COVID-19: Buhari Approves Recruitment of 774,000 Nigerians-Fin. Min

COVID-19: Buhari Approves Recruitment of 774,000 Nigerians-Fin. Min

COVID-19: Zainab Ahmed, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning,  reveals the Federal Government plan to engage 774, 000 Nigerians from all the 774 Local Government Areas

This is aimed at fighting the global covid-19 pandemic, which has killed close to 70,000 persons worldwide.  According to the Minister, 1000 persons will be taken from the of 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria

While giving briefing members of the press on stimulus package measures on Monday in Abuja, Mrs Ahmed reveals the true nature of the economy following the pandemic

“According to her, the sum of N60 billion for allowances and operational cost has been earmarked from the COVID-19 crisis intervention fund for the initiative.

She disclosed that President Buhari had previously approved a pilot special public works programme in eight states to be implemented by the National Directorate of Employment, NDE.”

The Governor of the economy said that, the programme would include the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. This will span from October 2020 to December 2020

 Full implementation will be hard heard to and strict monitoring will be inforce to see its fruition

“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.

Ahmed said: “And also 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.

COVID-19: Buhari Approves Recruitment of 774,000 Nigerians-Fin. Min

in her correct words “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.

“The N500 billion is proposed to be utilized to upgrade healthcare facilities as earlier identified by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and approved by Mr. President.

“This will help to finance the Federal Government’s Interventions to support states in improving healthcare facilities, finance the creation of a Special Public Works programme and Fund any additional interventions that may be approved by Mr. President”.

The minister noted that although similar challenges were experienced in 2008/2009 as well as in 2015/2016, Nigeria had considerably lower fiscal buffers now than in previous economic downturns.

According to her, the decline in international oil prices and domestic production may be magnified if a severe outbreak of COVID-19 occurs, despite ongoing efforts to curtail the spread of the pandemic through compulsory lockdown of Lagos and Ogun States, as well as the FCT.

The minister said to directly address these health and economic challenges; the president approved the Fiscal Stimulus Package among others as part of an Integrated Policy Framework to ensure that Nigeria’s healthcare system, fiscal position and economy were sufficiently supported to weather these shocks.