The Ministry of Finance on Monday handed over the Community Service Scheme of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) to the Ministry of Labour and Productivity.
Mr Papka Peter, the Project Director of the scheme in the Ministry of Finance, said at the handing over ceremony, that the scheme, would deliver local services to people at the community level.
He also said that the programme would help to create employment opportunities for people from disadvantaged groups.
Peter said that the SURE-P would also assist in evacuating street beggars and hawkers by providing them with a means of livelihood.
“The community service scheme provides employment opportunities in the states and at the various communities.
“The community is the major driver; all the benefiting communities are given the opportunity to decide what is good for them.
“The over 30 per cent youths, 20 per cent vulnerable group and 50 per cent women and the physically challenged, would be involved in the community service scheme,’’ he said.
The project manager said that the selected beneficiaries have their identification numbers, biometrics and pictures captured.
Peter advised all the beneficiaries to open bank accounts, so that all the monies meant for them would be paid directly into it.
“All the states of the federation are about to or have currently employed 3,000, each for the first phase of the SURE-P project.
“By the end of June, the balance of 2,000 will be employed,’’ he said.
Peter called on the ministry to develop a performance contract form, to guide against a situation where “people work and are not paid’’.
Responding, Mr James Ogwuche, the Director of Human Resources Management, Ministry of Labour, said the ministry would sustain the scheme.
“We want to thank the team for the pioneering effort; we want to assure you that the ministry will take over from where the ministry will stop.’’
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