By FRANK IKPEFAN, Abuja

There was confusion on Sunday over the payment of stipends to the 774,000 beneficiaries of the Special Public Works (SPW) programme.

The Federal Government said partial payment of N20,000 stipends to participants of the programme began at the weekend. But the beneficiaries faulted the claim

Minister of State for Labour and Employment Festus Keyamo said dropped the hint on the payment of stipends three months after the 774,000 unskilled Nigerians were engaged.

It was in a press statement posted on his official Twitter hand@fkeyamoon Saturday night.

Keyamo said the National Directorate of Employment has started paying account holders with ACCESS Bank after verifying their Bank Verification Numbers (BVN).

The SPW is an ad hoc programme designed by the federal government to provide stop-gap three month jobs to mainly artisans to earn N20,000 monthly doing public works.

One thousand youths were hired from each of the 774 local government areas in the country as beneficiaries, bringing the figure to 774, 000 councils.

The government earmarked N52 billion for the programme expected to last for three months, with the monies used for the purchase of equipment, payment of salaries and other logistics.

It was inaugurated in January 5, 2021.

Six banks were enlisted by the federal government to handle the payment of stipends to participants of the programme.

They include: Zenith, UBA, FCMB, Fidelity and Heritage bank.

The minister said: “After the release of some of the funds by the Ministry of Finance for the payment of SPW stipends, I directed a rigorous scrutiny of the accounts of the participants before payments.

“We discovered instances of accounts not matching BVNs, multiple accounts bearing a single BVN, non-existent BVNs, etc.

“Because of our determination to eliminate fraud, I further directed the NDE to write to the banks to clean up these anomalies b4 commencing payments.

“So far, only ACCESS Bank has responded with accounts verified for payments and the NDE has today commenced payments of those accounts with ACCESS Bank.

“We await the responses of ZENITH, UBA, FCMB, FIDELITY, HERITAGE & Yobe Micro-Finance Banks to clean up the anomalies.

“Our determination to ensure those selected for this programme get paid to assist them in these tough times is also matched by our determination to ensure that the programme does not spiral into a vehicle for fraud; not under the watch of Mr. President; not under my watch.”

However, forty-eight hours after the minister’s tweet, some of the participants said they were yet to receive payment.

A Twitter user, @AminuAb89137498 said: “I am using Access Bank still no payment yet comment but my details was verified. Best wishes.”

“I am using access bank but haven’t received alert. Have anyone apart from using Access Bank receive alert? If yes, indicate,” @Sssalisu_sule asked.

Another user with the Twitter handle, @SmplyTari wrote: “We have not seen alert oh.”

A tweep, @doyins_adedoyin tweeted: “@fkeyamo an scam we never see anything in Kwara state.”

Another Twitter user @ SamObi64907443, tweeted: “Am a participant, I had yet to receive any money since I got enrolled I had yet to receive anything. I am from Imo.”

“Commenced payment and nobody has received alert. Ok oo,” @Ataborjulius tweeted.

It could not be confirmed last night if the Access bank has started paying some of the participants.

The banks Head of Corporate Communications, Abdul Imoyo did not return calls to his mobile number as of the time of filing this report. (The Nation)