FG Speaks On Exit Date For First Batch Of N-Power Beneficiaries

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The federal government of Nigeria has assured the first set of beneficiaries under the N-Power scheme that it was liaising with state governments and the private sector on the possibility of securing permanent engagement for the 2016 N-Power beneficiaries.

The government made this known when he revealed that no date has been announced for the exit of the first batch of volunteers enrolled under the N-Power scheme.

Justice Bibiye, Communications Manager, National Social Investment Office (NSIO), disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, NAN reports.

Naija News reports the N-Power scheme was introduced in 2016 by President Muhammadu Buhari, as a two-year social investment scheme for graduate and non-graduate Nigerians.

The beneficiaries enjoy N30, 000 monthly stipend and devices during the duration of their stay in the scheme.

However, there have been certain uncertainties following the expiration of the two-year term for the first batch of beneficiaries who came on board in 2016.

While the Federal Government had said it has no plans to absorb the 2016 beneficiaries into the federal civil service, Bibiye noted that progress was already being made as the “Federal Government is already in talks with state governments and the private sector to solicit support for permanent engagement of the N-Power beneficiaries, who by virtue of their exposure to the work environment in the last two years have now garnered the needed experience to effectively operate in the industry.’’

He said the former Special Adviser to the President on Social Investment, Mrs Maryam Uwais, who was recently in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State, also intimated N-power beneficiaries of plans by the government to assist them get a sustainable means of income as they prepared to exit the programme.

“Uwais was joined by Bayelsa government officials to ramp up on some ongoing social intervention programmes, including Marketnoni, Tradermoni.

“She also met with the Conditional Cash Transfer officials and beneficiaries in the state saying that the Federal Government through partnerships with some key private sector players is looking out for employment opportunities in the areas of Education, ICT, Agriculture, Security among others for the graduating N-power volunteers,’’ Bibiye said.