The Federal Government of Nigeria yesterday launched the Special Public Works (SPW) programme targeting employment for 774,000 itinerant workers nationwide for three months. Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, SAN, while flagging off the programme, held at the Old Parade Ground, Abuja, said it would provide the necessary economic palliatives to the 774,000 unemployed youths. The government said the initiative, through which the beneficiaries will be paid N200,000 each, was conceived to shield vulnerable Nigerians from poverty, hunger and joblessness.
Mr Keyamo said the initiative was meant to protect the most vulnerable Nigerians from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Adding that the applications would executive carefully selected projects, including repair and rehabilitation of public infrastructure in their areas. He also said that the workers were not engaged to only clean drainages.
“In addition, government and the organised private sector may in due course create/provide exit options,” he said.
“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.
“The need to quickly address the above mentioned informed the decision to implement the ESPW. Our target is to immediately engage the 774,000 selected unemployed Nigerians for the programme to execute carefully selected projects across the 774 local government areas in the country.”
