Coronavirus: Buhari govt set to hire 774,000 Nigerians

President Muhammadu Buhari government is set to employ 774,000 Nigerians over coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Nigeria.

Onyxnews Nigeria reports at least 774,000 Nigerians are to be engaged by the Federal Government as Special Public Works Programme officials as part of its measure to cushion the effects of coronavirus pandemic.

This reliable online news platform understands that under the programme, each of the 774 Local Government Areas in the country is expected to provide 1,000 individuals.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed revealed this at a press conference on fiscal stimulus measures in response to the coronavirus pandemic and oil prices fiscal shock in Abuja on Monday.

She said, N60 billion has already been set aside from the deadly challenges of coronavirus intervention fund as allowances and operational cost for the initiative. She said that President Muhammadu Buhari had previously approved a pilot special public works programme in eight states to be implemented by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE).

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning also said that the President had now approved that this programme to be get to all 36 States and the FCT from October to December 2020. The selected time-frame, according to her, is to ensure that it was implemented after the planting season.

She said: ”The Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning is also evaluating how best to extend the Special Public Works Programme, to provide modest stipends for itinerant workers to undertake Roads Rehabilitation and Social Housing Construction. The programme will also cover Urban and Rural Sanitation, Health Extension and other critical services.

“This intervention will be undertaken in conjunction with the key federal ministries responsible for agriculture, environment, Health and Infrastructure, as well as the states, to financially empower individuals who lose their jobs due to the economic crisis.

“Mr. President has approved the establishment of a-N500 billion COVID-19 Crisis Intervention Fund. The establishment of the Fund will involve drawing much-needed cash resources from various Special Funds and Accounts, in consultation with and with the approval of the National Assembly,” she added.