N288b ESP cash release Saves 2.1m Jobs
The Federal Government has saved as well as created 2.1 million jobs with the implementation of its Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP).
It said over 4,000 kilometres of its and rural roads have reached at least 30 per cent completion level.
These were among the highlights from yesterday’s meeting of the Economic Sustainability Committee, presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice-President, Mr. Laolu Akande, said the achievements followed the release of about N288 billion out of the N500 billion earmarked for COVID-19 intervention programmes under the ESP.
Affirming the considerable progress he government had recorded, Prof. Osinbajo acknowledged the President’s resolve to always do what is right for Nigerians.
He urged members of the committee “to bear in mind that the vast majority of our people are not allowed to suffer”.
Ministers and heads of agencies executing the Buhari administration’s ESP reported significant improvement in the implementation of the programme as the government ramps up funding for projects across various sectors to impact more Nigerians.
Already, more than 50 per cent of the appropriated sum for the ESP has been released.
Under the Survival Fund Scheme, 1.3 million jobs have been saved and another 774,000 jobs created through the Public Works Programme.
This is besides the 26,021 jobs created from construction and rehabilitation works, the statement said.
Other highlights include the release of 100 per cent (that is, N5 billion) appropriation for the COVID-19 Aviation intervention; 50 per cent funding (N26 billion) for the Public Works scheme hiring 774,000 persons across the country, among others.
Commenting on the reports presented by ESC members at the meeting, Osinbajo said: “I think that it will be fair to say that on account of the very good work that you all have done, we were able to get out of recession much faster than anyone would have imagined, although only marginally.”
Urging ministers and heads of agencies implementing key programmes of the government not to rest on their oars, the Vice-President said: “It is important for us to continually bear in mind that we really have a duty to ensure that the vast majority of our people are not allowed to suffer. So, I feel we should be thinking more about the next thing that we need to do.”
In digital skills support for youth and women, anchored by the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mr. Clem Agba, reported that N1.5 billion, which is 50 per cent of the amount appropriated for the scheme primarily targeted for job creation, had been released to the ministry.