The office of the Vice Presidency has presented a progress report stating how it had spent the N288 billion disbursed to the Economic Sustainability Committee, ESC, for the COVID-19 Intervention Programmes.
According to the report, N288 billion was disbursed to the committee as part of the N500 billion naira budgeted for the COVID-19 Intervention Programmes.
The COVID-19 Intervention programme is an initiative of the Buhari-led administration under the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) targeted at cushioning the effect of COVID-19 on Nigerians.
How the Ministries Spent the Fund
Highlighting this at the meeting of the Economic Sustainability Committee, ESC, presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday, at the Presidential Villa.
Below is the progress report from the members of the ESC:
1) 1.3 million jobs have been saved, and another 774,000 jobs created from the Public Works Programme under the Survival Fund scheme.
2) The release of 100% (i.e. N5bn) appropriation for the COVID-19 Aviation intervention; 50% funding (N26bn) for the Public Works scheme hiring 774,000 persons across the country, among others.
3) N1.5b which is 50% of the amount for the scheme primarily targeted for job creation has been released to the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.
4) In the works sector, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola said a total number of 4,350 direct jobs were recalled and 18,321 indirect jobs were created through the engagement of the contractors and suppliers handling different works across the country.
5) The construction of 400 housing units for persons of concern in Zamfara, Yobe, Katsina, and Edo states; 8 PHCs and others
6) Empowerment of 900 persons of concern with skills, starter packs and startup capital.
7) The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs has received N625 million (representing 50% of appropriated funds) to implement an empowerment scheme for women through capacity building in innovation and vocational training.
8) The Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports, has received N2.6 billion representing 50% appropriation for the implementation of youth employability improvement scheme.
9) N1.25 billion (50%) has been released to the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons for implementation of programmes for vulnerable and displaced persons.
10) The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development received N2.45 billion representing 7.5% of N32.45 billion for cash transfer to the poor and vulnerable, while the balance of N30 billion is being processed.
11) In strengthening health system, the Minister said 52 Federal Tertiary Health (FTHs) Institutions received N23.57 billion (N853m each) for the establishment of ICUs, Molecular Laboratories and Isolation Centres.
12) Other releases for the health sector, according to the minister include, N10 billion for the establishment of a bio-vaccine laboratory; N5.02 billion representing 50% to the Federal Ministry of Health for implementation of the following projects:
*Surveillance and Epidemiology
*Establishing Laboratory
*Point of Entry;
*Infection Prevention and Control
*Case Management
*Health-related communication
*Research and Development
13) Agricultural Sector: The Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Mohammed Nanono, said N17 billion has been released for rural roads project under the ESP while about 5.8 million farmers enumerated out of which the data of 3.6 million have been validated.
Commenting on the reports presented by ESC members at the meeting, Prof. Osinbajo said “I think that it will be fair to say that on account of the very good work that you all have done, we were able to get out of recession much faster than anyone would have imagined, although only marginally.”
“it is important for us to continually bear in mind that we really have a duty to ensure that the vast majority of our people are not allowed to suffer. So, I feel we should be thinking more about the next thing that we need to do,” he added.
