By Francis Ogwo
The Federal Government has rolled out a new scheme aimed at 1,000 unemployed youths from each of the country’s 774 Local Government Areas (LGA).
According to Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, on Thursday, these Nigerians would earn a monthly stipend of N20,000 for three months, maintaining the nation’s public and social infrastructures.
“This programme is one of the biggest social intervention schemes to be carried out within a short period of time by any government in the history of Nigeria. The programme starts on the 1st of October, 2020 and we are already tight on schedule,” Keyamo said.
Under the programme, workers would undertake repairs of roads and social housing construction, cleaning of urban and rural areas, health extension and other major tasks while earning stipends as wages.
The Minister further revealed that after reviewing recommendations from the inter-ministerial commmitee, the selection of the workers should be fair and done locally without manipulation and favouritism.
He added that the projects to be executed in the local authorities would be identified by the a 20 member committee which would be known as the State Selection Committees of the Special Public Works (SPW).
Mr. Keyamo, however, noted that the committee was different from the State Advisory Committee and insisted that membership of the state selection committee is strictly non-partisan and non-political and would not admit individuals registered with any political party.
He stated that, with the political office holders as representative of the people, they would be included in the process of selection and so would reserve not more than ten per cent slots for political office holders in the state.
With the growing rate of irregularities and manipulations common with such processes, especially in data management, the Minister said selected banks have been contracted to handle the registration and collation of data of beneficiaries to guarantee transparency.
He added that talks and negotiations are in process with the banks involved
While the issue of further information and details of the process may arise, the Minister said: “A website would be developed immediately, where information such as composition and contact of the Selection Committees, list of the selected beneficiaries and chosen projects would be displayed for the public.
“We do not want any pressure and lobbying to be directed at my office. We are passing on the responsibilities to the States Selection Committees.
“From now till the end of the projects, I will be holding regular press briefings to update members of the public on progress so far made.” The Minister assured.
The 1,000 jobs program per local government, according to plans from the Ministry, targets illiterate and unskilled workers who may not be literate or exposed enough to explore opportunities at job portals.
