The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, has provided further details regarding the federal government’s decision to suspend the N-Power program indefinitely. In a statement issued on her behalf by the National Programme Manager of N-Power, Dr. Akindele Egbuwalo, Edu clarified that the scheme was suspended for audit and restructuring purposes.
Edu explained that irregularities within the scheme, such as beneficiaries not being present at their assigned locations yet expecting monthly stipends, led to the suspension. Some beneficiaries who should have exited the program were still on the payroll. Additionally, some consultants were holding on to funds disbursed to them even after their contracts ended in March 2023.
The N-Power program will undergo an audit to determine the actual number of participants and how funds have been utilized. As part of the restructuring, the upper age limit for beneficiaries will be increased to 40 instead of 35. The government aims to reach 5 million beneficiaries in 5 years, focusing on various sectors such as education, health, agriculture, technology, fashion, entertainment, and skill acquisition.
Edu assured that genuine issues would be resolved once the verification exercise is complete and emphasized that no one would be left unpaid. The goal is to ensure that the N-Power program serves Nigerians better and operates efficiently.
