Some of the beneficiaries of the Special Public Work (SPW) scheme have said they are grateful to the federal government for providing them with employment.
A beneficiary, Abdullahi Abdullaziz, a graduate of Business Administration, who spoke with Daily Trust at the flag-off of the scheme in Kotn Karfe, said he was happy to be part of it, adding that since he graduated three years ago, he was yet to secure a job.
Abdullaziz said, “At least I can tell you I am beginning to have relief with this special public work I got. It will go a long way to help and keep me busy because I have been searching for a job for three years now.”
Another beneficiary, Ibrahim Sa’idu, who also spoke with our reporter, said he graduated from the Kogi State Polytechnic two years ago but had been without a job until he was enrolled under the scheme.
Sa’idu said. “In fact, things had not been easy for over two years because of lack of employment.
Sa’idu, appealed to the federal government to extend the programme to one year instead of three months, saying doing so would go a long way to tackle unemployment and crime in the country.
Mrs Rukaiyyat Salihu, a widow, who is among the beneficiaries, said since she lost her husband five years ago things had not been the same again, saying she always struggled to take care of her five children.
She said, “But today, I can say Alhamdulilah, I’m filled with joy for being part of this special public work introduced by the federal government, which I believe will reduce some burden on me because I know how I have been struggling to survive with my five children since I lost my husband.”
The Chairman of Koton Karfe Local Government Council, Alhaji Isah Abdulkarim, while flagging off the scheme, urged the 1,000 beneficiaries to be dedicated to their work.
He said the federal government’s decision to come up with the special public work was another strategy in reducing the rate of unemployment in the country.
The state Coordinator of the Special Public Work and Secretary of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Kogi State, Malam Abubakar Zakari, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the initiative, which he said would ameliorate the suffering of the masses.
