EFFECT OF PUBLIC WORKFARE (PWF) PROGRAME BENEFICIARIES UNDER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL SUPPORT OPERATION (YESSO) IN GOMBE STATE, NIGERIA

The study evaluates the effect of public workfare (PWF) programe beneficiaries under Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO) in Gombe State, Nigeria. The result of demographic characteristics of Public Work Fare shows that majority (75.1%) of the PWF beneficiaries were female and only 24.9% were male. The age distribution of the PWF beneficiaries shows that 56.7% of the beneficiaries were within age bracket of 18-27 years with mean age of 26 years. Moreover, 48.8% of the PWF beneficiaries were married with mean household size of one person per head. The result also shows that 70.1% of the PWF beneficiaries had no formal education. Thus, low level of formal education is likely to affect the consumption patterns of beneficiaries and influence traditional attitudes. In the same vein, the result revealed that before YESSO intervention, the PWF beneficiaries spend N 5,046.27 per month on food consumed while currently the beneficiaries spend N 8,067.67 per month. The percentage change in the value of food consumed by beneficiaries was 59.87%. The total value of assets owned by PWF beneficiaries before YESSO intervention was N 7,425.10. While presently under YESSO intervention, the total value of assets owned by PWF beneficiaries was N 11,630.70. In the same vein, the percentage change in total value of assets owned by PWF beneficiaries was 56.6%. This implies that, there was an increased in the total value of assets owned by PWF beneficiaries. However, 67.2% of the PWF beneficiaries engaged in sanitation services to the community and 32.8% of the PWF beneficiaries engaged in providing local security services in the community. The result further shows that there was 85.5% increase in utilization of financial service due to YESSO intervention in Gombe State and majority PWF beneficiaries has increase self-worth and Self-esteem. Furthermore, 95.0% of the beneficiaries’ reported that there was lack of sanitation equipment’s like hoe, shovel, hand gloves, brooms while 94.0% of the beneficiaries’ reported that there was lack of security equipment’s like, uniforms, ID card, touch light, bow and arrow.