774,000 Jobs With Cutlass: Why FG Didn’t Share Expensive Equipment — Keyamo
Minister of State, Labour and Employment Festus Keyamo on Monday spoke on the viral picture of him holding a cutlass during the launch of the Special Public Works Programme in his local government, Uvwie LGA, in Delta State, Igbere TV reports.
The Special Public Works Programme which will employ 774,000 youths across the country for three months will include tree planting, clearing of irrigation canals among others.
Following a report by ThisDay highlighting social media reactions to the viral picture, Mr Keyamo said the picture was misunderstood.
“…The tools are NOT FOR EMPOWERMENT. The tools belong to Govt and are what our everyday labourers use for work. The empowerment is the total of N60,000 they’d be paid for the work in 3 months. Understand a programme before reporting it,” he said.
Poor reportage from a respectable newspaper. The tools are NOT FOR EMPOWERMENT. The tools belong to Govt and are what our everyday labourers use for work. The empowerment is the total of N60,000 they’d be paid for the work in 3 months. Understand a programme before reporting it https://t.co/iZY1NjTlhJ
— Festus Keyamo, SAN (@fkeyamo) January 11, 2021
Explaining further, the minister wrote:
“The 774,000 jobs is basically for our everyday labourers to carry out community services. It would not be financially prudent if Govt were to spend billions for expensive equipment for 3-month jobs, then spend millions again training our labourers on how to use these equipment.”
The 774,000 jobs is basically for our everyday labourers to carry out community services. It would not be financially prudent if Govt were to spend billions for expensive equipments for 3-month jobs, then spend millions again training our labourers on how to use these equipments
— Festus Keyamo, SAN (@fkeyamo) January 11, 2021
Meanwhile, Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola on Monday inaugurated the programme in Osogbo.