Why N-Power Program Faces Suspension: Minister Unveils Fresh Updates and Expansion Plans

N-Power Programme Indefinitely Suspended Due to Flaws, Minister Announces Comprehensive Audit and Expansion Plan

In a recent announcement, the Nigerian Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, shed light on the indefinite suspension of the N-Power programme, a crucial component of the federal government’s National Social Investment Programme. The program was initially introduced by the previous administration to empower the nation’s youth.

The minister stated that the decision to suspend the programme was prompted by several flaws within its implementation. During an interview on television, Edu revealed that consultants were holding onto funds disbursed to them for beneficiaries, even though their contracts had ended in March 2023 without renewal.

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Furthermore, it came to light that some beneficiaries were receiving payments despite having other jobs, while those who had genuinely worked were not being compensated. To address these issues, a thorough audit was deemed necessary to assess the program’s overall performance.

Dr. Akindele Egbuwalo, the National Programme Manager of N-Power, elaborated on the reasons behind the suspension. He emphasized the need to verify the number of people currently enrolled in the program, identify those who have exited, determine those owed payments, and examine how funds have been utilized over time. Egbuwalo also noted instances of participants whose participation had lapsed since 2022 but were still expecting payments from the government.

One of the key findings of the audit was the discovery that some consultants were holding onto beneficiaries’ funds, even though their contracts had expired. This practice was strongly condemned, and efforts are underway to identify those responsible, understand why payments were not reaching the intended beneficiaries, and recover the funds for rightful disbursement.

Minister Betta Edu urged Nigerians to understand the rationale behind the temporary suspension and investigation of the N-Power programme. She emphasized the importance of restoring the nation’s confidence in the program to ensure that it serves the Nigerian people effectively and transparently.

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Additionally, Edu announced plans to expand the N-Power programme, aiming to accommodate five million Nigerians over the next five years. The age bracket for beneficiaries will be revised to include individuals aged 18 to 40, an extension from the previous limit of 35. This restructuring will also introduce new programs in education, health, agriculture, technology, fashion, entertainment, and other areas of skill acquisition and employability.

The minister reassured beneficiaries with genuine claims that their cases would be resolved once the verification exercise is completed and all valid outstanding obligations would be honored. Transparency and accountability will be the cornerstone of the revamped program.

As the Nigerian government embarks on this comprehensive audit and expansion of the N-Power programme, it is clear that the aim is to rectify the flaws, ensure that funds reach deserving beneficiaries, and create a more inclusive and efficient program for the nation’s youth.

Source: The Nation Online

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