774,000 jobs: FG engages 5 banks to open accounts for employees

Ahead of the commencement of Special Public Works Scheme, the federal government has presented a letter of engagement to at least five banks to begin opening of accounts for the prospective employees of the jobs.

The minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, who disclosed this via his official Twitter handle @fkeyamo, said the selected banks would open temporary branches in local government areas where they are not existing.

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According to the minister, the banks include: Zenith, UBA, Access, Fidelity, FCMB and Heritage, adding that the government would soon announce the banks that would be in charge of each local government.

President Buhari-led government had set aside N56bn for the 3-month long scheme to cushion the effects of lockdown brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“[Monday], I gave out letters of engagement to six banks, namely Zenith, UBA, Access, Fidelity, FCMB & Heritage to begin the opening of accounts (with BVN) for the 774,000 participants of the Special Public Works Programme in their branches in the 774 LGAs across the country.

“The banks assured us that even in LGAs where they don’t have branches, temporary registration centers would be opened in such LGAs so that the participants would not have to travel far to open their accounts. We shall soon publish which bank is taking care of each of the LGAs,” the minister said.