774,000 jobs: Successful applicants to be paid through BVN – FG

The Federal Government has directed successful applicants in the 774, 000 jobs scheme to provide their Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) to ease payment process.

The minister of state for labour and employment, Festus Keyamo, who disclosed this, said the candidates will be paid through their bank accounts using their BVN to ensure that the payment system is transparent.

Keyamo stated that the biometrics of successful applicants would be captured by the banks during the process.

The minister explained that the scheme which is under the Special Public Works Programme would provide jobs for 1,000 persons from each of the 774 local government areas of the country.

It will be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari recently approved the employment of 774,000 workers as part of efforts to cushion the economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The breakdown of the job opportunity programme entails that Nigerians, who are unskilled workers, will earn N20, 000 each on a monthly basis for three months.

And no fewer than 1,000 workers will be recruited from each of the 774 local government areas of the country.

At the onset, the programme ran into a hitch when the National Assembly and Keyamo engaged in a serious disagreement over who should handle the recruitment.

The Senators had insisted that the programme should be handled by the National Directorate of Employment, but the matter was later resolved following the intervention by the presidency.