The Bayelsa government
has surpassed a target of 16,000 jobs for youths with a World Bank loan and
grant component finance from the European Union (EU).
The bilateral fund administered
under State Employment and Expenditure for Results (SEEFOR) Project has
impacted some 17,685 youths with temporary jobs for a one year period from June
2013 till date.
It will be recalled
that Bayelsa on November 21, 2018 commenced the
deployment of one million dollars bilateral loan it obtained from the World
Bank in addition to an earlier $50 million loan and grant component from
European Union (EU).
The national
secretariat of the World Bank-intervention SEEFOR Project on Thursday said Bayelsa
qualified to benefit from the Phase Two of the SEEFOR Project haven surpassed set
targets.
The national
coordinator, SEEFOR Project, domiciled in the Ministry of Budget and National Planning,
Dr Greg Onu, gave Bayelsa the pass mark shortly after a tour of projects with
newsmen in Yenagoa
Onu observed that
Bayelsa SEEFOR Project had surpassed most of its targets in youth employment
and public works in the implementation of the programme since its commencement
in 2013.
Onu noted that the
state had constructed 402 concrete roads in communities as against its target
of 137 and had employed 17,685 youths above the 16,000 benchmark for youth
employment during the period.
The 402 concrete roads
are mainly targeted at schools, health facilities and markets which translate
to over 70km of roads constructed through direct labour.
Onu emphasised that
Bayelsa was also "making serious progress in component "B"
of the project which is public financial management reforms."
"Phase two
projects depend on the performance of SEEFOR phase one projects. We have ticked
Bayelsa good for performing above average.
"They have
surpassed their targets. We have yearly targets. We also have end-of-the-year
targets. In summary, Bayelsa has surpassed most of its targets, going
forward." Onu said.
Also speaking, the
state SEEFOR Project coordinator, Mr Ayens Adogu, said the agency was
determined to improve on the quality of projects executed for the development
of communities.
"The aim of the
project is to improve the living condition of the people. Communities must move
from a bad state of development to a good state of development.
"If you are in a
certain state with poor index of development that is bad, you cannot continue
to be there, you have to make progress" he said.
He noted that the
project which pays beneficiaries a wage of N20,000 for a one year period would
increase the wages to reflect the new minimum wage adding that the N20,000 was
benchmarked with the old N18,000 minimum wage.
“We are looking at the
new minimum wage even though this is an intervention project, we operate within
the extant laws and all our partners are looking at the possibility of reflecting
the Minimum Wage Act going forward,” he said
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