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Tag: N-Power

  • N-Power: Enrollees lament delay in stipend`s payment

    N-Power: Enrollees lament delay in stipend`s payment

    Some enrollees of the Federal Government’s N-Power Programme on Monday decried the continuous  delay of payment of their N30,000 monthly stipends.

    The beneficiaries who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews in Abuja said, the continued delay of payment of the thirty thousand monthly stipends is becoming worrisome.

    Mr Francisco Noah, a beneficiary of the N-Teach segment of Batch C1, who teaches at a Nomadic School in Keffi, Nasarawa State said, the delay had forced him to stop attending to pupils in the school.

    He said the condition was critical for him because sometimes transportation fee was a bit difficult for him to go to the Nomadic School.

    Noah who expressed dismay over the delay said the last time he received his stipend was in November 2022.

    ”Ours is a two year programme which we started around January 2021 and  to end this December.

    ”But since we started I was only paid for 12 months and the last money I received was in November 2022,“he said.

    Mr Usman Dantala, a beneficiary of Batch C2 in the Agro segment of the said, is owed nine months with several promises of payment.

    Dantala, who was enrolled into the programme in October 2022, said he was only paid for three months since the beginning of his participation in the programme.

    ‘”I was enrolled into the N-Power Programme in Gwagwalada Area Council Secretariat  October l 2022 under the Agro segment of the Scheme.

    ”I have done all the necessary documentation and verification since then I was only paid for three months” he said.

    When asked if he was posted by the N-Power to a place of primary assignment, he said he was not assigned to any particular place to serve.

    ”That is not my fault because just like some of my colleagues I have been making inquiries about  posting,  they keep telling us that we should not worry that they would give us a place to serve.

    ” For me I need the skills to be self-reliant” he said.

    Reacting to the development, the National Programme Manager, N-Power Scheme Dr Akindele Egbuwalo, earlier in a statement assured the beneficiaries of their readiness to settle all outstanding claims.

    Egbuwalo who earlier announced a temporary suspension of the programme, said the government would only pay those with genuine claims.

    “We appeal to Nigerians to understand the rationale behind the temporary suspension and investigation of the scheme as we work to restore the nation’s confidence in it,“he said.

    NAN reports that the Federal Government kick-started the N-Power scheme on June 8, 2016 to address issues of youth unemployment and to increase social interventions.

    The scheme was created as a component of the federal government’s National Social Investment Programme Agency(N-SIPA).

    (NAN)

  • Portal for N-Power application yet to open, says govt

    Portal for N-Power application yet to open, says govt

    Online portal for the N-Power Renewed Hope Job Creation Programme has not been opened for registration, the Federal Government said yesterday.

    The National Programme Manager, Dr Akindele Egbuwalo, urged the public to shun any information stating otherwise.

    Read Also: N-Power: Payment for nine-month backlog allowance begins next month

    A statement by the National Communications Manager, Jamaluddeen Kabir, reads: “The public is urged to disregard any information that the Renewed Hope Job Creation has opened a portal for registration of new beneficiaries. It does not originate from our office.

    “We will properly inform the public through the official portal of the scheme when enrollment of new beneficiaries will begin.”

  • N-Power: Payment for nine-month backlog allowance begins next month

    N-Power: Payment for nine-month backlog allowance begins next month

    • Scheme renamed Renewed Hope Job Creation Programme

    The Federal Government has promised to begin the payment of the nine-month backlog to N-Power beneficiaries in November.

    N-Power’s National Programme Manager, Dr. Akindele Egbuwalo, spoke yesterday at a meeting with some beneficiaries, according to a statement by the National Communication Manager of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Jamaluddeen Kabir.

    Egbuwalo, who said funds had been recovered from existing payment service providers, added that the payment would be done by installments.

    He said the N-Power programme had been renamed Renewed Hope Job Creation Programme (RHJCP).

    The statement reads: “As a result of the temporary suspension of the programme for thorough restructuring and forensic audit, funds have been recovered from the existing payment service providers and plans have been put in place by the programme to commence disbursement of the nine months’ outstanding stipends to beneficiaries from November 2023.

    Read Also: N-Power: FG announces date for payment of nine months backlog allowance

    “Payments will be carried out in installments.”

    On the renaming of the programme, Egbuwalo said: “In line with the new agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the N-Power programme will be continued as Renewed Hope Job Creation Programme (RHJCP) under the supervision of the Honourable Minister, Dr. Betta Edu, which will be expanded to target 5 million beneficiaries in five years where one million youths will be absorbed each year under the graduate and non-graduate stream.”

    An N-Power beneficiary from Yobe State, who attended the meeting, said different clusters of beneficiaries had planned a national protest due to inadequate information on the payment.

    He said: “Sir, as you have clearly explained the current situation of payment to us with utmost transparency, myself and other clusters of beneficiaries represented here are assuring you that we have clearly understood your position and taken your assurances. There is no more need for any protest.”

    He urged other to keep calm while expecting their payments.

  • N-power: Motion without movement

    N-power: Motion without movement

    • By: Femi Oluwasanmi

    Sir: On October 7, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, announced an indefinite suspension of the N-power programme with a promise to conduct an investigation into the utilisation of funds disbursed since the inception of the scheme.

    N-power scheme is a subset of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) launched in 2016 as part of federal government’s efforts to reduce the level of poverty in Nigeria. It started with the enrolment of 200,000 participants in Batch A in 2016; 300,000 participants in Batch B, 2017; and 510,000 in Batch C1; and 490,000 in Batch C2 in 2021.

    Though, the stipend attached to the programme is not attractive but some people applied in order to further contribute to the development of the country and escape the “sit at home syndrome” in anticipation to transit to a permanent jobs pool that was promised by President Buhari while campaigning in 2015.

    This hope was further raised by the vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo at several forums that the government will not allow the N-power volunteers to go back to the streets empty handed.

    This hope was however dashed in 2020 when they were disengaged from the programme without any exit package at a time when other countries around the world were giving palliatives to their people due to the hardship occasioned by the outbreak of COVID-19.

    This seems to be repeating itself with the indefinite suspension of the programme at a time when almost all the prices of goods and services have ascended by some 150%. Of recent, the World Bank stated that more than seven million people are likely to join those living below poverty lines in Nigeria if palliatives are not given to mollify the hardship caused by the removal of fuel subsidy. With the suspension of the N-power programme, it’s obvious that this numbers will increase.

    Read Also: N-Power: FG announces date for payment of nine months backlog allowance

    In trying to justify the reasons for the suspension of the programme, the minister, stated that the preliminary findings of her audit showed that some consultants are holding on to the beneficiaries’ funds disbursed to them long time ago even when their contract ended in March.

    Due to the diversion and delay in the payment of stipend, some of the participants have abandoned their places of primary assignment (PPA) while those that have other means to augment their stipends have turned to visitors. This has greatly affected the objectives set out at the beginning of the programme and contributed to the “firmament of frustration” across the country.

    In a society where policies are really designed to address poverty, the stipend would have been increased long time ago because of the realities on ground in Nigeria. For instance, in 2016, when the N30, 000 stipend was introduced, the value of a dollar to Naira was N350 but today it has jumped to N1000. Yet, the Minister is talking about an enlargement in the scope of the programme without any plan to increase the monthly stipend of the participants.

    Increasing the stipend will motivate the participants to be regular at their PPA while also increasing their service delivery. Most of the participants that were disengaged from the platform in 2020 would have become employers of labour if they were given start up packages after their service. This would have directly or indirectly accelerate the quest for self-sufficiency, reduce the numbers of people at the “colony of unemployment,” and tame the spread of insecurity.

    Most of the funds earmarked for the war against terrorism in the country would have been used to build schools, hospitals, constructs more road networks and others social amenities that are begging for attention in the country if the issues of unemployment and poverty are properly addressed.

    That is why the government needs to increase the monthly stipend of the N-Power volunteers, create an exit start up packages for them, and subject them to two or three weeks training at the end of  their service so that their business ideas can be fine-tuned to fit in the realities at the world of business.

    • Femi Oluwasanmi, Ibafo, Ogun State.
  • N-Power probe

    N-Power probe

    • This is necessary for accountability and review, for more efficiency

    Established in 2016 by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, the N-Power Scheme was conceived as part of that government’s comprehensive National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), to mitigate poverty.

    Its major objectives include creation of jobs for at least 1.5 million unemployed youths in its graduate and non-graduate components, as well as providing capacity building to enhance entrepreneurship and targeted tenured employment resulting in sustainable career paths for participants. 

    Other tranches of the NSIP include the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme, Government Enterprise and Investment Programme and the Conditional Cash Transfers to the most vulnerable segments of the population. Citing sundry irregularities observed in its operations, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, last week announced the indefinite suspension of the N-Power Scheme, saying this was necessary to enable proper investigation, restructuring and ultimate expansion of the scheme.

    According to the minister, it had been discovered that many participants in the scheme are often absent from their places of primary assignment while still demanding to be paid purported outstanding monthly allowances. Again, it was found out that a number of beneficiaries in batches one and two who ought to have exited the scheme in 2021 and September, 2022, respectively, to make way for new entrants, are still on the payroll. It has also been stressed that there is the need for the ministry to accurately ascertain the total number of participants in the scheme and how many of them are being owed allowances.

    Indeed, the issue of unpaid allowances is a major reason for the impending probe into the N-Power Scheme. Some participants are reportedly owed stipends for eight to nine months. In a statement, the National Programme Manager, N-Power, Dr Akindele Egbuwale, disclosed that “Preliminary findings of our audit have shown that some consultants are holding on to beneficiaries’ funds disbursed to them long ago even though their contracts ended in March, 2023, without any renewal.

    Read Also: N-Power: FG announces date for payment of nine months backlog allowance

    “We condemn this practice and will not tolerate it, going forward. Work is ongoing to identify those involved, understand why the payments didn’t get to the final beneficiaries and recall the funds to pay those owed”.

    While the idea of the NSIPs, including N-Power, had been widely commended, concern had always been expressed as regards the lack of a reliable database of beneficiaries to ensure effective actualisation of its objectives and the opportunity for corrupt enrichment that this could create. The ongoing updating of the National Social Register by the ministry should help clean up the register, eliminate ghost participants and reduce fraud. So much scarce public resources have been committed to the NSIPs; so, all avenues for their corrupt diversion by unscrupulous officials must be blocked.

    According to the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouk, in February, this year, over N1.358 trillion had been invested in various aspects of the programme since 2016.

    We commend the ministry for the planned restructuring and expansion of the programme to go beyond the previous age limit of 35 to reach persons between 18 and 40 years old. Apart from expanding the scheme to encompass new programmes in education, health, works, agriculture, technology, fashion, skill acquisition and employability, the ministry has set a new target of five million beneficiaries in five years, at a pace of one million beneficiaries per year.

    The potential benefits of the N-Power Scheme are immense and indisputable. For instance, the N-Power assessment report prepared by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that in 2017, 200, 000 youths were engaged in the scheme, reducing youth employment from 23.6% to 16.6%. In 2018, another 300,000 youths were engaged, again reducing youth unemployment from 23.6% to 29%. We urge the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to conduct its investigation, restructuring and expansion of the scheme as swiftly as possible without compromising thoroughness and efficiency so that the N-Power Programme can quickly get back on track.

  • N-Power: FG announces date for payment of nine months backlog allowance

    N-Power: FG announces date for payment of nine months backlog allowance

    The federal government said it would commence payment of the 9-month backlog to N-Power beneficiaries in November.

    This was disclosed by the national programme manager of N-Power, Akindele Egbuwalo.

    Egbuwalo, while stating that funds have been recovered from the existing payment service providers, noted that the payment would be done in installments.

    This was contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, October 16, by the national communication manager of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA),  Jamaluddeen Kabir.

    Egbuwalo revealed this during a meeting with some N-Power beneficiaries in Abuja.

    He also noted that the N-Power programme has been renamed Renewed Hope Job Creation Programme (RHJCP).

    The statement read: “As a result of the temporary suspension of the programme for thorough restructuring and forensic audit, funds have been recovered from the existing payment service providers and plans have been put in place by the programme to commence disbursement of the 9 months outstanding stipends to beneficiaries from November 2023. Payments will be carried out in installments.”

    Read Also: N-Power beneficiaries to get payment of eight-month debt

    On the renaming of the programme,  Egbuwalo stated: “In line with the new agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the N-Power programme will be continued as Renewed Hope Job Creation Programme (RHJCP) under the supervision of the Honourable Minister, Dr. Betta Edu, which will be expanded to target 5 million beneficiaries in 5 years where 1 million youths will be absorbed each year under the graduate and non-graduate stream.”

    N-Power beneficiary from Yobe State who was present at the meeting, said a national protest had initially been planned by different clusters of Npower beneficiaries due to inadequate information.

    He said: “Sir, as you have clearly explained the current situation of payment to us with utmost transparency, myself and other clusters of beneficiaries represented here are assuring you that we have clearly understood your position and taken your assurances, there is no need for any protest.

    While encouraging all beneficiaries to keep calm as they patiently expect their payments, the cluster of beneficiaries expressed their joy over the assurances given to them for a better implementation of the programme which will ensure that no beneficiary is left behind in the renewed hope agenda of the federal government.

  • N-Power beneficiaries to get payment of eight-month debt

    N-Power beneficiaries to get payment of eight-month debt

    The National Programme Manager of N-Power, Akindele Egbuwalo has disclosed plans to settle beneficiaries of the Batch C programme who have been owed for eight months. 

    Te Federal Government suspended the N-Power programme last week, stating that the scheme had ghost beneficiaries, while some of its consultants were withholding participants’ funds.

    The N-Power programme was established by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari to address youth unemployment with beneficiaries paid N30,000 monthly stipend.

    Akindele, in a statement, noted that the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation had recovered some funds.

    At the meeting held with representatives of the N-Power beneficiaries, he said: “The good news is that the funds have been recovered and you will be getting your money soon.

    “Payment for N-Power Beneficiaries Batch C who have been owed for eight months will begin soon

    Akindele revealed that the Minister of Humanitarian affairs and Poverty Alleviation Dr Betta Edu, has been working round the clock to address irregularities within the Program and other social investment programmes.

    He said: “These irregularities have made the common man to lose faith in the ability of Government to provide social safety cover for its population but Dr Betta Edu is engaging all necessary steps to resolve these issues and deliver the Renewed Hope Mandate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Nigerians

    Read Also: N-Power: Minister writes ICPC over withheld allowances by consultant

    “Many irregularities which hitherto had sabotaged the smooth implementation of the Program are being addressed. 

    “It would be recalled that on assumption of duty it was noted that many beneficiaries did not receive payment for their monthly allowances while monies were been held up by the consultant managing the enrollment and payment system whose contract had long expired. 

    “The good news is that the money have been recovered and it would allow for payment of beneficiaries” 

    Akindele called on young Nigerians to be patient as the restructuring was in their best interest and it would lead to expansion of the programme to accommodate millions of uoung people. 

    “President Tinubu is committed to eradicating Poverty and he will deliver on it,” he assured. 

  • N-Power: FG to employ 5million youths in five years

    N-Power: FG to employ 5million youths in five years

    The federal government has said that the on-going overhauling of the N-Power programme will bring about the employment of five million youth in five years.

    This is contained in a statement by the National Programme Manager of N-Power, Akindele Egbuwalo.

    Egbuwalo, who urged Nigerians to understand the rationale behind the suspension of the programme and the subsequent restructuring it is undergoing, said the federal government was working to restore confidence in the programme.

    Egbuwalo stated: “This restructuring and transformation will also birth an expanded programme to reach beneficiaries aged 18-40 (the previous age limit was 35).

    ‘We are targeting 5 million beneficiaries in 5 years at a pace of 1 million per year under the graduate and non-graduate stream”

    Giving further details on what the restructured N-Power would look like, Egbuwalo disclosed that it will accommodate some new programmes, in education, health, works, agriculture, technology, fashion, entertainment, and other relevant areas of skill acquisition and employability.

    He stated: “To earn the confidence of Nigerians in the expanded programme, transparency and accountability will be the benchmark. It shall no longer be business as usual as we make concerted efforts to put the nation on the right footing,  ensuring that no one directly or indirectly unleashes suffering on Nigerians.

    Read Also: I survived 13 court cases, Reps member

    He also explained that suspension of the Programme became imperative following the discovery of sharp practices and to also give room for a detailed investigation into its operations in the last twelve months.

    Egbuwalo: “There is a need to audit the number of people in the programme, those who have exited the programme, those who are being owed, whether they reported to work or not, and how funds have been utilised over this period.

    “Recently, we discovered instances of programme beneficiaries whose participation has lapsed since 2022 but have remained on and continue to expect payments from the government. In addition, some beneficiaries must honour their obligation to the programme. They do not report to their places of primary assignments as required but still receive monthly payments.

    “These instances have made the need for a thorough audit imperative, as we also look into claims of those being owed for up to eight to nine months stipends to ascertain the veracity of their claims”

    He assured all beneficiaries with genuine claims that the federal government will not owe anybody as it will resolve all cases and honour all valid outstanding obligations once the verification exercise is completed.

  • Why N-Power programme was suspended, minister gives fresh updates

    Why N-Power programme was suspended, minister gives fresh updates

    More reasons for the indefinite suspension of one of the federal government’s National Social Investment Programme; N-Power have emerged.

    N-Power is one of the programmes introduced by the immediate past administration to empower the youth.

    The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu announced the suspension of the programme on Saturday during an interview on television.

    Edu, during the interview, said the decision to suspend the programme was due to several flaws within the scheme.

    However, in a statement issued on Sunday, October 8, the minister shed more lights on the suspension of the programme.

    She stated that findings revealed that some consultants were holding on to beneficiaries’ funds disbursed to them long ago, even when their contract ended in March 2023 without any renewal.

    The minister also explained some beneficiaries had other jobs but were still benefiting from the payments, while those who truly worked were not paid.

    She also said the programme was suspended because there was need to audit the number of people in the programme, those who have exited the program, those who are being owed, whether they reported to work or not, and how funds have been utilised over the period.

    Read Also: FG probes disbursement of multibillion naira N-Power funds

    The reasons were contained in a statement signed by the National Programme Manager of N-Power, Dr. Akindele Egbuwalo on behalf of the minister.

    The minister also said the programme would be expanded to accommodate 5 million Nigerians in the next five years.

    In addition to that, she also said the age bracket of beneficiaries would be reviewed to 18-40 years old as against the former practice where the age limit was 35.

    The statement reads: “It is imperative to inform Nigerians, particularly beneficiaries of the N-Power programme across the country, of the temporary suspension of the programme.

    “This action has become necessary to give room for a detailed investigation into the operations of the N-Power in the last twelve months.

    “The total number of persons enrolled on NPOWER since inception to date is 960,000 people. Most of them have exited from NPower 1.0 and NPower 2.0 batch A and B

    “There is a need to audit the number of people in the programme, those who have exited the program, those who are being owed, whether they reported to work or not, and how funds have been utilised over this period of time.

    The statement continues: “Recently, we discovered instances of programme beneficiaries whose participation has lapsed since 2022 but have remained on and continue to expect payments from the government. In addition, some beneficiaries must honour their obligation to the programme. They do not report to their places of primary assignments as required but still receive monthly payments. Some have other jobs and have left this bracket but are still benefiting from the payments, while those who truly worked are not paid.

    “These instances have made the need for a thorough audit imperative, as we also look into claims of those being owed for up to eight to nine months’ stipends to ascertain the veracity of their claims. The graduates & non-graduate volunteers Batch C1 & C2 are in this category. We want to establish the exact number of people owed and the total amounts, thereby eliminating ghost beneficiaries.”

    On what has been uncovered so far, Edu said: “Preliminary findings of our audit have shown that some consultants are holding on to beneficiaries’ funds disbursed to them long ago, even when their contract ended in March 2023 without any renewal.

    “We condemn this practice and will not tolerate it going forward. Work is ongoing to identify those involved, understand why the payments didn’t get to the final beneficiaries, and recall the funds to pay those owed.

    “We appeal to Nigerians to understand the rationale behind the temporary suspension and investigation of the programme as we work to restore the nation’s confidence in the programme and for the new N-Power to serve Nigerians better. Things have to be properly done for us to move forward.”

    On the age bracket and the number of beneficiaries the programme is targeting, she said: “This restructuring and transformation will also birth an expanded programme to reach beneficiaries aged 18-40 (the previous age limit was 35).

    “We are targeting 5 million beneficiaries in 5 years at a pace of one million per year under the graduate and non-graduate stream.

    “In addition, the restructuring will accommodate some new programmes, in Education, Health, Works, Agriculture, Technology, fashion, entertainment, and other relevant areas of skill acquisition and employability”.

    The minister promised to earn the confidence of Nigerians in the expanded programme, as transparency and accountability will be the benchmark.

    “It shall no longer be business as usual as we make concerted efforts to put the nation on the right footing, ensuring that no one directly or indirectly unleashes suffering on Nigerians.

    “We assure all beneficiaries with genuine claims that we will resolve their cases once we complete the verification exercise and honour all valid outstanding obligations. Nobody will be owed.”

  • FG probes disbursement of multibillion naira N-Power funds

    FG probes disbursement of multibillion naira N-Power funds

    • Suspends programme indefinitely over irregularities, abuses
    • ‘Total restructuring, expansion’ of programme coming

    By Innocent Duru/
    Faith Yahaya, Abuja

    The Federal Government yesterday announced indefinite suspension of the multi-billion naira N-Power programme and a probe of how it has been administered since its launch seven years ago.

    N-Power was a part of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) introduced by the Buhari administration to empower youths and minimise poverty.

    Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Minister in that government, Sadiya Farouq, said the programme gulped up to N890 billion between 2016 and 2022.

    Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Minister Betta Edu, who broke news of the programme’s suspension and probe yesterday, said the action was prompted by several flaws within the scheme.

    Edu spoke in an interview on TVC News.

    Government, according to her, wanted to ascertain how the money budgeted for the programme over the years had been utilised.

    She alleged that some of the beneficiaries were not found in their places of assignment yet they expected to be paid the monthly stipend.

    Some other beneficiaries who ought to have exited the programme since 2022 are still on the payroll, she said.

    Read Also: 10 Things to know about suspended N-Power programme

    Edu said: “We must go back to look into N-Power and understand what the problems are. So we will basically suspend the programme for now until we are done with proper investigation into the utilization of fund into the N-Power programme.

    “We want to know how many persons are basically on the programme right now; how many persons are owed, the amount they are owed. We are totally restructuring the N-Power and expanding it.

    “There are lots going on. We met people who are supposed to have exited the programme since last year and they are still on claiming that they are still teaching.

    “Sometimes we contact the school or the places where they are working and they are not there. They are not working yet they keep claiming that they are being owed eight or nine month stipends.

    “About 80 per cent of them are not working yet they are claiming salaries.”

    N-Power was created on June 8, 2016 to address the issues of youth unemployment and help increase social development.

    Unemployed graduates and non-graduates between the ages of 18 and 35 were targeted as main beneficiaries.

    It was designed as a paid programme for a two-year duration.

    The scheme had six categories: N-Teach, N-Health, N-Agro, N-Build, N-Creative and N-Tech.

    While N-Teach and N-Health were for graduates who must have completed the mandatory one year NYSC programme, N-Agro, N-Build, N-Creative and N-Tech were meant for graduates and non-graduates.

    Another category known as N-knowledge followed in 2021, aimed at equipping youths with computer hardware skills. Beneficiaries were given tools such as laptop computers.

    Last February, the immediate past federal government said it had invested the sum of N1.3 trillion to improve the lives of vulnerable Nigerians through its National Social Investment Programmes between 2016 and 2022.

    Other legs of the social programmes are Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), National Home-grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), Conditional Cash Transfers and Independent Monitors (IM).