Federal Government Rural Area Engagement Programme was flagged off in Benin City, the Edo State Capital by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo and the Director General, National Directorate of Employment [NDE], Dr. Nasir Argungu.
The pilot phase of this programme includes the flag off of 5,000 transient jobs for women and youths with no form of formal education under the presidency’s pilot SPW Programme, disbursement of Micro-Enterprise Enhancement Scheme [MEES] loan to 1,069 beneficiaries and resettlement items to 41 persons in the state.
The Special Public Work Programme is a Federal Government strategy designed to mitigate lack of job opportunities in the rural areas through short term engagements of unemployed persons in various local government areas for a period of three months.
The Minister commended the State Governor for his developmental achievement in the state. He further noted that Edo State was chosen among the eight states to benefit from the Special Public Work Programme because of the special interest of President Buhari in the State.
Director-General of NDE, Argungu described Obaseki as a performing Governor who has the love of his people at heart. He further stated “Whenever we are in Edo State, issues of religion, tribe and age do not come in and because of the performance of the Governor.
KENNETH ONWORDI
[FIC, BENIN]
