President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government has come to the rescue of unemployed graduates in the country who are currently battling with hunger and hardship.
The federal government on Monday said it would extend its social security payments net to graduates with qualifications from NCE and upwards, and that the programme would see unemployed Nigerian youths being paid monthly stipends.
Addressing journalists after the Federal Executive Council meeting on Monday, the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, Wale Edun said: “At this period of heightened food prices, Mr. President has committed to doing all that can be done to assist in giving purchasing power to the poorest and in that line.
“He has committed and instructed that the Social Security unemployment programme be devised, particularly to cater for the youth, for the unemployed graduates, as well as the society as a whole.
“So, we have coming, in the nearest future, an unemployment benefit for the young unemployed, in particular.”
The federal government’s social security payments are in the sum of N25,000, N30,000, N75,000 and N80,000.
JatNews understands that the federal government will pay any of the above figures to graduates when the payment begins.
Meanwhile, while many Nigerians have praised the development, some faulted the move, urging the federal government to create jobs instead of paying stipends to unemployed youths.
Mr Jason, a socio-political commentator, said: “All these social intervention and palliative are scam. It is better we return to petroleum subsidy with government going after the subsidy thieves.”
Similarly, Edun said the FG will urgently establish a consumer credit scheme to alleviate the pains of economic adjustment.
He explained that the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, will lead a committee that includes the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, the Attorney-General of the Federation and himself, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy.
