Interesting: Nigerian government to employ 774,000 youths to clear gutters, streets, others

President Buhari has approved the temporary employment of 774, 000 people who will engage in sweeping of streets, markets and clearing of gutters for a period of three months.

The initiative will be funded from the N60bn COVID-19 Intervention Fund and will last from October to December 2020, according to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed.

Ahmed disclosed this at a press conference on fiscal stimulus measures in response to COVID-19 pandemic and oil prices fiscal shock, on Monday in Abuja.

However, the government of Nigeria had announced on its official Twitter handle in February that the initiative known as the Special Works Programme, would target rural communities.

The minister said on Monday that the initiative had been extended to the 36 states of the federation.

She confirmed that Buhari had previously approved a pilot special public works programme in eight states to be implemented by the National Directorate of Employment.

She added that Buhari has now approved that this programme be extended to all 36 States and the FCT from October to December 2020 and the selected time frame was to ensure that it was implemented after the planting season.

– Punch