Speaking at the ceremony held at Multipurpose Indoor Sports Hall, Bauchi, the governor reiterated the resolve of his administration towards effective implementation of the programme in the state.
Governor Bala Mohammed said the government of Bauchi State is used to such programmes and is ready to support its existence in the state.
He said working tools and protective gadgets have been provided for all the participants in their working environments while their details have been captured by the designated banks to guarantee fraud-free, transportation and ensure fair service delivery.
The governor who said for effective monitoring of the programme, supervisors have been appointed in all the project sites to conduct supervisory roles, noted that, each participating Local Government will identify its preferred projects and will be responsible for ensuring that, they are executed as planned.
He said already the state government is providing adequate funds for the coordination, monitoring and evaluation for the engagement of the youth into various programmes particularly in YESSO.
Represented by the State Commissioner for Small and Medium Enterprises, Honorable Modibbo Ahmed, Governor Bala Mohammed congratulated the beneficiaries and urged them to make judicious use of the opportunity.
“I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Federal Government, the National Directorate of Employment for the successful selection of the beneficiaries of this programme. I believe it will go along way in improving the economic strength of our youths in the country.”
In a key note adrress, the Acting Director General, National Directorate of Employment, (NDE), Malam Abubakar Fikpo explained that, participants are expected to be paid with a monthly stipends of Twenty Thousand Naira each from January, 2021 to March, 2021 as the programme commenced from 5th January, 2021 to 4th April 2021.
The Acting Director General who was represented by the Bauchi State Coordinator of the Directorate, Aliyu Lawal Yaya, said the programme is a very significant in reducing the effect of COVID-19 pandemic and was designed to fast-track the achievement of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (2017-2020).
Malam Abubakar Fikpo said the programme as designed will touch the lives of 774,000 unemployed Nigerians for three months where communities will benefit through the activities of the participants who will be engaged in various community/environmental public works.