Boko Haram; Governor Zulum urges FG to give Special consideration to Borno youths in the 774 Special Public Projects,
By Madu Mohammed, Maiduguri
The Borno state Governor Prof. Babagana Zulum has called on the Federal government to give Special consideration to the state by engaging more Borno youths and women in the Federal Government 774 Special Public work projects due to the insurgency that ravaged the state in the last 10 years.
The governor made the appeal when flagging off the 774 Special Public works projects on Wednesday in Maiduguri said ” here in Borno we’re facing a lot of challenges due to decade long insurgency and further aggravated by the COVID 19 , we are appealing the Federal government to give special attention to Borno state”.
The Governor Zulum represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Umar Kadafur said “the pilot projects launched in Borno state in February, 2020 was successful but however the participants are yet to be paid their two months allowances. We urge the Federal Government to pay them.”
He said “the launhing of the Extended Public Works Project is timely, as the decade long insurgency has negatively affect the state. The Special public project is a strategy of creating jobs to teeming unemployed youths and women and in the fight against poverty.”
Also speaking, the Representative of the Federal Government, the State Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Mustapha Baba Shehuri said ” the Extended Special Public Works Projects is an initiative of President Muhammadu Buhari to create job to 774 ,000 youths and the pilot is taking place in Borno and 7 other states and will also be extended to to the 36 states and here in Borno 27000 youths and women are benefiting”.
” A Total of N1.62 billion has been set aside in different banks for the payment of their allowances and working tools were also provided for the youths to effectuveky carry out public work in different projects that will change their communities”, the minister added..
Hon Shehuri said ” in Borno state alone 4885 were trained various vocation skills acquisition, 596 women were trained in costimitology,, 50 people were trained in small scale enterprises and 15 were settled., 3,054 were trained micro empowerment scheme,, 500 internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were trained in various camps across the State among other programmes”.
He urged Nigerians to cooperate with beneficiaries and the officials for success of the projects across the nation.
In his welcome address, the Acting Director General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Abubakar Fikpo said the Extended Special Public Works Projects is very significant to the Federal Government quest to create job and fight unemployment, as well as cushioned the effect of COVID 19, adding that the projects is commencing in 8 states of Borno, Jigawa, Sokoto, Ondo, Adamawa, Eboyi among others.
The DG represented by his Special Assessment, Technical, Sumaila Mamman thanked President Bihari for entrusting the projects into the hands if NDE and promised to o justify the confidence eposed on them.
In his remarks, the chairman Borno state selection committee, Engr Bukar Talba commented President Buhari for the initiative of creating jobs to thousand of teeming unemployed youths, adding that Borno youths are hardworking and enterprising.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Liman Abba thanked the Federal government for giving them the opportunity and promised to put more efforts in discharging their duties.