By Magnus Aluma, Abakaliki
The Ebonyi State Government is set to train and empower not less than one thousand and five hundred indigent young people in various skills and businesses.
The commissioner information and state orientation, Jude Okpor while briefing newsmen, Wednesday on the outcome of the state’s weekly executive council meeting in his office, said an empowerment package of two million naira has been approved for each of the beneficiaries.
He explained that the project is targeted at young Ebonyians involved in street hawking and other menial jobs both at home and across the major cities after graduation from their trainings in various skills and businesses.
His words: “Exco had earlier directed the Commissioner for Skill Development and Job Creation and his counterpart in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Business Development to visit major cities in the country to bring back young Ebonyians indulging in street hawking and other menial jobs for training in skills and businesses of their choice.”
According to him, the project, which is expected to come in three phases, will cost the state government over three billion naira, and is designed to accommodate no fewer than five hundred beneficiaries in each phase.
Okpor further said Governor Francis Nwifuru announced to the state’s Executive Council, the release of the sum of two billion naira, including a total of three thousand bags of rice as palliatives by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The commissioner emphasised that the state executive council has approved the sum of two billion naira as initial capital for the implementation of the empowerment programme, adding that the training and empowerment of the first batch of five hundred beneficiaries will commence as soon as all the necessary frameworks are put in place.
On civil service, the commissioner disclosed that the council has also approved the release of 4.3billion, for the payment of arrears of gratuity to retirees, between 1996 and 2021, and also directed that all issues concerning those who are yet to receive their pensions should be resolved without further delay.
Okpor said the council was optimistic that the gesture which aims at ameliorating the suffering of the senior citizens of the state, will als serve as a moral booster to workers who are still in service.
He further disclosed that a total three committees were constituted to oversee the implementation of the resolutions.The committees include:
1. Committee for the Payment of Gratuity from 1996 to 2021:
Prof Adline Idike, Chairman, HRH Ewa Elechi, member, Mrs Lilian, Nwankwo, member, Mrs Ezeoke Blessing, member and Mrs Patience Offor Okorie, member.
Others are Prof M ANwocha, Secretary, Chief Boniface Ezagu, Prof Emmanuel Akpukwa, and Prof Egwu Ogugua, members.
2. Committee for Distribution of Palliatives:
Governor Francis Nwifuru, Chairman, Mrs Patricia Obila, Deputy Chairman, Prof Egwu Ogugua, member, HRH Ezeogo Charles Mkpuma member and Dr Chamberline Nwele, member. Other are, Dr. Scan Nwokolo, member, Chief Moses Ogodoali Nome, member, Mrs Ann Aligwe, member, Bar Ikeuwa Omebe, member and Prof Grace Umezuruike, Secretary
3. Committee on Empowerment:
Prince Elechi Nnanna Elechi, Chairman, Hon Sunday Inyima, member, Princess Nkechinyere Iyioku, member, Chief Oguzor Offia Nwali, member, Hon Chinedu Emerike, member, Dr. Mrs Ngozi Obichukwu, member and Hon Oko Udu, Secretary.
