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Tag: N-POWER

  • N-POWER: FG to off set delayed payment of 9 months to Beneficiaries

    N-POWER: FG to off set delayed payment of 9 months to Beneficiaries

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    The Federal Government has said that beneficiaries of the N-Power programme will soon be paid their 9 months of delayed stipends.

    The Npower National Programme Manager Dr. Akindele Egbuwalo discussed this during a meeting with some N-power beneficiaries at his office in Abuja.

    Egbuwalo said that the main purpose for the temporary suspension of the programme was to address delayed payment of stipends and other matters directly affecting beneficiaries.

    According to him, the programme had to temporarily suspended to enable thorough restructuring and forensic audit, adding that funds have been recovered from the existing payment service providers and plans have been put in place by the programme to commence disbursement of the 9 months outstanding stipends to beneficiaries from November, 2023, by installment.

    Egbuwalo who While assure the beneficiaries of complete transparency and accountability, stated that in line with the new agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    Meanwhile, the N-Power National Programme Manager disclosed that the new name of the N-power programme is rename Renewed Hope Job Creation Programme (RHJCP) w under the supervision of Dr Betta Edu, and it will be expanded to target 5 million beneficiaries in 5 years where 1 million youths will be absorbed each year under the graduate and non-graduate stream.

    One if the beneficiaries based in Yobe State,Sani Garba, noted that their concerns was mainly regarding the delayed 9 months stipends, adding that a national protest had initially been planned by different clusters of Npower beneficiaries due to inadequate information.

    “Sir, as you have clearly explained that payment to us will be with outmost transparency, myself and other cluster of beneficiaries represented here are assuring you that we have clearly understood your position and taken your assurances, there is no need for any protest” Garba assured.

    End

  • N-Power Programme Has Successfully Empowered 1.5m Unemployed Nigerian Youths – Humanitarian Ministry

    N-Power Programme Has Successfully Empowered 1.5m Unemployed Nigerian Youths – Humanitarian Ministry

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has refuted contrary assumption about the ministry and has scored the N- Power empowered initiative put in place by the Federal Government successful.

    The Permanent Screctary of the ministry Dr. Nasir Sani–Gwarzo in a self assessment said that the government intervention is a very successful component of the National Social Investment Programmme put in place by the Federal Government to empower 1.5 unemployed Nigerian youths.

    Sani- Gwarzo, stated that the N-Power initiative has continued to deliver desired impact through the on-boarding 1.5million Unemployed Nigerian youth (mostly graduates), providing capacity building, targeted tenured employment and structured off-boarding unto various career paths; thereby serving as a catalyst conveyor system for unemployed/under-employed Nigerian youth to successful career paths and a stimulus for the Nigerian Economy.

    Meanwhile, regarding a recent publications concerning the ongoing investigations in relation to fraud allegations in the Programme. the ministry stated that it selection of eligible beneficiaries from across the country from inception is through a well-rounded mechanism.

    Working with our Service Provider, Program Beneficiaries are onboarded, trained and deployed to pre-selected Places of Primary Assignment.

    “On the issue of sharp practices when noticed, by some personnel of the Payment Service Provider (PSP) involved in the payment processes of beneficiaries, the matter was immediately referred to ICPC for thorough investigation.”

    “In the meantime, we have carried out thorough reinforcement of our systems to eliminate all anomalies and prevent similar occurrences in the future. To this end we are in close collaboration with ICPC to support the successful determination of the investigation.”

    The ministry said it has overtime involved government MDAs, security agencies and CSOs in the monitoring and compliance to ensure transparency and accountability in the implementation of N-Power and other National Social Investment Programmes, namely the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme(NHGSFP), Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP)and the Conditional Cash Transfer(CCT), across the 36 states and the FCT.

    The ministry further urged the public to come forward with information on any irregularities noticed in the implementation of the National Social Investment programmne through its social channels.

  • FG to Train 50,000 non graduate N-Power beneficiaries

    FG to Train 50,000 non graduate N-Power beneficiaries

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    Federal Government has approved the training of 50,000 non graduate N-Power beneficiaries under the N- Build programme by four agencies.

    The Federal Executive Council, FEC, took the decision yesterday to approve a 9 months training of programme for the beneficiaries by the National Institute of Transport Technology NITT, Industrial Training Fund ITF, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism and the Hydraulic Equipment Development Institute HEDI.
    Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq who made this announcement said that the ministry is coordinating the implementation of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) in line with its mandate of alleviating poverty, social inclusion and youth empowerment.

    Farouq said, “This N-Build is under the N-Power cluster of programmes managed by NSIP targets unemployed non-graduates, adding that the proposed training is a continuation of N-Build training that started in 2017 with every batch of N-Power trainees.”

    She explained that the Ministry has reviewed the N-Build programm
    as relevant to the Job Creation/Poverty Reduction agenda of the Federal Government.
    According to the Minister the trainer Institutes were carefully considered and chosen in line with the objective of the N-Power and based on their capacities to train, assess, certify and guide candidates towards achieving the National Skills Qualifications (NSQs) of the N-Build Programme”.

    The proposed training programme comprises three (3)months of
    in-centre class training, six (6) months for apprenticeship, post Apprenticeship, mentorship with provision of Starter Packs and assessment leading to the award of National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) Certification.  

    Meanwhile, the poll N-Build apprenticeship programme will be coordinated across the 36 States and FCT and centres in almost 350 Local Government Areas.

    The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism will provide professional and technical skills upgrade training programmes for the beneficiaries in Baking, Cooking/ catering, House- keeping and Mixology as well as all areas of Hospitality and Tourism directly and indirectly connected to it , while the Industrial Training Fund ITF will train beneficiaries in Electrical, Masonry, Plumbing and Carpentry.

    The training services in Automobile and Agritech Tracks will be handled by the National Institute of Transport Technology NITT while the Hydraulic Equipment Development Institute HEDI will empower beneficiaries in welding and Fabrication, Electrical Fittings and Plumbing.

  • 500,000 Nigerians set for Batch C N-Power programme- Sadiya Umar Farouq

    500,000 Nigerians set for Batch C N-Power programme- Sadiya Umar Farouq

    … As Ministry feeds 9.2 m school children to expand school enrollment Nationwide


    By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

    Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq has disclosed that out of the 1.8 million Nigerians who took part in the complusory N- Power programme test under the Federal Government’s National Social Investment Management System, NSIMS, 500,000 applicants have passed the selection test and are qualified for the programme.

    Fraouq made this known today in Abuja during a press briefing on the progress so far on NSIMS.
    She said, ” a short-list of 550,000 applicants qualified for the final selection to engage 500,000 nationwide to serve as the first stream of the N-Power Batch C programme. This is the Batch C1.”

    “The second batch of another 500,000 will subsequently be made in line with Mr President’s directive to engage 1,000,000 beneficiaries under the Batch C.”
    While explaining the process of engagement, she said that the 550,000 short-listed applicants are being individually contacted via their e-mail addresses provided and are first advised to check and then immediately log on to the NSIMS self-service portal and enrol their biometric data to qualify for final selection.

    Furthermore applicants are advised to access dedicated NASIMS N- Power helplines on 0188883410 or 08176551162 or send an email to support.npower@nasims.gov.ng for further enquiries on their application status and any other questions they may have. They must ensure that they keep their application details handy to ensure hitch free communication with the call centre desk, the minister informed.
    Meanwhile the minister said that the ministry is set to implement the National Home- Grown School Feeding programme in which a total of 9,296,823 pupils in classes 1 to 3 in public primary schools will be fed with one nutritious meal daiy in all the 54,629 schools across the country.
    An additional 5 million children have been included into the feeding programme, she said.

    The outcomes of this programme includes increase in school enrolment, improved nutrition for benefiting pupils, boosting of local economies and facilitating job creation through the activities of 103,028 cooks, 100,000 small holder farmers and numerous aggregators and commodity transporters engaged nationwide, the minister explained.

  • 500,000 Nigerians set for Batch C N-Power programme – Umar Farouq

    500,000 Nigerians set for Batch C N-Power programme – Umar Farouq

    … As Ministry feeds 9.2 m school children to expand school enrollment Nationwide

    By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

    Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq has disclosed that out of the 1.8 million Nigerians who took part in the compulsory N- Power programme test under the Federal Government’s National Social Investment Management System, NSIMS, 500,000 applicants have passed the selection test and are qualified for the programme.

    Fraouq made this known today in Abuja during a press briefing on the progress so far on NSIMS.
    She said, ” a short-list of 550,000 applicants qualified for the final selection to engage 500,000 nationwide to serve as the first stream of the N-Power Batch C programme. This is the Batch C1.”

    “The second batch of another 500,000 will subsequently be made in line with Mr President’s directive to engage 1,000,000 beneficiaries under the Batch C.”
    While explaining the process of engagement, she said that the 550,000 short-listed applicants are being individually contacted via their e-mail addresses provided and are first advised to check and then immediately log on to the NSIMS self-service portal and enrol their biometric data to qualify for final selection.

    Furthermore applicants are advised to access dedicated NASIMS N- Power helplines on 0188883410 or 08176551162 or send an email to support.npower@nasims.gov.ng for further enquiries on their application status and any other questions they may have. They must ensure that they keep their application details handy to ensure hitch free communication with the call centre desk, the minister informed.

    Meanwhile the minister said that the ministry is set to implement the National Home- Grown School Feeding programme in which a total of 9,296,823 pupils in classes 1 to 3 in public primary schools will be fed with one nutritious meal daily in all the 54,629 schools across the country.
    An additional 5 million children have been included into the feeding programme, she said.

    The outcomes of this programme includes increase in school enrolment, improved nutrition for benefiting pupils, boosting of local economies and facilitating job creation through the activities of 103,028 cooks, 100,000 small holder farmers and numerous aggregators and commodity transporters engaged nationwide, the minister explained.

  • N-Power: Humanitarian ministry announces batch C enrollment process

    N-Power: Humanitarian ministry announces batch C enrollment process

    By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

    Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs , Disaster Management and Social Development has announced the next step for the N-Power Batch C Stream One applicants.

    In a statement from SA Media Nneka Anibeze made available to Daybreak today, the Permanent Secretary Bashir Nura Alkali said that the ministry has commenced the next stage of enrollment with the verification of email addresses by applicants.

    Alkali called on shortlisted applicants to check their respective email addresses for confirmation and for further information.

    He directed applicants to log into www.nasims.gov.ng to enroll their biometric data.
    The Permanent Secretary also advised applicants to contact NPower helplines at 018888340 or 018888189 or email for support at support.npower@nasims.gov.ng for other enquiries.

    Daybreak reports that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs is charged with the responsibility of implementing National Social Investment Programmes.

  • Buhari announces expansion of N-Power to 1 million Nigerians

    Buhari announces expansion of N-Power to 1 million Nigerians

    President Muhammadu Buhari says his government will expand the N-Power programme from the present 500,000 beneficiaries to one million.

    Buhari made the announcement in a message to commemorate the 2021 Workers’ Day celebration.

    He said the expansion would ensure job creation and poverty alleviation through programme such as Safety Net Programmes to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The Nigerian leader listed some socio-economic policies of his administration.

    He mentioned the increase of the Conditional Cash Transfer for the vulnerable poor from 2.6 million households (13 million persons) to 7.6 million households (about 32 million persons).

    Buhari said the COVID-19 Rapid Response Register (RRR) for urban poor now has 4.8 million households (20 million persons) which include urban poor/working class.

    He added that his government set up the Artisan Support Fund, Payroll Support Fund for small scale businesses and Business Formalisation to encourage medium enterprises by offering free registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

    The President further said that the National Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) for entrepreneurs earmarked N75 billion for three years to support the labour force.

  • FG announces new plan for N-Power beneficiaries

    FG announces new plan for N-Power beneficiaries

    N-Power beneficiaries, who have concluded the two-year job programme, will now be able to access permanent job opportunities or business prospects, the Federal Government has declared.

    This is part of the newly-activated N-power exit strategy.

    The initiative is for Batches A and B of the N-Power programme.

    Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, gave the update on Wednesday.

    She spoke at the 4th annual review of the Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP).

    Under the plan, 200,000 beneficiaries will be engaged as financial services operators under the Shared Agent Network Expansion Facility (SANEF).

    The scheme is operated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    “Plans have been concluded for the transition of the N-power Batch A and B through the creation of the NEXIT portal, which would allow those who choose to sign up to access other government empowerment opportunities.


    “A beneficiary management system for the NSIPs is expected to be deployed in 2021. It would have the capacity to manage payments, address grievances and improve dissemination of information,” Sadiya said.

    The government said another 30,000 beneficiaries have been engaged as geospatial experts and enumerators in the Economic Sustainability Plan’s Mass Agric programme.

    Others will have the option of benefiting from the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) micro-enterprise loans.

  • N-Power Youth Congress Demands Full Absorption of 500,000 Disengaged Members Into MDAS Across The Country

    N-Power Youth Congress Demands Full Absorption of 500,000 Disengaged Members Into MDAS Across The Country

    By Dauda R Pam Maiduguri.

    The national N-Power Youth Congress (N-PYC) has called on the federal government to fully  absorp  the recently disengaged 500,000members of  batches A and B into ministries, departments and agencies,MDA,across the country.

    The N-PYC National Coordinator, Hon. Joseph Enan Maigari, made the call at a news conference,saturday,in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital,the third news conference in the series on the same issue.

    Yet, the Federal Government, has refused to listen to our demands,” he lamented. 

    He said if government cannot absorb the disengaged members of the N-Power, at least some grants should be paid to each of the 500,000 youths as “exit packages”,wondering why nothing was pronounced by,President Mohammadu Buhari, during  Thursday’s presidential broadcast on ENDSARS protests Nationwide.

    He said the youths have been disengaged from the N-Power scheme without alternative option to cater for their livelihoods.

    “We’re reminding President Muhammadu Buhari once again of his promises to us,” noting that the youths will never relent, until their demands are met. He added that 36 State Representatives of N-Power beneficiaries have earlier also stated  alternative demands to government.

    “We were struggling in different spheres of life to make a living. “We were also meant to quit the things we were doing, before being engaged into the N-Power scheme,” adding that government also pledged to absorbed the  youths on winding up of scheme.

    He lamented that the youths had served the country with monthly stipend of N30, 000 and that the said monthly allowances cannot meet up their families’ basic needs, including school fees, electricity and water bills.

    “How much does a bag of rice and four-liter of cooking oil cost in the market,” he asked rhetorically.

    .On the exit grant packages, he said: “Absorb members that want to work with Federal Government and give them a reasonable exit package to venture into businesses and other entrepreneurial enterprises.”

    He wondered why Boko Haram insurgents were empowered under the auspices of “Repentant Boko Haram, while, “The innocent and harmless 500,000 youths have been crying every day, but no one listens our cries,” just as  they will continue to be law abiding citizens, so that  the President may come to terms and understand that “a hungry man is also an angry person”. 

  • N-Power: FG extends Batch C enrolment Aug 8

    N-Power: FG extends Batch C enrolment Aug 8

    The Federal Government says the enrolment for Batch C scheme of the N-Power Programme which started on June 26 will now close on August 8.

    Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, who disclosed this via Twitter on Sunday night, said over 5 million applications have been received for the scheme.

    The Federal Government plans to enrol 400,000 applicants in the Batch C scheme.

    Our Correspondent had earlier reported that some N-Power beneficiaries who are about to exit the programme held a rally at the National Assembly Complex last week, requesting FG to employ them as well as pay them a grant of N600,000 each.

    Providing an update on the development, the minister said on Sunday, “I received the news of a protest at the National Assembly by N-Power Batch A and B beneficiaries who presented a list of demands which we are reviewing and will address as practically possible.

    “Let me reiterate that the exiting of Batch A and B is not punitive but as a means of providing an opportunity for their brothers and sisters to also access the programme. Batch A and B beneficiaries remain our pride and worthy ambassadors.

    “One month after the portal opened for Batch C applications, we are happy to announce that we have received over 5m applications underlining enthusiasm for the programme.

    “In a bid to extend the opportunity to all Nigerians and ensure it is truly inclusive, the portal will close at midnight on August 8th, 2020.”

    The N-Power Programme was inaugurated by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), in 2016 under the National Social Investment Programme.

    The programme aims to lift citizens out of poverty through capacity building, investment and direct support.