The Senate on Monday urged Festus Keyamo, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, to clarify the circumstances behind the payment of monthly allowance to beneficiaries of the Federal Government's Social Public Works program.
In response to the senate's request, Keyamo stated that the Nigerian government has not yet distributed N7.3 billion to the remaining recipients of the government's 774, 000 special public works program.
According to the Tribune, he made the revelation during the Senate Committee on Labour and Employment's budget defense for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, or MDAs, in Abuja.
Keyamo, who explained that the delay was caused by bank issues, assured that the monies will be delivered before the end of December.
It should be noted that the program was launched in October 2019 after President Muhammadu Buhari gave his consent.
The National Directorate of Employment, or NDE, is in charge of the program.
The program aims to address the country's unemployment problem, particularly in rural areas, by making unemployed young more productive to themselves and society. Beneficiaries would receive N20,000 per month for three months as part of the initiative.
While clarifying the commercial banks utilized to disburse the amount, Keyamo remarked, "The reason we insisted on certain institutions was because of the auditing procedure." This is so that instead of chasing banks all over the place, we can have a transparent audit. We suggested that the bank use its local branches to ensure that the 1,000 people chosen in a certain local government area go to the banks in that area."
The minister, on the other hand, stated that the government had opened up the process so that beneficiaries may use any bank in their area rather than the only ones originally chosen.
"In the last few months, we've made a change. We will no longer link a specific bank to a local government. So, whatever it is, we will have a 98 percent success rate on the program," he stated.
Director-General NDE Abubakar Fikpo also stated that the agency "does not have access to the cash for the beneficiaries" while providing additional clarification.
He emphasized that the participants were paid in such a way that all funds were held by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
"Each time we propose to pay, we transmit the payment details to the Accountant General, not even the CBN." The Accountant General is now the one who contacts with CBN and ensures that these items are upheld and paid. That is how it works.
"We usually provide the identities of participants, their account numbers, BVN, bank data, and the amount to the accountant general." CBN is instructed by the accountant general, who then makes the payment, which is why we occasionally have payment failures." Keyamo elaborated.
Following the Minister's and Director-answers, General's Committee Chairman Sen Godiya Akwashiki stated that the two would be summoned to the committee for an update on the program.
