774,000 SPW Job: FG mulling extension beyond 3 months

FG says it is considering extending 774,000 jobs programme

• The federal government has disclosed that it is considering extending the 774,000 employment programme beyond the three-month timeline
• The disclosure was made by the minister of state for labour and employment, Festus Keyamo
• Keyamo expressed the confidence that the Special Public Works (SPW) programme will be a success

The federal government is considering extending the 774,000 employment programme beyond the three-month job timeline.

The minister of state for labour and employment, Festus Keyamo told the Nation newspaper on Monday, August 31, that alternatively, the government may make the job scheme an annual event.

Festus Keyamo said the government is considering extending the 774,000 employment programme beyond the three-month job timeline.

He said the new considerations emerged following complaints that the three-month job timeline might not make any impact on the beneficiaries.

The minister also expressed the confidence that the Special Public Works (SPW) programme, which will create the 774,000 jobs will be a success.

I am confident that the SPW will succeed 100 per cent. We limited the scope to three months for the 774,000 workers because it is an expensive programme and we are facing drop in revenue, he said.

There are so many exit strategies that the government is considering. Apart from that, the government may extend the programme or make it an annual event.

Recall that Festus Keyamo stated that he retained the sharing formula for the 774,000 jobs proposed by the federal government.

Keyamo revealed that the initial plan to allocate 15% of the job slots to governors, NASS members, ministers and interest groups still stands, The Nation reported.

Concerning his role on the project, the minister said that he has not received contrary instruction from the presidency.

Meanwhile, the planned 774,000 jobs for Nigerians project is still generating disquiet as House of Representatives members who belong to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rejected the scheme, saying it is politically motivated.

In a statement on Monday, August 24, the PDP lawmakers caucus led by Kingsley Chinda said the planned projects under the supervision of the Ministry of Labour and Employment is an avenue to siphon the public funds.

Chinda said the project is being carried out under the guise of job creation to carpet over N52 billion of Nigeria’s scarce resources within the period of three months.