NPower Latest Update & News: Batches A and B beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s NPower scheme on Wednesday commenced an online protest in respect of their unpaid stipends from 2020, and the delayed implementation of the NEXIT by the FG.
We understand that the protest – orchestrated by the 36 States and FCT NPower Representatives – is expected to last for two weeks.
The demonstration became imminent following the expiration of the near four-week ultimatum given to the Ministry of the Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, which is headed by Sadiya Farouq.
What brought about this latest action by former NPower beneficiaries?
Recall the 36 States and FCT N-Power forum had on March 16 in a statement signed by Kabiru Pelemi, its national leader, vowed to mobilise 500, 000 Nigerian youths to occupy the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development of Nigeria. The ministry is saddled with National Social Investment Programmes (NSIPs), which the NPower scheme is part of.
Six months after the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development asked Batches A and B beneficiaries who are owed multiple months stipends to see their State Focal Person, Sadiya Farouq, who heads the ministry has continued to ignore their cries.
More than 14,000 bonafide NPower Batches A and B beneficiaries, who were disengaged from the scheme since July 2020 have not been paid their entitled stipends (many of them owed March to July, and Wema Bank users didn’t get paid for June 2020). This, despite the revalidation exercise that happened in October 2020 across major Nigerian states.
Also, since releasing the NEXIT Web Portal on November 30 2020 – four months after exiting N-Power Batches A and B beneficiaries, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development of Nigeria which is saddled with NPower duties have not effected the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Empowerment Programme.
This is despite the fact that hundreds of ex-NPower beneficiaries have logged on to the NEXIT online portal and provided the required additional information for possible placements into the various CBN intervention options.
Pelemi had said that NPower Batches A and B beneficiaries who were exited from the famed scheme in July 2020 are tired of Minister Sadiya Farouq and her ministry’s delay tactics.
The ultimatum given ended on Monday, 12th April, 2021.
“You exited us with no meaningful plan during a pandemic period. Nexit program is another delay tactics and a big scam to us because over 200,000 Volunteers could not complete their registration and no meaningful plans yet on the portal.
“36 States and FCT N-Power Representatives Forum give you from today Tuesday,16th March, 2021 to Monday, 12th April, 2021 to fulfill all the promises you made to the Exited N-Power Volunteers or we mobilize 500,000 Nigeria youths to occupy the ministry.
“This time around, it will be no going back.
“Enough is enough,” the statement by the 36 States and FCT N-Power Representatives Forum had read.
Established in 2016, the NPower scheme is one of the national social investment programmes of the federal government targeted at unemployed graduates who are engaged by the government and paid N30,000 monthly stipend.
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