Beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s Special Public Works Scheme (SPW) have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to critically observe and extend the program to another phase to combat the prevalent poverty rate across the country.

The programme aimed at mitigating the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Nigeria’s teeming population also targeted employing 1,000 unskilled youths in each of the 774 LGAs for three months.

In Katsina State, Northwest Nigeria, the program has according to the state Chairman of PWS 2021 beneficiaries, Salim Usman, directly touched the lives of over 34,000 unemployed youths majority of who are now self-reliant.

He said the beneficiaries were expected to engage in public service works and receive a monthly stipend of N20,000.

He appreciated on behalf of the teeming beneficiaries the efforts of President Buhari in combating the menace of unemployment through the SPW program.

“Our Preciation also goes to The Honorable state minister for Labour and Employment Mr Festus Keyamo who carefully selected the capable state selection chairmen across the country who have piloted the selection process and their committee members for doing the able work that touched the lives of the downtrodden at the grassroots level.

“Likewise, we must not forget to appreciate the efforts of our able governor of Katsina State for selecting the beneficiaries through the community stakeholders across the state,” he added.

The program was managed by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) under the supervision of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

To execute the project, a total of N52 billion was voted for the programme in the revised 2020 budget.