The Federal Government said N288billion out of the N500billion appropriated for COVID-19 intervention programmes under the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) has been released.
Chairman of the Economic Sustainability Committee and Vice President of Nigeria Yemi Osinbajo made this known on Thursday when the Committee met at the Presidential Villa.
According to him, over 400 kilometers of federal and rural roads are at least 30 percent completed since the ESP commenced.
He added that under the Survival Fund scheme, 1.3 million jobs have been saved, 774,000 jobs created from the Public Works Programme, and another 26,021 jobs created from construction and rehabilitation works.
While noting the considerable progress recorded, Prof. Osinbajo affirmed the President’s resolve to always look out for the Nigerian people, and urged members of the committee “to bear in mind that the vast majority of our people are not allowed to suffer.”
Urging ministers and heads of agencies implementing key programmes of government not to rest on their oars, the Vice President noted that “it is important for us to continually bear in mind that we really have a duty to ensure that the vast majority of our people are not allowed to suffer. So, I feel we should be thinking more about the next thing that we need to do.”
In digital skills support for youth and women, anchored by the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mr Clem Agba reported that N1.5b which is 50% of the amount appropriated for the scheme primarily targeted for job creation has been released to the ministry.
He added that priority programmes for the intervention is the training of 600 youths (100 each from the 6 geo-political zones) on VSAT technologies who will also be supported with laptops and stipends.
The Ministry of Women Affairs has received N625million (50% appropriation) to implement an empowerment scheme for women through capacity building in innovation and vocational training.
The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs has received N2.45 billion representing 7.5% of N32.45billion for cash transfer to the poor and vulnerable; the balance of N30billion is being processed.
The Health Ministry got N23.57billion fot Federal Tertiary Health (FTHs) Institutions (N853m each) for the establishment of ICUs, Molecular Laboratories and Isolation Centres.
The Ministry of Women Affairs has received N625million (50% appropriation) to implement an empowerment scheme for women through capacity building in innovation and vocational training.
