The Federal Government has released more statements stating why it suspended the N-Power programme, created by the previous administration of President Mahammadu Buhari.
According to the FG, the scheme had ghost beneficiaries, while some of its consultants were currently withholding participants’ funds.
Over one million Nigerians had lost their jobs under the N-Power programme following the indefinite suspension of the scheme by the government as announced on Saturday by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu.
The N-Power programme was established in 2015 to address youth unemployment as beneficiaries were paid N30,000 monthly stipend.
Providing additional reasons why the scheme was suspended, the National Programme Manager N-Power, Akindele Egbuwalo, stated on Sunday that the scheme had ghost workers that should be eliminated.
Egbuwalo said, “Preliminary findings of our audit have shown that some consultants are holding on to beneficiaries’ funds disbursed to them long ago even when their contract ended in March 2023 without any renewal.
“We condemn this practice and will not tolerate it going forward. Work is ongoing to identify those involved, understand why the payments didn’t get to the final beneficiaries, and recall the funds to pay those owed.
“We appeal to Nigerians to understand the rationale behind the temporary suspension and investigation of the programme as we work to restore the nation’s confidence in the programme and for the new N-Power to serve Nigerians better. Things have to be properly done for us to move forward.”
