FG begins deployment of 200,000 employed graduates

The first 200,000 jobless graduates selected for employment in fulfillment of the Federal Government’s plan to hire 500,000 Nigerians are set to be deployed beginning from today.

According to the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President, Laolu Akande, names of the graduates had been sent to state governments and the FCT who are expected to deploy them to their specific programme assignments.

Akande, in a statement yesterday, said names of the graduates would also be published this week on the N-Power Internet portal, while the beneficiaries would start receiving SMS messages informing them of their selection as from today. State governments and the FCT were encouraged to post the names of the successful first batch applicants in their local government areas while there would be further public announcements.

He said that between now and the end of the month, the states and the FCT would deploy the graduates who would formally start work and begin to earn stipends on December 1, 2016.

“Of the 200,000 first batch, 150,000 of them would teach, 30,000 would work in the agric sector and 20,000 in healthcare delivery covering the three specific programme assignments.

“The N-Power Volunteer Corps is an expression of President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to invest in the human capital development of Nigerian citizens, particularly our young people. It is also an innovative means to enhance ailing public services in the area of basic education and primary healthcare. Also in the agric sector, it is aimed at achieving self-sufficiency by giving our farmers relevant advisory services,” Akande said.

While congratulating the successful applicants in the first batch, the government also encouraged them to take the opportunity seriously by learning the skills that will brighten their future. They were also implored to serve their communities with commitment and dedication.

“For those who have not been selected, there is a waiting list based on the total number of applicants, and subsequent batches will absorb more of the qualified applicants,” the statement said.

The N-Power will engage and train 500,000 young unemployed graduates. It is a paid volunteering programme of a 2-year duration that engages graduates in their immediate communities, where they will assist in improving the inadequacies in the education, health, and agricultural sectors.