiting communities to cooperate with the participants and officials as they go about their duties.
Mr Nuhu commended the State Minister for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, for his support and cooperation towards actualization of this programme.
The Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Sa’idu Umar, applauded federal government for initiating the programme that would assist in lifting Nigerians out of poverty.
He reiterated the State government’s commitments towards collaboration with NDE to ensure smooth implementation of the programme across the twenty three local government areas in the State.
The Secretary to the State Government advice the beneficiaries to take advantage of the programme to improve their socio-economic status.
The Sokoto State Coordinator of NDE, Mrs Eunice John, appreciated the efforts of federal government towards its commitment in alleviating poverty and suffering among vulnerables.
She thanked the State Minister of Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo for all the efforts put in place to ensure the commencement of the programme.
She however commended the efforts of Sokoto State Government in it’s support and cooperation to the agency to carryout it responsibilities in the State.
Lateefah Ibrahim
