As part of its of sustainable livelihood palliative to cushion the effect of economic difficulties occasioned by the global pandemic, COVID-19, Cross River state government is poised to employ thousands of youths on some sectors of the state’s economy.

A statement released in Calabar on Tuesday by secretary to the state government, Barrister Tina Banku Agbor listed the sectors as Health, Security, Environment and Agriculture.

The government said it will not allow Cross River youths suffer the unsavoury economic consequences of the pandemic.

“In view of the COVID-19 lockdown and its attendant consequences on livelihoods leading to job losses, daily income difficulties, waste of youthful energy, and in order to reduce public anxiety, youth restiveness and lower social tension, the Cross River State Government is set to recruit young men and women from the ages of 18-35, with the exception of those in the health sector, on a flat monthly salary of #30,000”, the statement noted.

The Agricultural sector alone is to employ 5,000 youths.

Agbor said, “To ready the state’s agricultural sub-sector for a major role in a post-COVID-19 Nigeria, 5000 young people are to be recruited under a revolutionary agricultural programme that utilizes modern farming techniques, mechanization and digitalization”.

According to the SSG, another set of 1000 young people are to be recruited into various agencies of government, including the Green Police, whose core mandate include urban beautification, landscaping, maintenance of recreational parks, development of nurseries, horticulture and general sanitation.

The statement added that 2000 young people are to be recruited into the state Homeland Security and the Border Patrol Agency with the key objective being the effective enforcement of the lockdown of the state’s extensive border lines.

Agbor further disclosed that “in order to build capacity for COVID-19 response in the event of a full blown pandemic in the state, the following are to be recruited with immediate effect: 400 doctors, 600 nurses and 1000 health officers for COVID-19 surveillance across every village in the state”. (Leadership)

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