www.saharareporters.com/2016/05/15/buhari-unveils-n5-trillion-economic-palliative-package-

The Federal Government has unveiled
a social investment package designed
to impact on the lives of over eight million
Nigerians. This was disclosed on Sunday
by Dr. Laolu Akande, Senior Special
Assistant (Media and Publicity) to the
President, during an interactive session
with journalists in Abuja. Akande
explained that some parts of this package
would become operational in the coming
weeks.

One of the highlights of the package, said
Akande, is the feeding of 5.5 million
school children, who are to be fed for 200
school days in the first phase of
homegrown school feeding programme
for which N93.1billion was budgeted.
Another element of the package is the
proposed provision of soft loans to over
1.76 million traders, market women, men,
artisans and those involved in agriculture.

The loans, he explained, will not require
to be conventionally collateralized. Some
traders, he said, may get about N60,000.
A total sum of N140.3billion has already
been appropriated for this in the budget.
Also, one hundred thousand artisans are
to be trained in a programme for which
N191.5 billion has been budgeted.

Also, one million desperately poor and
vulnerable Nigerians are to be paid
N60,000 stipend this year in a monthly
installment of N5000.

Five hundred thousand unemployed
graduates, the presidential aide added,
will be paid between N23,000 to N30,000
per month. They will be trained and
deployed to work as volunteer teachers,
public health officers, and extension
service workers among other
responsibilities.

Beneficiaries of the scheme will also be
given electronic devices to empower them
technologically both for their assignments
and beyond.

In tertiary institutions, 100,000 tertiary
students in Science Technology
Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) and
Education, Akande further disclosed, will
benefit from education grants for which
N5.8billion has been already provided for
in the budget. This payment, he added,
will be directly made to the students.

"When added together this year alone,
more than 8 million Nigerians would be
benefiting from the Social Investment
budget.

"Long before now, the Presidency has
made adequate arrangements in the
2016 budget to ensure that Nigerians are
lifted from poverty and hardship," said
Akande, who operates from the Vice
President's office.

He added that jobs would be created by
the launch of fresh infrastructural projects
and restoration of existing ones.

"The Buhari presidency is keen to ensure
that Nigerians are lifted and that if
necessary, on an ongoing basis, palliative
measures would always be considered to
address the conditions of the people," he
declared.

SAHARAREPORTERS, NEW YORK

Good move if not hijacked

These were planned before subsidy removal.....the funds saved from not paying subsidy, what is the plan to utilize the funds, and what palliative arrangements are there to cushion the effect of higher cost of living

Time to silence the NLC mouth. Buhari - a surprise maker. Always giving the wailers serious aching.

The numskull NLC should negotiate for minimum wage and not strike.

For intelligent readers, you will discuver that Buhari has made provision for increament of minimum wage. He proposes N23k to N30K. Check out the article well.

Five hundred thousand unemployed
graduates, the presidential aide added,
will be paid between N23,000 to N30,000
per month. They will be trained and
deployed to work as volunteer teachers,
public health officers, and extension
service workers among other
responsibilities.

NLC should wake up

Unfortunately for the wailers this is a government I trust will deliver.

F