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| Kayode Fayemi |
Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, has promised that his administration will soon resume payment of stipends to indigent elders and the physically-challenged.
This, Fayemi said, would bring succour as well as accelerate the standard of living of Ekiti people and address the trend of poverty.
He added that the beneficiaries would be drawn from the Single Register for the Poor and Vulnerable Households.
The Single Register, the governor added, contains the list of all identified households living below globally accepted poverty line.
Fayemi spoke at the inauguration of the engagement of the Third Batch of the Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO)/Public Workfare (PWF) Scheme in Ifaki-Ekiti.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, restated the commitment of his administration to fighting poverty and giving economic empowerment to the people.
He described the World Bank assisted scheme as laudable and a measure to combat poverty, โwhich does not respect partisan politicsโ.
A statement yesterday by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Deputy Governor, Odunayo Ogunmola, explained that 6,437 beneficiaries are participating in the programme holding at Ifaki Campus of the Ekiti State University (EKSU).
Fayemi stressed that his administration has zero-tolerance for poverty, hence its desire to always engage the people of the state in meaningful activities that would keep the youth out of redundancy and restiveness.
The governor, who advised the beneficiaries to judiciously utilise the stipends to be paid to them and make themselves reliant, also hailed the World Bank for the project and other interventions in the state.
Director General of the Bureau of Labour, Employment and Productivity Mr. Lanre Ogunjobi said the state government will be committing N50 million monthly to the payment of stipends to beneficiaries.
Ogunjobi, who said the gesture was aimed at checkmating poverty at the grassroots, also hailed the Fayemi administration for paying its counterpart funds to the World Bank despite the financial challenges facing the state.
He noted that the programme, which started in 2013 during Fayemiโs first tenure, has helped reduce unemployment and boosted economy at the grassroots.
Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Labour, Employment and Productivity Mr. Sesan Alabi said the welfare of the poor is a priority to the Fayemi administration.
Alabi added that the social intervention programmes started by the governor during his first tenure are now being replicated at the federal level to empower the poor.
