Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has promised that his administration will soon recommence payment of stipends to indigent aged and physically challenged people.
This, Fayemi said, would bring succour as well as accelerate the standard of living of Ekiti people and address the trend of poverty.
He disclosed that the beneficiaries will be drawn from the Single Register for the Poor and Vulnerable Households in the State.
The Single Register, the Governor added, contains the list of all identified households living below globally accepted poverty line.
Fayemi spoke at the flag-off of the engagement of the Third Batch of the Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO)/Public Workfare (PWF) Scheme in Ifaki Ekiti.
Fayemi who was represented by the Deputy Governor, 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 “which does not respect partisan politics.”
A statement on Sunday by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Deputy Governor, Odunayo Ogunmola, explained that a total number of 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 will keep the youth out of redundancy and restiveness.
The governor, who advised the beneficiaries to judiciously utilise the stipends to be paid them and make themselves reliant, also commended the World Bank for the project and other interventions in the state.
Speaking earlier, the Director General of the Bureau of Labour, Employment and Productivity, Mr. Lanre Ogunjobi, disclosed that 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 pointed out that the programme which started in 2013 during Fayemi’s first tenure has helped reduce unemployment and boosted economy at the grassroots.
The 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 give empowerment to the poor.
