PDP slams Buhari, APC over failure to pay 774,000 ‘public works’ youths

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) says it is appalled by reports that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration failed to pay the 774,000 youths it recruited from the 774 local government areas across the country.

Daily Trust had reported that most of the people recruited for the federal government’s 774,000 three-month job that ended in April have not been paid the promised N20,000 monthly stipend.

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1,000 people were picked from each of the 774 LGAs in 36 states under the Extended Special Public Works (ESPW) programme.

Reacting in a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said the “callous act” has further vindicated its position that the APC government is nothing but a scam which only thrives on fake promises and treasury looting.

“Such corruption can only be permissible under a leader like President Buhari, who, in a recent media, admitted that his Presidency is infested by corrupt officials but informed the world about how they are eased out with their loots instead of being exposed and investigated.

“Our party challenges the EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, to name the said female Minister and stop the famous process of easing out corrupt people in Buhari’s cabinet.

“The PDP has also been made aware of how other cabinet ministers including those indicted for siphoning and diverting funds meant for parastatals and agencies under their purview are being shielded from prosecution.

“Nigerians are invited to note how ministers in the Buhari administration have not been prosecuted despite reports of seething treasury looting in the Treasury Single Account (TSA) as well as revenue generating and controlling agencies such as NNPC, NPA, FIRS, NEMA, NDDC, NIMASA, EFCC, among others.

“Moreover, the PDP is appalled by reports in the media that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration has failed to pay the 774,000 youths it recruited from the 774 local government areas across the country under the so called Extended Special Public Works (ESPW)

“Such callous act has further vindicated our position that the APC government is nothing but a scam which only thrives on fake promises and treasury looting.

“The PDP holds as wicked and sacrilegious that the Buhari Presidency and the APC could drag out our youths, onlu for government officials, as ministers and heads of parastatals, to use them as cover to divert public funds.

“Our party is shocked by reports in the media that thousands of participants are yet to be paid the monthly N20,000 while a few were only paid for one month, despite the huge allocation release for the scheme.

“It is, to say the least, despicable that at every turn, one is confronted by woeful tales of treasury looting, fleecing of Nigerians, lies, deception, and fake promises by an administration that parades a “holier than thou” posturing” the statement read.