Minister of State, Labour and Employment Festus Keyamo on Monday spoke on the viral picture of him holding a cutlass during the launch of the Special Public Works Programme in his local government, Uvwie LGA, in Delta State.
The Special Public Works Programme which will employ 774,000 youths across the country for three months will include tree planting, clearing of irrigation canals among others.
Following a report by ThisDay highlighting social media reactions to the viral picture, Mr Keyamo said the picture was misunderstood.
“…The tools are NOT FOR EMPOWERMENT. The tools belong to Govt and are what our everyday labourers use for work. The empowerment is the total of N60,000 they’d be paid for the work in 3 months. Understand a programme before reporting it,” he said.
Explaining further, the minister wrote: “The 774,000 jobs is basically for our everyday labourers to carry out community services. It would not be financially prudent if Govt were to spend billions for expensive equipment for 3-month jobs, then spend millions again training our labourers on how to use these equipment.”
Meanwhile, Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola on Monday inaugurated the programme in Osogbo.
