Economic Sustainability Plan helped save, create 2.1m jobs – Osinbajo

THE Federal Government has said N288b out of the N500b budgeted for Covid-19 intervention programmes under the Economic Sustainability Plan has been released.

This was disclosed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President on Media and Publicity, ‘Laolu Akande in a statement issued yesterday, titled, ” “Over two million jobs saved, created, as FG releases N288bn for ESP/Covid-19 implementation.”

According to the statement the government’s intervention has saved at least 2.1 million jobs and created new ones.

It also added that over 4000km of federal and rural roads are at least 30% completed since the commencement of the programme.

Akande said the details of the intervention’s impact emerged from a meeting of the Economic Sustainability Committee presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, yesterday.

The statement read, “Ministers and heads of agencies executing the Buhari administration’s Economic Sustainability Plan reported significant improvement in the implementation of the plan, as the Federal Government ramps up funding for projects across sectors to impact more Nigerians.
“Already more than 50% of the appropriated sum for the ESP has been released.

“Under the Survival Fund scheme specifically, 1.3 million jobs have been saved, and another 774,000 jobs created from the Public Works Programme.

“This is apart from the total 26,021 jobs created from construction and rehabilitation works.

“Other highlights include the release of 100% (i.e. N5bn) appropriation for the Covid-19 Aviation intervention; 50% funding (N26bn) for the Public Works scheme hiring 774,000 persons across the country, among others.”

Akande quoted the Vice President as commending the ministers for doing a good job.

According to him, Osinbajo urged ministers and heads of agencies implementing key programmes of government not to rest on their oars.

“It is important for us to continually bear in mind that we really have a duty to ensure that the vast majority of our people are not allowed to suffer.

“So, I feel we should be thinking more about the next thing that we need to do,” he quoted the Vice President as saying.