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Tag: NSIP

  • FG resumes Conditional Cash Transfer payment

    FG resumes Conditional Cash Transfer payment

    The Federal Government has resumed the payment of N5,000 monthly stipend to 12,337 poor and vulnerable households through digital means in Ondo State.

    Mrs Tosin Olupona, Head of Unit, Ondo State Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Office, disclosed this in an interview on Monday in Akure.

    The CCT programme is one of the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP).

    According to Olupona, the backlog has been lodged on each of the beneficiaries new debit card account that will be accessed through payment agents in their communities.

    She revealed that the benefiting families were from 15 local government areas out of the 18 local governments in the state.

    Olopona attributed the delay in payment to operational issues, adding that the backlog payment was from six to 20 months, depending on when the beneficiary joined the scheme.

    “We are here because we have just commenced payment of backlogs of stipends of our beneficiaries; this is victory at last because you can see that everyone is happy collecting their money.

    “We have a backlog of between six months and 20 months, and they have been agitating to collect their money and we have been moving from one local government to another to pay them.

    “What you are seeing are debit cards of the beneficiaries. The payment method have been digitalised instead of cash payments, we are distributing debit cards to them instead of carrying cash around.

    “So, on getting to their communities, they will be accessing their funds through the payment agents.

    “The delay was as a result of operational issue which is not fault of ours. I think it affected four states that are having this operational issue, but it has been resolved now, so, that’s why we are paying them,” she said.

    Olupona appreciated the Federal Government, Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu and the state focal person for the intervention programme, Mrs Olubunmi Ademosun, for ensuring that the payment was restored.

    Also speaking with NAN, a beneficiary, Mrs Jumoke Kolawole, from Akure North Local Government, appreciated the Federal Government for resuming payment for beneficiaries.

    Another beneficiary, Adiatu Akadiri, also from Akure North Local Government, described the gesture as timely, and urged the Federal Government to continue with the programme in order alleviate the conditions of the poor and vulnerable in the society.

  • N-Power assures beneficiaries of prompt payment of stipends, clear backlogs

    N-Power assures beneficiaries of prompt payment of stipends, clear backlogs

     

    A federal government empowerment scheme known as N-Power has noted that it’s ready to ensure prompt payment and backlog of beneficiaries stipends are cleared.

    According to the management of the scheme, beneficiaries are expected to continue to do their job without any form of fear.

    “Dear Graduate Beneficiaries, we hope that you have resumed your duties in your different Places of Primary Assignments (PPA),” N-Power tweeted on Tuesday.

    “We are working tirelessly to ensure that beneficiaries’ stipends and those with backlogs are cleared,” N-Power said on Twitter.

    N-Power’s assurance is in response to a recent protest by some beneficiaries over the nonpayment of their allowances.

    The government empowerment scheme warned beneficiaries who refuse to report for work without any genuine excuse or official permission from their supervisors.

    “We also want to make it clear that any beneficiary who is found absent In his/her primary place of assignment (PPA) without official permission from his/her supervisor will be placed on payment hold for 45 days,” N-Power said.

    “Furthermore, if at the end of the 45 days, there Is no official clearance letter for reinstatement of the beneficiary by the State Focal Person, the beneficiary will be exited from the N-Power Programme. Kindly be advised to stick to one as we are poised to implement the Terms of Engagement.”

    N-Power is a scheme set up in Nigeria by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016, to address the issues of youth unemployment and improve social development.

    The scheme was created as a component of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), to contribute to the government’s plan of lifting 100 million people out of poverty by creating opportunities to enhance the productivity of the Nigerian youth, according to the humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development ministry.

  • What we know about D’Banj’s involvement in N-Power

    What we know about D’Banj’s involvement in N-Power

    Nigerian singer and rapper, Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo, popularly known as D’Banj was held and detained by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Tuesday.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports D’Banj was reported to have turned himself in at ICPC’s headquarters in Abuja where he is being detained after operatives of the agency closed in on him for alleged involvement in fraudulently diverting hundreds of millions of Naira earmarked by the Nigerian government for the N-Power programme.

    The N-Power programme, one of the four main programmes under the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), is an empowerment programme set up by the Nigerian government in 2016 to address youth unemployment and increase social development.

    The programme is designed to target Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 35 and aims to help young Nigerians acquire and develop life-long skills to become practical solution providers in their communities, enabling them to become innovative players in the domestic and global markets.

    In 2021, D’banj was named brand ambassador for NSIP, which components also include the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme (CCTP), Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) and the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP).

    TNG recalls that the Afrobeats star was one of many high-profile personalities at the launch of a new NSIP programme spearheaded by Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya, Umar Farouq.

    D’Banj joined in unveiling the N-Power Batch C1 that year when he disclosed: “One million youths will be carefully selected and will be given N30,000 each month for the period of a year while they sharpen their proficiency in their chosen field of choice”.

    At the time D’Banj added: “We cannot do enough to eradicate poverty, but as an ambassador, I am dedicated to this vision and open for creative ideas and strategies to bring down the walls of poverty in Nigeria.

    “My heartfelt congratulations to the 500,000 beneficiaries of Stream 1 of Batch C. I also indulge them to make the most of this opportunity. Congratulations and God bless the honourable minister and each ministry fighting the good fight against poverty.”

     

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    A post shared by Daniel Banjo (@iambangalee)

    After discrepancies were unravelled in the management of accounts reportedly under the purview of D’Banj, the musician, according to sources, failed to show up for interrogation despite multiple invitations, forcing the ICPC into making moves to arrest the Afrobeats star anywhere in Nigeria and abroad.

    D’banj, insiders said, had dodged summons for weeks, claiming to be overseas for scheduled concerts each time he was invited to appear for interrogation over the fraud allegations.

    Why we are detaining D’Banj – ICPC

    Meanwhile, the ICPC has confirmed the detention of D’Banj. Mrs Azuka Ogugua, the ICPC’s spokesperson said this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja. Ogugua said that the investigation followed numerous petitions on the diversion of N-Power funds running into billions of naira.

    She said many N-Power beneficiaries had complained over the non-receipt of the monthly stipends in spite of payment by the Federal Government.

    “About 10 persons have been invited by the ICPC over the last few months in connection with the N-Power fraud, and have been granted administrative bail after their detention. Several invitations to Oyebanjo to appear before a team of investigators were ignored and not honoured.

    “Oyebanjo turned in himself and was taken into custody at the ICPC Headquarters on Tuesday, December 6,  2022, and is currently assisting the investigators to unravel the circumstances of the fraud allegations by the petitioners.

    “The investigation will be all-encompassing and also be extended to other collaborators of the fraud and the banks where the beneficiaries’ accounts are domiciled. This press release has become necessary to set the record straight in view of the reports awash in the media,” she said.

    According to her, an investigation is ongoing and the commission prefers not to preempt its outcome in order to avoid a media trial.

    TNG reports that the N-Power scheme established by President Muhammadu Buhari on June 8, 2016, to empower unemployed graduates, is currently getting legislative attention at the National Assembly (NASS).

    President Buhari sent a bill, known as NSIP Bill, to the Senate seeking to provide a legal and institutional framework for the programme

  • FG spends N12bn on school feeding monthly — National Coordinator

    FG spends N12bn on school feeding monthly — National Coordinator

    The Federal Government spends about N12 billion on the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programmes (NHGSFP) monthly under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (MHADMSD).

    Dr Umar Bindir, National Coordinator, National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) of the Ministry stated this on Monday.

    Bindir disclosed this at a two-day stakeholders consultative workshop on the development of a national policy for NHGSFP in Abuja.

    He underscored the need for the country to have a national policy on school feeding programme to ensure sustainability.

    According to him, the school feeding programme is very expensive as over 10 million children are fed at the rate of N100 meal per child as approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He said that the programme was a continuation of deliberate strategies of the NSIP to institutionalise the clusters.

    “Today we are focusing on the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme with the support of the World Food Programme (WFP) to develop an inclusive policy for NHGSFP.

    “This is to ensure that it is sustainable, measurable and highly impactful as directed by Mr President.

    “As we speak we are feeding an average of 10 million children with the potential of that number increasing to 12 million probably in the next few weeks or months.

    “Based on the impact of the programme – attracting children to school, ensuring the children are healthy, the children of the poor and vulnerable attending school longer it is necessary that the programme is sustained,’’ he said.

    In his remarks, Mr Kim Do-Hwan, Head, Capacity Strengthening and Policy Coherence, UN World Food Program, said the objective of the workshop was to engage critical stakeholders, who would jointly identify and agree on key components of a national school feeding policy.

    Do-Hwan said that the policy development process would take into account broad considerations that would benefit the NHGSFP as it was being implemented across the country.

    He further said that the policy would serve as a foundation for the success and sustainability of the NHGSFP.

    “It will remain as a guiding document that ensures continued investment from national and sub-national stakeholders beyond any singular political dispensation.

    “The NHGSFP is a key pathway for the government of Nigeria to achieve one of its own objectives to advance progress towards the Sustainability Development Goal (SDG 2) on zero hunger.

    “This aims to end hunger, achieve food security, improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.’’

    He, therefore, assured UNWFP’s commitment to support the achievement of SDG 2 in the country through effective partnerships, knowledge sharing and capacity strengthening.

    Also speaking, one of the participants, Dr Onallo Akpa, Director–General, Poultry Association of Nigeria, said that the essence of the programme was to ensure that the children have nutritious meal.

    Akpa said that the school feeding programme encouraged academic and community development, hence the need for sustainability.

    “We are here to discuss on how to develop a framework that will be compassing for the entire country in developing the school feeding programme.

    “As poultry mangers the essence is to see how we can mobilise our members into supplying the needed quantity of eggs into the school feeding programme,’’ he said.

  • N-Power portal opens for Batch C enrolment

    N-Power portal opens for Batch C enrolment

    The Federal Government has said the enrolment for Batch C beneficiaries of the N-Power Programme under the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) will begin from June 26.

    Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, made the announcement in a statement signed by the Deputy Director of Information in the Ministry, Mrs Rhoda Iliya, earlier on Friday in Abuja.

    She noted that the Programme was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016 under the NSIP with the mandate of lifting citizens out of poverty through capacity building, investment, and direct support.

    “The commencement of the Batch C enrolment is sequel to far-reaching consultations and a review of the submissions on the reform and realignment of the programme for greater efficiency.

    “Batch C is also being enrolled to provide opportunities for more Nigerian youth to access the programme, in furtherance of the President’s vision of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty.

    “This will create opportunities that will enhance the productivity of the Nigerian youth for entrepreneurship.

    “Applications will be conducted using a hybrid system of enrolment to ensure that all Nigerians are given an opportunity to participate.

    “As a Ministry that caters for the vulnerable, we will also make special considerations for persons living with disabilities.

    “Online portal would be open to receive applications from noon on June 26, 2020 and will provide a level playing field for all applicants.

    “As part of the Ministry’s reforms to make the programme more efficient, all applicants must supply their Bank Verification Number (BVN), in their application.

    “This is to ensure a streamlined and transparent selection process. Once applications are submitted, the Ministry will review submissions and publish a list of successful applicants.

    “Past beneficiaries are not eligible to participate in the application process. Comprehensive details for the new batch will be announced in the coming weeks,” Farouq said.

    However, the Minister also hinted that the Ministry had announced that Batch A would exit the programme on June 30, while Batch B would exit on July 31, 2020 respectively.

    She explained that the Ministry had begun the transitioning of beneficiaries from Batches A and B into government entrepreneurship schemes and engaging private sector bodies to absorb some of the beneficiaries.

    According to her, these will be done after the completion of psychometric assessment to determine competency and placement into various opportunities.

    “The Federal government is committed to the continuation and expansion and as such will now begin enrolment and onboarding of a new Batch of beneficiaries.”

    The minister said, the N-Power programme had so far enrolled a total 500,000 beneficiaries, 200,000 from Batch A which started in September 2016 and 300,000 from Batch B which began in August 2018.

    “The beneficiaries were supposed to spend not less than 24 months on the programme and were spread across the key industries targeted by the programme – agriculture, health, education and tax.

    “The current beneficiaries from Batches A and B are scheduled to transit the programme by July 31, 2020 with plans already in place to transition them into entrepreneurship,” she reiterated.

  • 3,000 Edo households to benefit from Conditional Cash Transfer programme

    3,000 Edo households to benefit from Conditional Cash Transfer programme

    The National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) is to benefit no fewer than 3000 poor households in Edo during the first phase of its Conditional Cash Transfer programme, an official has said.

    NSIP Focal Person in the state, Ms Osayuwamen Aledeshelu, disclosed this in Benin on Wednesday.

    Aledeshelu said payment of the N5,000 to the beneficiaries in the first phase of the programme would commence before the end of June.

    She added that the enumeration of the poor households in the state was ongoing and would be completed before the end of March.

    The focal person listed Oredo, Ovia South West, Igueben, Esan West, Owan East and Etsako Central as the six pilot local government areas of the scheme.

    “We have gone far with the enumeration process of poor households and we are at the development of the social register stage to form part of the national register.

    “What we want to do is to have a social register, a document that can be used for any social intervention in the state.

    “When the register is completed, the data will be validated and payment can be made; we are hoping that before the end of the second quarter of the year, the scheme would be in place”, she said.

    Aledeshelu said the beneficiaries were being selected through a credible process as suggested by members of the communities.

    “Poverty is relative and differs from place to place.

    “When we get to a community, we have a town hall meeting with the leaders, men and women groups to tell us the level of poverty is in the community.

    “It is the community that validates the poor persons in their midst”, she said.