Buhari will approve second phase of public works program ( ESPW), Keyamo assures Nigerians
Festus Keyamo, Minister of State, Labour and Employment, has expressed optimism that President Muhammadu Buhari would approve the implementation of the second phase of the Extended Special Public Works, ESPW, programme.
Mr Keyamo also assured all verified participants in the programme across the 774 Local Government Areas that they would be fully paid.
The minister spoke during the National Directorate of Employment, NDE, Day at the 2021 Lagos International Trade Fair, LITF, on Friday in Lagos.
The fair, which opened on Nov. 5, will end on Nov. 14 under the theme: “Connecting Businesses, Creating Value”.
Mr Keyamo said one of the major ways in which the present administration was addressing the prevailing economic situation was through the creation of decent jobs.
He said the NDE had been able to successfully implement the ESPW programme which was specifically targeted at the poorest of the poor in Nigeria.
According to him, under the intervention, 1,000 unskilled and unemployed persons from each of the 774 LGAs were engaged to provide environment specific public works services in their immediate localities.
The minister said the services were rendered for a period of three months with each participant paid the sum of N20,000 per month.
Mr Keyamo noted that the impact of the ESPW had been significantly felt across the land.
“I am informed that currently, officers of the NDE are out in the field carrying out an Impact Evaluation exercise to imperially establish the extent to which the ESPW has fared with a view to improving on areas of need in subsequent outings.
“Despite the challenges we encountered while implementing the programme, I want to assure Nigerians that the participants who have so far been captured and verified by the designated banks will be fully paid.
“Let me use this opportunity to deeply appreciate the President for his pro-poor posture.
“You will agree with me that in the history of Nigeria as an independent nation, no government has implemented a programme that has addressed the issue of mass unemployment and social inclusion at the grassroots like the current government.
“I am optimistic that the president in his magnanimity —and pro-poor disposition will approve the implementation of the ESPW in the coming year,” he said.
Mr Keyamo disclosed that about N40 billion had been paid so far, adding that processes should be expedited by the coordinators to ensure that the remaining N6 billion was disbursed to those yet to be paid.
He said the government would continue to support the NDE in the discharge of its statutory mandate of creating mass employment opportunities for the unskilled and unemployed in Nigeria through skills training and other innovative methods.
Also, Nuhu Fikpo, Director-General, NDE, said the LITF was a great platform for beneficiaries of the directorate’s various employment creation schemes to showcase their businesses to the world.
“Today, no better testimony can speak about our modest efforts at tackling unemployment than the tangible presence of our beneficiaries displaying their goods and services in the stand of the NDE at this fair.
“They represent our collective aspiration to check mate unemployment and the convincing results that we are on the right path.
“I can only wish them well and greater success as they soldier on in the world of business,” Mr Fikpo, represented by Adeola Shafaru, Director, Human Resources, NDE, said.
In her remark, Toki Mabogunje, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, said there was need for cooperation between the government and private sector in advancing the push for job creation and poverty reduction.
Mr Mabogunje commended the NDE’s efforts in areas like entrepreneurship development skills, vocational training, and the rural enterprise development support programmes.
“With a federal presence in all the states, the Directorate can reach the grassroots through the deployment of technology for training and services.
“The task of creating jobs lies more with the private sector, while the government is expected to provide the enabling environment,” she said.
Buhari zai amince da kashi na biyu na shirin ayyukan gwamnati ga ‘yan Najeriya
Festus Keyamo, Karamin Ministan Kwadago,da Aiki, ya bayyana fatansa na cewa shugaban kasa Muhammadu Buhari zai amince da aiwatar da kashi na biyu na shirin Special Public Works, ESPW.
Mista Keyamo ya kuma tabbatar wa duk wadanda aka tabbatar sun shiga shirin a fadin kananan hukumomin 774 cewa za a biya su gaba daya.
Ministan ya yi magana ne a yayin taron National Directorate of Employment, NDE, Day a bikin baje kolin kasuwanci na kasa da kasa na Legas na 2021, LITF, ranar Juma’a a Legas.
Baje kolin, wanda aka bude ranar 5 ga watan Nuwamba, zai kare ne a ranar 14 ga watan Nuwamba a karkashin taken: “Haɗin Kasuwanci, Samar da Ƙimar”.
Mista Keyamo ya ce daya daga cikin manyan hanyoyin da gwamnati mai ci ke bi wajen magance matsalar tattalin arziki da ake fama da ita ita ce ta samar da ayyukan yi masu inganci.
Ya ce hukumar ta NDE ta samu nasarar aiwatar da shirin na ESPW wanda aka yi ta musamman ga marasa galihu a Najeriya.
A cewarsa, a karkashin shirin, mutane 1,000 marasa sana’a da marasa aikin yi daga kowace karamar hukuma 774 sun tsunduma cikin samar da ayyukan yi na musamman na muhalli a yankunansu.
Ministan ya ce an gudanar da ayyukan ne na tsawon watanni uku inda kowane mahaluki ya biya Naira 20,000 a kowane wata.
Mista Keyamo ya lura cewa tasirin ESPW ya yi matukar tasiri a fadin kasar.
“An sanar da ni cewa, a halin yanzu, jami’an NDE na can wajen gudanar da wani atisayen tasiri don tabbatar da yadda ESPW ya kai da nufin inganta wuraren da ake bukata a fita waje.
“Duk da kalubalen da muka fuskanta yayin aiwatar da shirin, ina so in tabbatar wa ‘yan Najeriya cewa mahalarta taron da bankunan da aka nada suka kama kuma aka tantance su, za a biya su gaba daya.
“Bari in yi amfani da wannan dama domin in jinjina wa Shugaban kasa bisa halinsa na goyon bayan talakawa.
“Za ku yarda da ni cewa a tarihin Najeriya a matsayin kasa mai cin gashin kanta, babu wata gwamnati da ta aiwatar da wani shiri da ya magance matsalar rashin aikin yi da kuma hada kai da jama’a daga tushe kamar gwamnati mai ci.
“Ina da kwarin gwiwar cewa shugaban kasa a cikin girmansa – da masu goyon bayan talakawa za su amince da aiwatar da ESPW a cikin shekara mai zuwa,” in ji shi.
Mista Keyamo ya bayyana cewa kawo yanzu an biya kimanin Naira biliyan 40, ya kuma kara da cewa ya kamata masu gudanar da ayyuka su hanzarta su tabbatar da cewa an raba sauran Naira biliyan 6 ga wadanda har yanzu ba a biya su ba.
Ya ce gwamnati za ta ci gaba da tallafa wa hukumar ta NDE wajen sauke nauyin da ya rataya a wuyanta na samar da guraben aikin yi ga marasa sana’a da marasa aikin yi a Najeriya ta hanyar koyar da sana’o’i da sauran sabbin hanyoyin zamani.
Har ila yau, Nuhu Fikpo, Darakta-Janar na NDE, ya ce LITF wani babban dandali ne ga wadanda suka ci gajiyar tsare-tsaren samar da ayyukan yi daban-daban na hukumar don baje kolin kasuwancinsu ga duniya.
“A yau, babu wata shaida mafi kyau da za ta iya yin magana game da ƙoƙarin da muke yi na magance rashin aikin yi fiye da kasancewar waɗanda suka amfana da mu suna baje kolin kayayyakinsu da ayyukansu a tsayawar NDE a wannan baje kolin.
“Suna wakiltar burinmu na hadin gwiwa don duba rashin aikin yi da kuma sakamako mai gamsarwa cewa muna kan hanya madaidaiciya.
“Zan iya yi musu fatan alheri da samun babban nasara yayin da suke soja a fagen kasuwanci,” in ji Mista Fikpo, wanda Adeola Shafaru, Daraktan Ma’aikata na NDE ya wakilta.
A nata jawabin, shugabar kungiyar ‘yan kasuwa da masana’antu ta Legas, LCCI, Toki Mabogunje, ta ce akwai bukatar hadin kai tsakanin gwamnati da kamfanoni masu zaman kansu, wajen ciyar da yunkurin samar da ayyukan yi da rage radadin talauci.
Mista Mabogunje ya yaba da kokarin NDE a fannonin bunkasa kasuwanci, horar da sana’o’i, da kuma shirye-shiryen bunkasa sana’o’in karkara.
“Tare da kasancewar tarayya a duk jihohi, Daraktan zai iya kaiwa ga tushe ta hanyar tura fasahar don horarwa da ayyuka.
“Aikin samar da ayyukan yi ya ta’allaka ne ga kamfanoni masu zaman kansu, yayin da ake sa ran gwamnati ta samar da yanayi mai dacewa,” in ji ta.
©Ahmed El-rufai Idris