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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 the Labour Intensive Public Works program.
These beneficiaries were the final 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 designed to support a budgeted program of expenditures and interventions at the state level. It targets existing and emerging vulnerable and poor households, agricultural chains, and Micro and Small Enterprises affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and other shocks.
The beneficiaries of the Labour Intensive Public Works (LIPW) fund are unemployed and unskilled youths and women from poor and vulnerable households, drawn from the state social single register.
In his address at the presentation, the Chairman of the Oyo State Agency for Youth Development, Prince Adebowale Fálà nà , stated that the state government is committed to improving the living standards of all residents.
It is worth noting that OYS-CARES is collaborating with the Sustainable Actions for Economic Recovery (SAfER) Program of the State Government in its area of operations.
Also addressing the beneficiaries, the Executive Secretary of OYO-CARES, Mrs. Nancy Bassy-Muraina, disclosed that the beneficiaries, aged between 18 and 45, have been instrumental in maintaining a clean environment across the state.
Speaking on behalf of the council chairmen, the Executive Chairman of Ibadan North, Hon. Oluwaseun Olufade, encouraged 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, food security services, and grants for poor and vulnerable households and firms.
The head of Labour Intensive Public Works (LIPW), Mr. Sunmbo Sangogade, noted in his remarks that the beneficiaries have been working for four hours daily for 20 days each month and are 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 has made a budgetary provision of one billion Naira for this purpose in the 2024 budget.
Some of the beneficiaries, including Mustapha Salaudeen and Ojo Wuraola Arije, expressed appreciation to the government and pledged to use the stipend judiciously.
