The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, has announced the resumption of arrears payments to beneficiaries of the N-Power programme by the Federal Government.
N-Power, established in 2016 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, aims to tackle youth unemployment and foster social development. However, beneficiaries were owed several months’ salaries by the previous administration, with the payment process halted upon the assumption of office by President Bola Tinubu.
Minister Edu clarified that the Federal Government is keen on addressing the shortcomings in the N-Power scheme before reinstating it. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, she revealed that the payment of arrears commenced recently.
Edu stated, “Presently, a payment for N-Power is ongoing; we were in the office yesterday up until the early hours of this morning, just to ensure that young people get monies that they have been owed from the last government.”
Acknowledging the challenges faced by N-Power beneficiaries, Edu emphasized the government’s commitment to resolving the outstanding payments and restructuring the program to reduce unemployment and create job opportunities for Nigerians.
She clarified that the Renewed Hope N-Power has not been relaunched yet, as the government is still addressing issues from previous years. Edu explained the complexities involved, including payments managed by a consultant who held funds for months. The government has since retrieved the money, deposited it into the government’s TSA CBN account, and initiated a meticulous scrutiny of beneficiaries.
Edu appealed to N-Power beneficiaries for patience during the process, assuring them that the government is working diligently to ensure everyone who served is duly compensated.
