FG suspends N-Power scheme indefinitely, begins probe of disbursement
The Federal Government has suspended the N-Power programme indefinitely, according to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu who said the suspension was as a result of some irregularities observed within the scheme.
The minister who spoke while speaking during an interview on TVC News on Saturday alsosaid that an investigation will be launched into how funds were expended since the beginning of the programme.
The Minister asserted that certain recipients are absent from their designated work locations while still anticipating their monthly allowances.
According to her, some of the beneficiaries ought to have exited the program in 2022 but are 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 utilization of fund into the N-Power program.
“We want to know how many persons are basically on the program right now, how many persons are owed, amount they are owed. We are totally restructuring the N-Power and expanding it.
“There are lots going on. We met people who were supposed to have exited the program last year and they are still 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, she said ” .
N-Power Programme was launched by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration in 2016 to address the issue of youth unemployment and help increase social development.
The scheme was created for unemployed graduates and non-graduates between the ages of 18 and 35.
The scheme was built to prepare young Nigerians for a modern, globalized economy by helping equip youths with skills and certifications for emerging global markets.
