FG Shuns Reps Postponement Order On 774,000 Jobs, Begins Implementation Tomorrow

The Federal Government has announced its readiness to commence the 774,000 Special Public Works scheme on Tuesday, despite opposition by the House of Representatives.

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this on his Twitter handle, stating that the President has approved the commencement of the initiative.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the take off of the Special Public Works Programme engaging 774,000 unemployed itinerant Nigerians to begin nationwide on Tuesday, January 5, 2021.

“All NDE state structures are already in top gear for the take-off ceremonies.”

Members of the House of Representatives had queried why many Nigerians were excluded from the list of beneficiaries released by the National Directorate of Employment.

The resolution followed a motion by Olajide Olatunbosun (APC-Oyo) who queried why the names of many Nigerians were excluded from the list of beneficiaries released by the National Directorate of Employment.

The House had also called on Buhari to reinstate Mohammed Argungu as the Director General of the National Directorate of Employment.

The Scheme had been postponed twice since inception following controversies surrounding the control of the scheme, as it was originally scheduled for October 1 but the date was postponed to November 1st as the new date with a staggered flag-off in some states between November 5 and 15.

With an appropriated fund of N52bn, the program is designed to employ 1,000 artisans and unskilled workers from each of the 774 local government areas.

ENDS