Nigeria’s Federal Government has announced the availability of N288bn of the N500bn appropriated for COVID-19 intervention programmes under the Economic Sustainability Plan.
While many will disagree, the government points out that 2.1 million jobs have been saved, and new ones created, with over 4000km of federal and rural roads have reaching 30% completion since the commencement of the programme.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, disclosed that the figures emerged from a meeting of the Economic Sustainability Committee presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa on Thursday.
The committee noted Ministers and heads of agencies executing the Buhari administration’s Economic Sustainability Plan have reported significant improvement in the implementation of the plan, as the Federal Government ramps up funding for projects across sectors to impact more Nigerians.
Other projects reported on at the meeting include the release of 100% (i.e. N5bn) appropriation for the COVID-19 Aviation intervention; 50% funding (N26bn) for the Public Works scheme hiring 774,000 persons across the country.
The Minister of Youths and Sports Sunday Dare on his part reported N2.6 billion and that is 50 per cent appropriation was released for implementation of youth employability improvement scheme.