The Bola Tinubu-led government has suspended the social intervention scheme, N-Power, launched by former President, Muhammadu Buhari.
The scheme was initiated to address the issue of youth unemployment and help increase social development.
For beneficiaries of this programme, this is the worst thing the Tinubu government has done.
But for others who had applied severally but were never given the chance to benefit from it, it is a good thing.
You see, many persons have always expressed the view that the N-Power scheme favours a certain group of people.
Also, others are of the opinion that the programme only benefits those who are well connected.
Whether or not they are correct, the fact that the programme has been suspended makes some sense.
The Investigation
In an interview on Saturday, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, announced the indefinite suspension of the programme.
Edu added that the government had begun an investigation into its activities.
To her, the decision to suspend N-Power was due to some irregularities within the scheme.
You May Like: Minister Umahi To Spend ₦217 Billion On Road Reconstruction
She said the government had launched an investigation into the utilisation of funds since the inception of the programme.
Basic Problems
According to the Minister, some beneficiaries are not found in their place of assignment, yet they expect monthly stipends.
Edu claimed that some N-Power beneficiaries who should have exited the programme in 2022, were still on the payroll.
“We must go back to look into N-Power and understand what the problems are.
“So, we will basically suspend the programme for now until we are done with proper investigation into the utilisation of funds into the N-Power programme.
“We want to know how many persons are basically on the programme right now, how many persons are owed, amount they are owed.
“We are totally restructuring the N-Power and expanding it.
No Work
“There are lots going on.
“We met people who are supposed to have exited the programme since last year and they are still on claiming that they are still teaching.
“Sometimes we contact the school or the places where they are working, and they are not there.
“They are not working yet they keep claiming that they are being owed eight- or nine-months stipends.
“About 80% of them are not working yet they are claiming salaries.”
