From Gyang Bere, Jos
Acting Director General of National Directorates of Employment (NDE), Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo said the 17,000 jobs created by President Muhammadu Buhari in Plateau State has lifted the beneficiaries out of the economic pains and hardship creates by the deadly COVID-19 pandemic
Fikpo disclosed this on Friday during the Flag off of the Extended Special Public Works programme (774,000 Jobs), held at Township School in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Fikpo represented by the Director of Public Procurement, Hon. Linda Barou said the President is passionate on addressing the pains of citizens, thereby making economically self reliance.
“The passion and commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to mitigating the socio-economic effects of COVID-19 via massive job creation as well as to maintain critical social infrastructure at the rural base of the economy is highly commendable.
“The 774,000 jobs is a dry season/off season transient jobs and rehabilitation and maintenance of social infrastructure under which participants will be paid an allowance of N20,000 Monthly and will be recruited from unskilled persons of 18 years and above.”
Chairman, Plateau State Selection Committee and former Secretary to Government of Plateau State, Hon. Rufus Bature said President Buhari’s gesture would address the myriads of insecurity, poverty and idleness among citizens.
“Because of the passion by President Muhammadu Buhari to take Plateau out of the quagmire of poverty, 17,000 persons are employed to be paid N20,000 per month. This will improve the economy of the state and the individual beneficiaries.
“We went round the state and meticulously despite the hitches we make sure that each of Ward is represented and at least 70 persons were selected from every Federal Ward in the state, they have been captured by the banks and waiting for today for the programme to start.”
Bature said said the N20,000 is not free but every beneficiary must work to earned the money and said those who are faithful in doing their work would likely be considered by the Federal Government at the end of the three months exercise.
Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong who was represented by Commissioner of Environment, Usman Yakubu Idi and Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, represented by her Special Assistant, Bala Mohammed expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for flagging off the 17,000 job in Plateau.
Lalong and Tallen said the gesture would reduced poverty and boost the economy of the state and urged citizens to observed the COVID-19 guidelines outline by the Presidential Task Force.