Dr. Akindele Egbuwalo, the National Programme Manager of N-Power, and the esteemed Dr. Betta Edu, Honorable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, have unveiled an ambitious plan to revolutionize N-Power.
Their joint statement revealed that N-Power is on the cusp of a major transformation, opening its doors wider to beneficiaries aged 18-40, shattering the previous age limit of 35. Brace yourselves for an expanded program with a bold target – 5 million beneficiaries within 5 years, at a rate of 1 million each year, spanning both graduate and non-graduate streams.
But that’s not all! N-Power’s facelift includes a buffet of new programs spanning Education, Health, Work, Agriculture, Technology, fashion, entertainment, and more. The focus? Skill acquisition and employability in diverse fields.
In a bid to regain the trust of Nigerians, transparency and accountability will be the foundation of the new N-Power. No more business as usual – their aim is to set the nation on the right path, ensuring no one suffers directly or indirectly.
To all genuine beneficiaries with pending claims, fear not – your cases will be resolved once the verification exercise is complete, and all legitimate outstanding obligations will be met. N-Power vows that no one will be left unpaid.
However, amidst this transformation, N-Power 2.0 faces a temporary suspension. The National Programme Manager justified this move by emphasizing the urgent need to investigate program irregularities.
He explained, “We must inform all N-Power beneficiaries across Nigeria of this temporary suspension. It’s necessary to allow a thorough investigation into N-Power’s operations over the past year.”
With a staggering enrollment of 960,000 people since inception, the audit will scrutinize the program’s participants, their exit status, outstanding payments, attendance records, and fund utilization.
Shockingly, instances have surfaced of beneficiaries who haven’t participated since 2022 but still expect government payments. Others fail to fulfill their obligations, yet the funds continue to flow. Such discrepancies demand a meticulous audit, including claims of unpaid stipends spanning eight to nine months, primarily affecting Batch C1 & C2 graduates and non-graduates.
Preliminary findings reveal that certain consultants are holding onto disbursed funds despite their contracts ending in March 2023, raising serious concerns.
In a resolute stance, N-Power condemns such practices and vows to root out those involved. The mission is clear: identify the culprits, understand payment bottlenecks, and retrieve funds to honor those who are owed.
Nigerians are urged to comprehend the rationale behind this suspension and investigation, as N-Power strives to rebuild trust and better serve the nation. It’s a critical step towards doing things right and propelling Nigeria into a brighter future.”
