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Tag: N-Power

  • PDP protests as APC mandates N-Power beneficiaries to attend ‘thank you rallies’ for Buhari, Osinbajo

    The Peoples Democratic Party in Plateau State has protested against the invitation of the beneficiaries of the N-Power programme to attend a campaign rally of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Jos on Friday.

    Our correspondent learnt that text messages were on Friday sent to the beneficiaries of the scheme, an idea initiated by the Federal Government to address youth unemployment, inviting them to attend a “thank-you rally” at the Rwang Pam Stadium.

    But the PDP State Campaign Council described the development as unacceptable as “there was never a time” the previous administrations subjected beneficiaries of empowerment programmes to “such ridiculous acts”.

    It stated, “It is no longer news that the ruling party has lost every chance of victory in the 2019 general elections; defeat is obvious and imminent at all levels.

    “Knowing full well that it has been rejected and facing total disgrace, it has deployed ways to cunningly attract innocent Nigerians to participate in its powerless campaign activities.

    “This can be seen in its design to tie the N-Power to the APC and to unwittingly turn innocent beneficiaries into campaign agents. N-Power, just like the SURE-P, YOU-Win and GIS of the previous administration, should be a form of empowerment geared towards reducing unemployment and building the capacities of the beneficiaries, not being funds paid to them in return for participating in APC campaign activities in Jos.

    “This is totally unacceptable and should be rejected by all well-meaning Nigerians because it defeats the purpose of the programme.”

    However, an APC Youth Leader, Alex Pam, denied that the invitation had a political undertone.

    Pam said, “These (N-Power beneficiaries) are people who have been empowered by the Federal Government and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, who is directly involved in the scheme.

    “So, there is nothing wrong for them to come and identify with their principal. We have non-APC members who were also beneficiaries of the scheme. So, there is nothing political about it.”

  • N-Power to accommodate 1m beneficiaries – Osinbajo

    N-Power to accommodate 1m beneficiaries – Osinbajo

    The N-Power programme of the Buhari-led administration will be expanded to accommodate 1 million beneficiaries in the next phase, Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo says.

    Osinbajo said this in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice-President, Mr Laolu Akande in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Akande quoted Osinbajo as having made the disclosure when he responded to questions at a town hall meeting in Abuja.

    The vice-president said that N-Power was borne out of the growing need for government direct intervention in job creation.

    “The idea of N-Power is supposed to be government own programme of direct employment and training.

    “At the moment, we have taken up to 500,000 and in the next phase, we are looking at another 200,000 and closely followed by another 300,000.

    “In all, we will be employing up to a million; and that will be the largest post-tertiary job programme in the entire Africa.

    “The reason why we have done this is because of the employment problems that we have, we may not be able to engage everybody but at least, government must give some direct provision of jobs,“ Osinbajo said.

    He further explained that the government could not pay more than the N30, 000 currently to beneficiaries and also fix all the unemployment issues.

    He said, however, said the Federal Government was working on creating the enabling environment to ensure that beneficiaries as well as other unemployed Nigerians become useful to themselves.

    According to him, it is infrastructure that will create the opportunities to provide more jobs, especially through manufacturing and Industry.

    “So, we are doing roads and rail, providing power; that is the way we can develop industry.

    “We are energising our markets at the moment, putting solar power in the markets.

    “We have designated 300 markets, we have done Ariaria in the South-East, Sabon Gari in Kano, Surat in Lagos, Isikan in Ondo, Gbagi in Oyo and we are expanding so that more people can work.”

    On the need to engage more women in productive activities, Osinbajo that one of the ways the Buhari administration was engaging more women was through the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) loans.

    Speaking on the misconceptions about the borrowing arrangements of the Buhari administration, the vice-president said that the country under Buhari was not in a terribly bad debt situation as insinuated in some quarters.

    “I want to give you the facts and figures on the debt issue. The dollar denominated debts of Nigeria – that is, the debts of the Federal Government, the States and Local governments.

    “In 2010, Nigeria’s debt was 35 billion dollars; 2011, it was 41billion dollars; in 2012, it was 48 billion dollars, in 2013, it became 64 billion dollars; 2014, it rose to 67 billion dollars; 2015, it fell to 63 billion dollars; 2016, 57 billion dollars; 2017, 70 billion dollars; 2018, it is 73 billion dollars.

    “So, the difference between 2015 and now is 10 billion dollars.

    “One of the things that I always want you to bear in mind is that, when oil prices were at their highest between 2010 and 2014, that was when we had the sharpest rise in debts.”

    On the ASUU strike, Osinbajo said that government was engaging the leadership of the union, noting that the next meeting would be on Nov. 15.

    On healthcare financing, Osinbajo said the Buhari administration had done much, even as it had earned 60 per cent less than the previous administrations.

    Earlier, the Ministers of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola; Industry, Trade and investment, Dr Okey Enelamah; Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi and Agriculture, Dr Audu Ogbe, responded separately to issues relating to their various ministries.

    The town hall meeting was organised by Act Now, a non-political group that works in promoting transparency and good governance as well as youth participation in governance.

    NAN

  • N-Power graduates to receive stipends beyond 2018 – FG

    The Federal Government has decided to continue paying the stipends of the N-Power 2016 Batch 1 beneficiaries beyond the expiry month of December 2018, the presidency said.
    The statement issued by Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Office of the Vice President, on Monday in Abuja, said funding for the continued payments is contained in the 2018 budget.
    However, Akande said that beyond the payments of stipends, the Federal Government is also exploring further options to seamlessly move the beneficiaries from the government job programme to positions where they were able to earn a sustainable income.
    He said that the transition would be through a plan, designed to enable them become valuable, all-rounded employees, employers or entrepreneurs.
    “The plan is basically an extension of the exit date of December 2018 for the first batch of 200,000 to enable them continue to offer their valuable services in their various communities while still earning their stipends.
    “They are also to partake in the Enhancement Programme that would seamlessly transition them into numerous economic opportunities in both the public and private sectors of the economy.
    “The N-Power is a job employment and empowerment scheme for hitherto unemployed Nigerian graduates under the Buhari Administration’s National Social Investment Programmes (N-SIP).
    “The scheme is the largest post-tertiary employment programme in Africa, comprising N-Power beneficiaries that are paid a monthly stipend of N30, 000 and are deployed as volunteers into various sectors of need in the public space, such as health, agriculture, education and public finance.
    “For the first time in Nigeria, the N-Power beneficiaries applied and were selected for the programme in an objective, efficient and transparent manner, without the need for ‘connections’ to anyone of influence,’’ he said.
    He said that based on conservative projections, the N-Power scheme would provide jobs for at least 10 million Nigerians by 2023.
    Akande said that since it commenced in 2016, the N-Power scheme, which had beneficiaries in all the LGAs of the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT, had so far, provided jobs for half a million young Nigerian graduates nationwide.
    He said that all the N-Power beneficiaries were given the opportunity to select and own electronic devices for continuous learning as they grew; depending on the selected vocations of entrepreneurship, and to boost the Knowledge Economy.
    NAN

  • N-Power: Group wants FG to offer permanent appointment to beneficiaries

    Buhari/Osinbajo solidarity Forum, an NGO fronting for re-election of President Buhari and Osinbajo towards better Nigeria, has called on the Federal Government to offer permanent and pensionable appointment to N-Power beneficiaries in the country.

    Malam Mahmood Jalo, Secretary Gombe State Chapter of the forum, made the appeal in Gombe on Wednesday in a news briefing organised by N-Power beneficiaries in Gombe on the success of the programme.

    He said the programme had impacted positively in many sectors of the economy particularly education, health and agriculture.

    He said in the area of education, professional teachers and graduates of other disciplines were deployed to public schools to teach which had impacted in the lives of the younger generation.

    “Since the inception of N-power is hard to distinguish between Public and Private Schools pupils.

    “There are enough qualified teachers in our public schools now in various disciplines imparting their knowledge on the younger generation.

    He said in area of health, professionals were also deployed to health centres to complement those on grounds and in the agricultural sector, Agric Extension workers were deployed to communities to give farmers technical advice.

    “I am appealing to the federal government to look into the possibility of engaging the N-Power beneficiaries by giving them permanent and pensionable appointment.

    “This will go a long way in contributing to the socio-economic development of the country,” he said.

    Malam Muawuya Abdulhamid, Gombe State N-power Ambassador, in his speech said Gombe state currently had 2,900 persons benefiting from N-power programme.

    He said beneficiaries were performing better in providing services at their various places of primary assignment.

    He said in 2017 a total of 21,000 persons applied for the second batch out of which 8,251 were pre-selected and 7,300 were successfully verified waiting for approval.

    “We want to make it very clear that we would not be intimidated by anybody in defending the truth and a government that is working towards improving the lives of masses,” he said.

    He further commended the present administration of President Buhari for initiating the N-Power programme which had gone a long way in addressing the rate of unemployment among the teeming youths in the country.

    NAN

  • N-Power: Police avert bloody clash between Buhari, Fayose’s supporters in Ekiti

    A timely intervention by the Police and other security agencies prevented what would have been a bloody clash between youths groups supporting President Muhammadu Buhari and those rooting for Governor Ayo Fayose on Saturday.

    The Buhari supporters who are beneficiaries of the Npower scheme had gathered at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) for walk to mark one year of the empowerment programme in the state.

    Some youths believed to have been mobilised from the Government House stormed the place singing the praises of Fayose and his ‘anointed’ candidate, Deputy Governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.

    As the Npower beneficiaries displayed banners hailing Buhari for empowering them through the scheme, Fayose’s supporters displayed various placards hailing the governor and proclaiming support for Olusola ahead of the governorship poll.

    Tension mounted as youths on both sides exchanged words. The pro-Buhari youths described the action of pro-Fayose youths as “provocative.”

    But policemen and other security agents quickly intervened and dispersed the pro-Fayose youths and protected the pro-Buhari youths to the venue of their celebration at AB Hotel, along Olora Road.

    The scenario is seen as a dress rehearsal towards the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti expected to be a fierce battle between the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Justifying their action, a pro-Fayose youth, Ajibade Segun, said: “A few months ago, Governor, Fayose invited us to the Government House and promised those of us who are NPower beneficiaries in Ekiti that we would get permanent employment from the state government. This is why we are happy and we are now coming out to campaign for the Deputy Governor Kolapo Olusola. We are are here supporting the continuity agenda of his Excellency Dr. Peter Ayodele Fayose and supporting Olusola Eleka for governor in July 14.

    “To the president we are saying that we don’t want just a temporary relief in the name of Npower from massive unemployment in Nigeria, we want permanent employment. We also want the number of beneficiaries of the Npower in Ekiti to be more than what we have presently. But most importantly, we want a permanent job like the governor has promised to give a good number of us, ” he said.

    A pro-Buhari youth and N-Power beneficiary, Adeosun Peter, said: “I want the people of Nigeria to know that we are not campaigning for Fayose or Olusola. It is Buhari that we know because he is the one who is feeding us. We have the banners bearing the image of Buhari and we are thanking him for this gesture.

    “N30,000 for each of the beneficiaries every month is not a small money. In twelve months , we know what that money amounts to. The beneficiaries of N-power in Ekiti in this first tranche are 3,400, and 8,337 will benefit in the second tranche, those of us here now are more than 3,000 that have come for accreditation today.

    “Buhari is our benefactor. We are standing for Buhari. We are thanking Buhari for what he has done and we also want him to make the job permanent.”

     

  • FG debunks re-opening N-Power recruitment portal

    The Federal Government has cautioned youths against being duped by scammers that are claiming they have jobs to offer through the N-Power programme.

    A `disclaimer’ message by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation, Afolabi Imoukhuede, indicated that at no time of recent that the Federal Government re-opened the N-Power recruitment portal.

    “Please note that N-Power has not re-opened its website for new applications.

    “You will recall that N-Power just physically verified pre-selected applicants from the 2017 application season in Dec. 2017,’’ it said.

    It urged Nigerian to disregard the false information by internet scammers and follow its authentic news channel.

    The government cautioned applicants not to release their bank verification numbers (BVN) to unauthorized persons and also be wary of paying money to anyone or organization in lieu of job applications.

  • FG warns against fake N-Power recruitment portal

    The Federal Government has cautioned youths against being duped by scammers that are claiming they have jobs to offer through the N-Power programme.

    A `disclaimer’ message made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation, Mr Afolabi Imoukhuede, indicated that at no time of recent that the Federal Government re-opened the N-Power recruitment portal.

    “Please note that N-Power has not re-opened its website for new applications.

    “You will recall that N-Power just physically verified pre-selected applicants from the 2017 application season in Dec. 2017,’’ it said.

    It urged Nigerian to disregard the false information by internet scammers and follow its authentic news channel.

    The government cautioned applicants not to release their bank verification numbers (BVN) to unauthorized persons and also be wary of paying money to anyone or organization in lieu of job applications.

  • Osinbajo extends N-Power application by two weeks

    Osinbajo extends N-Power application by two weeks

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has extended the 2017 N-Power application by two weeks.

    According to a statement by the Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation, Afolabi Imoukhuede, the application portal will now close on July 27.

    The Acting President, while extending the two-week grace period, assured Nigerians that the selection process would be transparent.

    The statement said the Federal Government engaged 200,000 young Nigerians in the N-Power Volunteer Corps Programme.
    Under the scheme, which is one of the components of the government’s Social Investment Programme, 500,000 youths are expected to be engaged.

    While 200,000 were employed in the first phase, the portal was reopened on June 13 for the applications to fill the remaining 300,000 vacancies.

    Despite the high number of the applications, however, Osinbajo said the government would stick to the 500,000 target for now.

    He said a decision on whether to increase the figure in the future would depend on government’s resources.

    The acting President said, “Already, 200,000 young people have been engaged. And since the programme was opened, another 2.3 million have applied and we are looking at the next phase of engagement.

  • 2.3million youths apply for 300,000 N-Power jobs – Osinbajo

    2.3million youths apply for 300,000 N-Power jobs – Osinbajo

    The acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Friday, disclosed that 2.3 million youths have so far applied for the 300,000 jobs that are still available under the Federal Government’s N-Power scheme since the portal was reopened in June.

    Osinbajo disclosed this to journalists when he visited the scheme’s Response Centre in Abuja.

    Under the scheme, which is one of the components of the government’s Social Investment Programme, 500,000 youths are expected to be engaged.

    While 200,000 were employed in the first phase, the portal was reopened on June 13 for the applications to fill the remaining 300,000 vacancies.

    Despite the high number of the applications, however, Osinbajo said the government would stick to the 500,000 target for now.

    He said a decision on whether to increase the figure in the future would depend on government’s resources.

    The acting President said, “Already, 200,000 young people have been engaged. And since the programme was opened, another 2.3 million have applied and we are looking at the next phase of engagement.

    “But for me, I think what is important is that we are able to do this incrementally and we are able to give hope to some of these young people who need the opportunity.

    “We will never always be able to do everything but I think that it is important that we do as much as we can.

    “You will recall that the target was 500,000 but depending on our resources, we can always do more. But the target, for now, is 500,000.”

    Osinbajo said the tablets given to beneficiaries contain useful learning materials that could help develop their skills in a variety of ways and further give them greater opportunities.

    He said the scheme was more than an employment programme but a skills development programme that was unprecedented.

    Osinbajo said there was no truth in the reports of the alleged backlog of salaries as far as the scheme was concerned.

    He said once the Bank Verification Numbers of beneficiaries were verified, they were paid.

    “There is a problem if your BVN does not match the records you gave. If there is a problem with any of your records, you cannot be paid.

    “The moment your records are cleared, then you are paid constantly. If you don’t correct these records, then you might be paying the wrong people,” he said.

  • FG begins 2017/2018 N-Power recruitment

    FG begins 2017/2018 N-Power recruitment

    The Federal government on Monday announced the commencement of recruitment into the 2017/2018 phase of its empowerment programme, N-Power.

    The announcement was disclosed on N-Power’s website, where it invited qualified members of the general public to apply for full-time empowerment.

    The message reads, “It said interested candidates should send a scanned copy of their CV to N-power registration email, applynpower@gmail.com.

    “It said the minimum qualifications for interested applicants are SSCE/NECO/GCE/NCE/ND /HND/B.SC/ or any relevant certificates.

    “It also said that the above academic qualifications must be obtained from reputable and approved government institutions/organizations.

    “It said applicants must be between 18 and 40 years of age and that the closing date for registration will be announced soon.”