Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Major General Salihi Magashi,rtd, has described the recently launched Extended Special Public works programme as an economic palliative for unemployed youths in the country
He made the statement at the flag-off of the special programme in Kano State North-Western Nigeria.
Kano state which has 44 LGAs, the highest in the country got 44,000 out of the 774, 000 beneficiaries, as each of the 774 local government councils in the nation was allocated 1000 each.
The Minister who launched the programme in Kano said the intervention was meant to quickly address the issue of the pervasive hunger, poverty, environmental degradation and joblessness.
“The programme in this respect will provide necessary economic palliative for the 774,000 unemployed youths, as the beneficiaries are expected to deploy the knowledge/skills acquired to become self-employed after the three months.”
“With the skills, they can even become employable in the public or private sector,” said Magashi.
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He said the Federal government will strictly monitor the programme to ensure that its intended objectives are achieved.
He explained that each participating Local Government was responsible for identifying its preferred projects and would ensure that they are executed as planned.
Governor of Kano State Dr. Umar Ganduje commended the programme saying the group of people targeted will help in alleviating poverty in the country.
He said the state shares the same dream with the Federal government and has implemented many programmes to alleviate poverty in the state.
The Governor was represented by his Deputy Dr.Nasir Gawuna.
Nnenna.O
