The acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, on
Friday, disclosed that 2.3 million youths have so far applied for the
300,000 jobs that are still available under the Federal Government’s
N-Power scheme since the portal was reopened in June.
Friday, disclosed that 2.3 million youths have so far applied for the
300,000 jobs that are still available under the Federal Government’s
N-Power scheme since the portal was reopened in June.
Osinbajo disclosed this to journalists when he visited the scheme’s Response Centre in Abuja.
Under the scheme, which is one of the
components of the government’s Social Investment Programme, 500,000
youths are expected to be engaged.
components of the government’s Social Investment Programme, 500,000
youths are expected to be engaged.
While 200,000 were employed in the first
phase, the portal was reopened on June 13 for the applications to fill
the remaining 300,000 vacancies.
phase, the portal was reopened on June 13 for the applications to fill
the remaining 300,000 vacancies.
Despite the high number of the applications, however, Osinbajo said the government would stick to the 500,000 target for now.
He said a decision on whether to increase the figure in the future would depend on government’s resources.
The acting President said, “Already,
200,000 young people have been engaged. And since the programme was
opened, another 2.3 million have applied and we are looking at the next
phase of engagement.
200,000 young people have been engaged. And since the programme was
opened, another 2.3 million have applied and we are looking at the next
phase of engagement.
“But for me, I think what is important
is that we are able to do this incrementally and we are able to give
hope to some of these young people who need the opportunity.
is that we are able to do this incrementally and we are able to give
hope to some of these young people who need the opportunity.
“We will never always be able to do everything but I think that it is important that we do as much as we can.
“You will recall that the target was
500,000 but depending on our resources, we can always do more. But the
target, for now, is 500,000.”
500,000 but depending on our resources, we can always do more. But the
target, for now, is 500,000.”
Osinbajo said the tablets given to
beneficiaries contain useful learning materials that could help develop
their skills in a variety of ways and further give them greater
opportunities.
beneficiaries contain useful learning materials that could help develop
their skills in a variety of ways and further give them greater
opportunities.
He said the scheme was more than an employment programme but a skills development programme that was unprecedented.
Osinbajo said there was no truth in the reports of the alleged backlog of salaries as far as the scheme was concerned.
He said once the Bank Verification Numbers of beneficiaries were verified, they were paid.
“There is a problem if your BVN does not
match the records you gave. If there is a problem with any of your
records, you cannot be paid.
match the records you gave. If there is a problem with any of your
records, you cannot be paid.
“The moment your records are cleared,
then you are paid constantly. If you don’t correct these records, then
you might be paying the wrong people,” he said.
then you are paid constantly. If you don’t correct these records, then
you might be paying the wrong people,” he said.
Punch
