3,000 SURE-P EMPLOYEES BEGIN WORK IN EKITI

The first 3,000 beneficiaries of the Subsidy Re-Investment Programme

(SURE-P) Community Services, Youths and Women Employment Scheme have started work in Ekiti State, with an assurance from the Chairman and Coordinator of the State Implementation Committee, Rt. Hon. Femi Akinyemi that the second batch of 2,000 will be employed before the end of June.

Working tools like wheel-barrow, shovel, digger and reflective jackets were presented to community leaders, who had provided the services to be rendered by the 3,000 new recruits in their various communities.

Speaking while unveiling the 3,000 beneficiaries at the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) secretariat in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, Akinyemi said he was happy that; “3,000 Ekiti youths will now be sure of having food on their tables courtesy of the SURE-P Community Services, Youths and Women Employment Scheme.”

He said; “the first 3,000 beneficiaries that were chosen from the over

30,000 job seekers that obtained the forms are the ones we are unveiling today, and as from today, these 3,000 youths will be sure of having foods on their tables.

“With 3,000 Ekiti youths off the labour market today, we are sure that crime rate in the State will be reduced and problems of unemployment solved considerably. Also, N10, 000 stipends to 3,000 youths per month will amount to N30 million coming into Ekiti State from the Subsidy Fund per month, and one can begin to imagine the impacts on the economy of the State.

“That is aside from the services that will be rendered by the beneficiaries and those that will be employed under the Graduate Internship Scheme.

“Before the end of June, the second batch of 2,000 will be employed bring the total beneficiaries of the scheme in Ekiti State to 5,000.”

On how the beneficiaries will be paid, the Chairman said; “payment of the N10, 000 monthly stipend to the beneficiaries will be made through e-payment. Already, data-capturing of the beneficiaries have been done by a first generation bank in the country.”

He reaffirmed that the programme was not a free wheel programme, but “an intervention arrangement specifically designed as part of the transformation agenda of the President Goodluck Jonathan-led federal government for the eradication of poverty, up-liftment and development in Ekiti State and the country as a whole.”

(From Right - left) Chairman and Coordinator of the State Implementation Committee of Subsidy Re-Investment Programme (SURE-P) , Rt. Hon. Femi Akinyemi with other stakeholders and beneficiaries of the Community Services, Youths and Women Employment Scheme during the unveiling of the first 3,000 beneficiaries of the scheme and presentation of working tools to them at the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) secretariat in Ado-Ekiti yesterday.