Date: 2018-03-14

The Kwara State Government has been commended for adopting an e-payment platform for the payment of stipends to beneficiaries of the World Bank-assisted Youth Employment and Social Support Operation-Pubic Workfare scheme in the State.

Chris Anake, Head, Monitoring and Evaluation, Operation Coordinating Unit of YESSO in Cross River State, gave the commendation on Tuesday during the distribution of Automated Teller Machine cards to 1,210 beneficiaries of the scheme in Kwara State to mark the commencement of payment of stipends to the beneficiaries.

Anake said his team was in Kwara State as an independent monitoring group to observe the progress of the Public Workfare scheme in the State and make submissions appropriately.

He disclosed that Kwara State is the first to introduce the e-payment platform among the 20 states implementing the YESSO-PWF scheme, adding that the e-payment platform will promote transparency and accountability.

Earlier in his address, the Permanent Secretary, Kwara State Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Alhaji Amosa Isiaka Al-amin, urged beneficiaries from the six pilot local government areas of the State to take full advantage of the scheme and ensure judicious use of their monthly stipend.

Al-amin also charged them to be committed in the discharge of the duties assigned to them.

The Permanent Secretary disclosed that over 4000 youths across the remaining 10 local government areas of the state would be engaged in the coming months as the State Government will soon make the counterpart fund available.

Also In his address, the Head of the State Public Workfare Unit, S.O. Aregbe, assured the beneficiaries that the stipend would be paid as and when due. Aregbe said the PWF component of the YESSO programme, which is targeted at providing immediate labour intensive work opportunities for unskilled youths from poor households, will improve their living standard.

In separate interviews, two of the beneficiaries, Quadri Abdulraman and Mariam Ayo, appreciated the State Government for the initiative and solicited for an extension of the scheme beyond two years.