Federal Government on Tuesday flagged off 33,000 expanded Social Public Works program in Oyo state.
The event held at Akinyele Local Government Secretariat in Ibadan had in attendance top government officials, political leaders, traditional rulers, and members of the general public.
At the event, about 33,000 skilled and unskilled workers in Oyo state have been enlisted to benefit from the Extended Special Public Works programme initiated by the federal government through the national directorate of employment and in partnership with Oyo State Government.
In his keynote address before the flag off, Governor Seyi Makinde who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan affirmed that the programme would greatly impact on unemployment and hunger in the state, particularly as it complements many effort of the state government in providing jobs for teachers, medical personnel, health workers, lawyers among others, some of whom would receive their employment letter this January.
While urging the beneficiaries to be committed to the vision of the programme as further expansion of the programme relied on their efficiency, Governor Makinde equally charged the coordinator of the programme to ensure thorough and encompassing selection process subsequently.
Earlier, the Minister for Youth and Sport, Hon. Sunday Dare and Minister of state for labour and employment, Festus Keyamo who were both represented by Mr. Ajao Olufemi, unanimously agreed that the programme validate the genuine purpose and focus of the federal government and guaranteed three months of productive venture and involvement of youths in national development.
In his own speech, Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Mallam Abubakar Fikpo represented by the State Coordinator, explained that upon the success of the pilot scheme in eight states, the scheme is now spread across all state of the country to ensure 774,000 jobs with at least 1000 jobs in each local government area as participants would be engaged in various community/environmental specific public work activities.
Similarly, Chairman state selection committee, Ope Salami implored participants not to consider the value of the monthly renumeration but the capacity and positive value it would add to them.