The federal government at the weekend officially flagged off the extended special works project for 23,000 people across the 23 local government areas (LGAs) in Benue State.
Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, who performed the ceremony at the IBB Square in Makurdi, noted that the programme was an outcome of the pilot phase approved by President Muhammadu Buhari and implemented by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in the early part of 2020.
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“This strategy was adapted to fast-track the achievement of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (2017-2020). However, with the emergence of the novel COVID-19 pandemic; President Buhari directed the Economic Sustainability Committee (ESC) to come up with economic measures to cushion the adverse socio-economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
Akume said the strategy was mainly intended to facilitate the creation of a productive and inclusive society even as it was also aimed at shielding the most vulnerable from ravaging effects of the pandemic, which included pervasive hunger, poverty, environmental degradation and joblessness.
He said each participating local government had identified their priority projects and would be responsible for its execution as planned.
“It is instructive to mention that all tools and equipment required have been provided hence the federal government expects strong commitment from all stakeholders in ensuring efficient implementation of this laudable programme,” the minister added.
Earlier, the State Coordinator of NDE, Musa Sadauki, explained that the scheme was designed as a veritable tool for the communities to be touched positively within the next three months.
Sadauki confirmed that appropriate working tools had already been provided as he charged the 1000 participants from each of the 23 LGAs of the state to reciprocate the federal government’s gesture by doing their assigned tasks.
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