Four doctoral, 200 Master’s degree holders from one state among applicants of 774,000 unskilled jobs

Nigerian Senate berated the Minister of State for Employment, Labour and Productivity, Mr  Festus Keyamo SAN, again on Wednesday over the recruitment of 774,000 Nigerians for the Federal Government’s Special Public Works programme.

The Senate spokesperson, Dr. Ajibola Basiru, who chatted with The Punch, described as false, a claim by the Minister that each member of the National Assembly was given 30 slots in the ongoing nationwide public works recruitment.

Ogun State Chairman of Special Public Works, Senator Gbenga Obadara, told The Punch that four doctoral and 200 Master’s degree holders were among applicants in the state.

Recall that the  President, Muhammadu Buhari, had a few months ago, approved the employment of 774,000 workers as part of efforts to cushion the economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the programme, Nigerians, who will be unskilled workers, will earn N20,000 each on a monthly basis for three months.

At least, 1,000 workers will be recruited from each of the 774 local government areas of the country.

The programme ran into a hitch in July when the National Assembly and Mr. Keyamo disagreed over who should handle the recruitment.

The Senators had insisted that the programme should be handled by the National Directorate of Employment.

But as a result of the President’s intervention, the crisis was resolved. Two weeks ago, the Chairman of the Extended Special Public Work Selection Committee in Rivers State, Dr Innocent Barikor, was quoted to have said that the minister had directed that every governor should be given  40 slots in each local government area, while each senator and House of Representatives member would enjoy 30 slots in their various council areas.