Abuja — The federal government yesterday said N46.2 billion has been voted for the payment of the 774,000 people to be engaged under the special public works programme.

Keyamo used opportunity to real out the composition of the committees that would help to implement the extended special public works programme across the 774 local government areas in Nigeria.

While speaking on the cost implications of the programme, the minister said the federal government had already allocated N46.2 billion to pay participants in the public works programme across 774 local government areas in the country.

Consequently, in line with Section 16(1) of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) Act, I have decided to constitute special committees in each state of the federation for the purpose of deliberating, selecting and recommending to my office the names of the 1,000 persons from each of the local government areas in the states to be engaged for this programme," Keyamo said.

The minister said committees to be known as the State Selection Committees of the Special Public Works (SPW) would also identify the projects to be executed in those LGAs.