Rahma Ahmed
By Ahmed Rahma
To actualize the essence of the Special Public Works (SPW), the federal government has constituted coordinating committees in all the 36 states of the federation.
The major function of the panels is to monitor the implementation and sustainability of the 774,000 jobs created under the programme.
The Minister of State for Education, Mr Emeka Nwajuba, while speaking the extended SPW programme at the Ahiajoku Convention Center in Imo State, disclosed that the plan is to use the scheme to cushion the effect of unemployment in the country as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that the federal government expects the youths to reciprocate this gesture.
“To whom much is given much is expected. These works are public works in their nature. We are inviting citizens to come and be witnesses to how 1,000 persons posted to a local government cannot make any impact in improving the facilities,” he said.
Speaking about the committees, he said, “NDE is not an ad hoc office. It exists in the Ministry of Labour and Productivity. We have set up a coordinating committee within the state to monitor the implementation and sustainability of the programme.
“We have also taken responsibilities even as minister to monitor the process, government is not those who occupy office, governments are the people who must see to the implementation of these programmes and we who in this state, we will ensure that those given these responsibilities deliver them.”
Also speaking, the Imo State Governor, Mr Hope Uzodimma, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Cosmas Iwu, shortly said: “President Muhammedu Buhari should be commended. Our youths should reciprocate by taking this opportunity seriously. What I am saying is that those who got this opportunity must be serious about it.
“It will be recalled that 2 billion has been released by the Hope Uzodimma government, in line with the empowerment of youths in the state, because an idle mind is the devil’s workshops. My simple advice is that our youths must not joke with this opportunity.”
In his welcome address, Chairman of Imo state selection committee, Mr Okenze Obinna, said, “I am elated to welcome you to this event this is in fulfilment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s promises to engage Nigeria youths in contributing their quota in the development of our communities.
“And it is at this point that I will like to inform you that we have 27,000 youths from, 1,000 per local government from the 27 local government areas of Imo state, They have been engaged successfully, and in the process, we ensured that all interest groups were captured. “However, I will like to commend the members of the selection committee for their total commitment in making sure that this project is achieved.”
