FG to begin payment of N5000 to unemployed youth next year – Dalong

Solomon Dalong, the new minister of sports and youth, has confirmed that the payment of N5000 promised unemployed Nigerian youth during the APC’s electioneering campaigns will begin early next year.

Dalong stated this on Wednesday in Abuja, when he visited the national chairman of the APC, John Odigie-Oyegun, to commensurate with the party on the demise of Abubakar Audu, who was the party governorship candidate in Kogi inconclusive election.

Dalong, in an interview with newsmen, said the APC government had it in mind to fulfil all the campaign promises made to Nigerians during last elections.

“I would want the youths to understand that every promise must be backed up by budgetary provision, and our promise to pay N5000 is not contained in the 2015 budget. So, definitely, it is going to begin in 2016 as we have made budgetary allocations for that.

“We are committed to the campaign promises of creating jobs, providing wealth creation and combat poverty. We have embedded in our manifesto things that we are translating to reality.

“Some of the youth empowerment programmes that are ongoing, we are busy reviewing them to ensure that they are more viable and people oriented. We are also looking at the possibility of realigning some of them to our vision so that in the final analysis, it can add value to the people,” he said.

Responding earlier, Oyegun expressed happiness over the appointment of Dalong as youth and sports minister, saying his past performances in public offices gave him confidence that the minister would deliver on the premises of change.