FG To Engage 27, 000 Borno Youths In Community Service
The Federal Government, Saturday, disclosed plans to employ 27,000 youths and women from Borno State under the Extended Special Public Works Programme (ESPV) of the National Directorate of Empowerment
The programme is part of the Federal government effort to create 774,000 jobs across the nation’s 774 councils to cushion the economic effect of COVID-19 pandemic, reduce unemployment and promote the maintenance of critical infrastructure at the community levels in all councils.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mustapha Baba Shehuri during the official flag- off of the programme in Maiduguri, Borno State explained that 1,000 women and youths would benefit from each of the state’s 27 councils totaling 27000 youths.
According to him, the sum of N1. 62bn would be spent on payment of direct allowances to the beneficiaries stressing that the socio economic effects of such huge money going directly into the local economy of the communities cannot be overemphasized
A special public programme had initially been implemented by the Federal Government in rural areas of eight selected states, including Borno, where 5,000 unemployed persons were engaged.
The minister said the success recorded from the pilot programme led to expansion of the initiative.
Shehuri however urged Borno residents to complement the Federal Government‘s effort by promoting peace and security in a sustainable manner.
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, represented by the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Umar Usman Kadafur, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his administration people’s oriented programme geared towards uplifting Nigerians out of poverty and repositioning the country for a better future.
In his welcome address, the Acting Director General, National Directorate of Employment, Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo, represented by the Senior Assistant, Technical, Alhaji Samaila Gunda, said the Extended Special Public Works (SPW) programme has been designed as a veritable tool through which the lives of 774,000 unemployed Nigerians will be positively touched in the next three months.
