Ekiti seeks extension of FG’s public works scheme

Governor Kayode Fayemi has called for the 774,000 Special Public Works (SPW) programme of the Federal Government to be extended beyond its three-month duration.

The Ekiti chief executive made the appeal yesterday in Ado-Ekiti during the kick-off of the scheme in the state, chosen among the eight, to pilot the project.

He noted that the benefitting 16,000 youths would boost the state’s economy by N960 million, going by their N20, 000 monthly stipends in the next 90 days.

In the same vein, Minister of Trade, Investment and Industry, Niyi Adebayo, described the initiative as a landmark policy geared at mitigating poverty and tackling the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Represented by his deputy, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, the governor said 16,000 jobs at this critical time would stimulate the economy, describing the intervention as the most potent in history.

Reiterating that the selection process was transparent, Fayemi noted: “Ekiti was, indeed, lucky to be enlisted as one of the eight pilot states for the commencement of the programme, with the beneficiaries receiving N20, 000 monthly for three months that the project would last.

“We are pleading that the programme should be extended beyond three months, so that more people, which can be as many as 20,000, can benefit from Ekiti alone.”

Continuing, Adebayo promised that President Buhari would not rest in his resolve to tackle unemployment in the country.

Also speaking, Acting Director General, National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Mallam Abubakar Fikpo, urged the beneficiaries to be diligent.