The Oyo State Government through the State Agency for Youth Development has presented payment debit cards to over five thousand beneficiaries under the third and fourth rounds of Labour Intensive Public Works.
The beneficiaries were the last batches of the Nigeria Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus, NG-CARES 1.0 program in the state.
The event was held at the Ibadan North Local Government Secretariat function hall, Agodi Ibadan.
The Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus, NG-CARES is a two-year emergency operation to support a budgeted program of expenditure and interventions at the state level.
It was targeted at existing and emerging vulnerable, poor households, agricultural chains, and Micro and Small Enterprises affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and other shocks.
Meanwhile, the beneficiaries of the Labour Intensive Public Works, LIPW fund are the unemployed and unskilled youths and women from poor and vulnerable households drawn from the state social single register.
In his address at the presentation of payment debit cards to over five thousand beneficiaries forming third and fourth batches of the scheme, the Chairman, of Oyo State Agency for Youth Development, Prince Adebowale Fálànà said the state government is committed to improving the living standard of all.
It is worthy of note that OYS-CARES in its area of operations, is collaborating with the Sustainable Actions for Economic Recovery (SAfER) Programme of the State Government.
Also addressing the beneficiaries, the Executive Secretary, OYO-CARES, Mrs Nancy Bassy-Muraina disclosed that the beneficiaries who are between the ages 18 and 45 have been useful in maintaining a clean environment across the state.
Speaking on behalf of the council Chairmen, the Executive Chairman of Ibadan North, Hon. Oluwaseun Olufade admonished the beneficiaries to carry out their activities as expected during the program period.
“This program is part of a broader emergency package with a program development objective (PDO), to expand access to livelihood support and food security services, and grants for poor and vulnerable households and firms”. he said.
The head, of Labour Intensive Public Works, LIPW, Mr. Sunmbo Sangogade in a remark noted that the beneficiaries have been working for four hours daily for 20 days monthly and were being paid a stipend of #10,000.
Performing a symbolic presentation of the payment debit cards, the state commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Prof. Musibau Babatunde who was represented by the director of Budget in the ministry, Mr Biodun Oni said the state government had made a budgetary provision of one billion Naira for the purpose in 2024 budget.
Some of the beneficiaries including Mustapha Salaudeen and Ojo
Wuraola Arije expressed appreciation to the government, with the pledge to judiciously use the stipend.
