News: Kogi State Government to Employ 12,984 Youth in YESSO Programme

Kogi State Government - About 12,984 unemployed youth from the 21 local government areas of Kogi State will benefit from the Public Workfare programme of the Kogi State Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (KGYESSO) being supported by the World Bank.

The State Project Coordinator of Kogi YESSO, Mr Noah Alilu disclosed this in Lokoja at a one-day interactive forum held for YESSO stakeholders in the state.

He said the first phase of the Public Workfare programme implementation will engage 4,404 unemployed youths from six local government areas of Ibaji, Dekina, Lokoja, Ajaokuta, Okene and Yagba West, adding that participants from the remaining local government areas will benefit in the second and third phases subsequently.

Alilu disclosed that the Public Workfare programme was designed to support the state government to provide immediate labour intensive work opportunities for unskilled youth from poor households while each of the beneficiary receives stipends of N7,500 monthly.

He explained that the programme, which is being supported 90 per cent by the World Bank with 10 per cent counterpart contributions by the state government, would engage youth in public works such as construction and rehabilitation of community feeder roads; refuse collection and waste disposal, reforestation/forest guard among others.

He said that under the Skills for Job (S4J) component of the YESSO programme, some unemployed youth in Lokoja local government area have been engaged as pilot project.

Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Edward Onoja who was represented by the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr Paul Maiwada assured that government would continue to support programmes that will engage and empower unemployed youths in the state meaningfully.

Source: Daily Trust