N-Power Collapse? Is This The End As Beneficiaries Lament Delay In Payment Of Stipends

Following the increase in the monthly allowance paid to members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), some beneficiaries of the federal government social intervention scheme, N-Power had expressed hope that there would be an increase to their N30,000 monthly allowance as well.

This was however not to be as the government declared that N-Power does not fall under the category of payments that are impacted by the new minimum wage law in Nigeria.

Naija News recalls the federal government of Nigeria in January 2020 approved and started paying the sum of N33,000 to corps members on a monthly basis in line with the reviewed National minimum wage.

However, despite the non-increase in the monthly stipend of N-Power beneficiaries, Nigerians under the scheme are yet to receive their January stipend, forcing outcries from affected persons.

A similar delay was experienced before the payment of the October and November 2019 stipends for the beneficiaries.

Some beneficiaries of the scheme have even threatened to embark on strike over the delay in the payment of their allowances.

The government has however stated that adjustments and reforms on the scheme is responsible for the delay in payment. Double salary owners are been removed from the scheme.

It added that an exit plan which will be announced before the year runs out, is being worked out for beneficiaries of the scheme who have used up their 2-year tenure in the scheme.

It will also be recalled that Chris Ngige, Nigeria’s Minister of Labour has promised that the government will not abandon the scheme and its beneficiaries.

Amidst all of these, beneficiaries of the scheme while lamenting the non-payment of their January entitlement, are hopeful that they will receive double by the end of February, should the government not pay them before the month ends.

Administrators of the scheme have also stated that the stipends will be paid soon. This was said in response to a question on Twitter by a beneficiary of the scheme who demanded to know when they would get their outstanding payment.

Apologies for the delay, payment will commence shortly.

— N-Power (@npower_ng) February 14, 2020

The N-Power scheme is a social intervention scheme introduced in 2016 by President Muhammadu Buhari, as a two-year programme for graduate and non-graduate Nigerians between the ages of 18-35.

The beneficiaries enjoy N30, 000 monthly stipend, and devices during the duration of their stay in the scheme in exchange for services offered including teaching, agric extension services, health, etc.

The N-Power scheme was previously managed under the supervision of the office of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo but was moved to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development under Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq following the creation of the ministry in 2019.