N-Power program suspended indefinitely as FG probes fund disbursement

The Federal Government has taken the decision to suspend the N-Power program indefinitely.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, announced this during an interview on TVC News on Saturday. The suspension comes in light of observed irregularities within the scheme.

Edu emphasized that a thorough investigation will be conducted to scrutinize the expenditure of funds since the inception of the program. Shedding light on the reasons behind the suspension and the subsequent steps, the minister stated, “We need to delve into the N-Power program, identify the issues, and therefore suspend the program temporarily until we conclude a comprehensive inquiry into the fund utilization in the N-Power program.”

“We intend to assess the current enrollment in the program, outstanding payments, and the owed amounts. We are undergoing a complete overhaul and expansion of the N-Power initiative.”

“There is a lot happening. We encountered individuals who were supposed to have exited the program last year, yet they claim to be actively engaged. At times, we reach out to their supposed workplaces or educational institutions, only to discover they are not present. Despite this, they continue to assert they are owed stipends for eight or nine months.”

The N-Power Program was introduced by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to address youth unemployment and facilitate social development.