Obaseki orders employment of 4,200 youths

Edo State government has ordered the employment of 4,200 youths across the state under the Edo State Public Works Programme from July 1, 2017.
The directive was in line with the administration promise to create at least 200,000 jobs within four years.
Taiwo Akerele, chief of staff to the state governor, made the disclosure in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin City on Monday, saying the governor also directed the engagement and training of 50 civil engineers to support the public works programme.
He said the successful applicants were sourced from the database of unemployment youths developed by the government for the Edo jobs initiative.
According to Akerele, the new employed beneficiaries will work across the state on 45 inner roads selected under this special window. The governor also promised to engage another set of 4,200 in August 2017 under another window that would see the state government constructing and maintaining another set of 55 roads, culminating in almost 100 kilometres across the state.
He however enjoined the workers to be dedicated for the period of their engagement with the state government, as it would eventually amount to experience gathering and capacity building.
He further disclosed that the state government had finalised arrangements with the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to train young electrical and electronic engineers under a special arrangement.
The chief of staff said this was jobs initiative to complement jobs originating from road constructions across the state.
He explained that the programme would build the capacity of young men and women on the practical side of electrical engineering in line with the ‘Electrify Edo project’, which kicked off with the signing of a power purchase agreement between the government and, at different times, Siemens AG and Ossiomo Power Limited, few months ago.

 

IDRIS UMAR MOMOH, BENIN