Participants in the Federal Government’s Special Public Works programme have complained about the non-payment of their stipends three months after the initiative took off.
Many of them took to Twitter to tackle the Minister of Labour and Employment Festus Keyamo (SAN) for the delay in payment of their N20, 000 monthly stipends.
The SPW is an ad hoc programme meant to provide public works for 477,000 artisans from the 477 council areas in the country for three months. The programme was inaugurated on January 5 and the first batch of beneficiaries have completed their assignment without being paid.
President Buhari had on March 20 directed the release of funds to pay the stipends but this directive has not been implemented.
Some of the participants harassed Keyamo on Twitter, questioning the delays.
One Dubagari Jnr, tweeted: “What is happening with the SPW? Up till now, we have not been paid and have successfully finished our work. Please, Hon. minister we need explanations on why we have not been paid and you have to start the disbursement before fasting (Ramadan).”
But the acting Director-General, National Directorate of Employment, Abubakar Fikpo, said, “We are still in the process; we have identified some loopholes here and there. We want to verify the BVN of the participants. That is why we are working with the banks. We are verifying the BVN of those participants in order to avoid double payments to several people or to three or more accounts.”