FG plans permanent engagement of SURE-P beneficiaries on Lagos to Kano rail corridor The Federal Government says a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Nigerian Railway Corporation and the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) is being prepared on the permanent engagement of the beneficiaries of the Community Services, Women and Youth Empowerment Project in states and communities along the rail corridor running from Lagos (South West Nigeria) to Kano (North West Nigeria). A statement issued by Joseph Mutah, Press Secretary to the Information Minister quoted the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu as disclosing this in Abuja at the second meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Consultative Committee of the Community Services, Women and Youth Empowerment Project of the SURE-P. According to the statement, Wogu said the measure was part of strategies being adopted to exit 119,170 beneficiaries of the project. The Minister also stated that his Ministry has offered to train 24 beneficiaries from each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory which would end with the provision of grants to commence micro enterprises in the areas of training. Chief Wogu further informed that the making and selling of Waste Briquettes- an alternative to firewood, have been proposed as part of the exit enterprise where machines capable of employing 84 beneficiaries each and producing 720 bags of briquettes per day with monthly returns of over 1.2 million naira would be installed in the states. Furthermore, the Labour Minister stated that the Committee is seeking for the provision of hectares of land from state governments to be used as model farms by the exiting youth. He said once the lands are secured and the size and type of crops to be grown in specific areas are ascertained, discussion would commence with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for the provision of necessary farm inputs and extension services. The Labour Minister said discussion has been initiated with the four telecommunication service providers to work with the Committee on the provision of cheaper and marketable telecom products which the youths can engage in for economic reliance. “The Vocational Skills Training Component under the Social Safety Net of SURE-P is being explored to provide sustainable exit strategy for some of the beneficiaries with requisite qualification to learn some of the skills offered’’, the Minister added. Information Minister Mr. Labaran Maku and his counterpart from the Ministry of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Maina participated in the second Inter-Ministerial Consultative Committee Meeting.
Posted on: Sat, 31 Aug 2013 10:14:23 +0000
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