Following the coronavirus pandemic threatening Nigeria and the rest of the world, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved not less than 774,000 Nigerians as Special Public Works Programme officials.
According to The Nation, their engagement is part of the measure to cushion the effects of COVID-19 pandemic.
Zainab Ahmed, the minister of finance, budget, and national planning, who disclosed this at a press conference on Monday, April 6, in Abuja, said each of the 774 local government areas in the country is expected to provide 1,000 persons.
The minister went on to note that from the COVID-19 crisis intervention fund N60 billion has already been earmarked as allowances and operational costs for the programme.
Ahmed explained that the Nigerian leader had earlier approved that the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) implement a pilot special public works programme in eight states.
However, the president has approved for the programme to be extended across the country from October to December 2020.