FG inaugurates Special Public Works Programme

06 Jan FG inaugurates Special Public Works Programme

The Federal Government, on Tuesday, inaugurated the Special Public Works Programme for employing 774,000 itinerant workers nationwide to shield vulnerable Nigerians from poverty, hunger and joblessness. The beneficiaries will be paid N20,000 each.

At the ceremony held at the old Parade Ground, Abuja, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, SAN, explained that the initiative was meant to protect the most vulnerable Nigerians from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He noted that the applicants would execute carefully selected projects, including repair and rehabilitation of public infrastructure in their areas, adding that the workers were not engaged to only clean drainages.

Keyamo said, “Under the National Economic Sustainability Plan, the Ministry of Labour and Employment decided to adopt a proactive approach by engaging the nation’s youths in some important sectors of the economy. This strategy is intended to facilitate the creation of productive and inclusive societies in our nation.

“It is also aimed at shielding the most vulnerable from the ravaging effects of COVID-19 pandemic, which include but are not limited to pervasive hunger, poverty, environmental degradation and joblessness.”

In his address, the acting Director-General, National Directorate of Employment, Mallam Abubakar Fikpo, said the local communities would receive a facelift through the programme, adding that the participants would be involved in drainage clearing and maintenance, vegetation control, irrigation and orchard maintenance.