Investigation Launched into Fund Utilization and Beneficiary Accountability
[City], [Date] – The Nigerian Federal Government has indefinitely suspended the N-Power program, resulting in the loss of jobs for over one million beneficiaries. The decision comes amidst allegations of irregularities and improper fund utilization within the program.
The N-Power initiative, established during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, aimed to combat youth unemployment by providing a monthly stipend of N30,000 to beneficiaries. It was a key component of the National Social Investment Programme, targeting 1.5 million unemployed Nigerian youths, mainly graduates, offering capacity building, structured employment, and career path options.
As of February this year, the program had enrolled 200,000 youths in Batch A, 300,000 in Batch B, 510,000 in Batch C1, and 490,000 in Batch C2. Although the exact number of beneficiaries who have exited the program could not be confirmed, nearly all enrollees in batches C1 and C2 were still actively involved, accounting for approximately one million individuals.
Many N-Power beneficiaries were engaged in teaching roles in primary schools across the country.
The indefinite suspension of the N-Power program was announced by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, during a live interview on TVC News. Edu cited irregularities within the program, including beneficiaries not being present at their assigned workplaces while still receiving monthly stipends.
Edu stated, “We must go back to look into N-Power and understand what the problems are; so we will basically suspend the program for now until we are done with a proper investigation into the utilization of funds by the N-Power program.”
She added, “We want to know how many people are basically on the program right now; how many people are owed and the amount they are owed. We are totally restructuring N-Power and expanding it.”
The N-Power program has faced ongoing irregularities, with investigations into fraudulent activities involving program officials. The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation has been working with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) to address these issues.
In December 2022, the ministry’s response to inquiries regarding fraud allegations detailed the deployment of a robust mechanism for selecting eligible beneficiaries and addressing payment-related concerns.
The former Permanent Secretary, Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, stated, “To this end, we are in close collaboration with the ICPC to support the successful determination of the investigation.”
The Ministry encouraged all N-Power beneficiaries to continue performing their duties diligently while assuring the public of the government’s commitment to the program and its accountability measures.
The suspension of the N-Power program raises concerns about the future of its beneficiaries and the broader issue of unemployment in Nigeria. The government’s investigation into fund utilization and beneficiary accountability will play a crucial role in shaping the program’s future and addressing the irregularities that have plagued it.