JUST IN: Minister Gives Update On Outstanding Stipends For 14,200 N-Power Batch A, B Beneficiaries

By Daniel Dafe
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management & Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, has said that the verification process with State N-Power Focal Officers for the 14,200 beneficiaries yet to be paid their five months stipends was ongoing, adding that all legitimate claims and those on the verified list will be paid before the end of the year.

Stating that “the delay in the payment of the arrears arose due to platform migration from NIBSS to GIFMIS by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation in March, 2020,” she said that only a total of 14,200 out of the 500,000 combined beneficiaries from Batch A and B have 5 months outstanding stipend arrears.

According to her tweet on Tuesday, those affected are expected to present their NYSC certificates for final verification after which an updated list will be presented to OAGF to pay off their 5 months arrears.

She added: “From the consolidated list of beneficiaries we received from the OAGF in September, the 14,200 beneficiaries with arrears of stipend were flagged for receiving monthly payment from other MDAs, particularly from the NYSC.

“It is possible that the 14,200 beneficiaries used their NYSC allowance bank accounts for N-Power and GIFMIS payment platform picked them for double payment.”

She recalled that “from the outset, the N-power programme was designed to run for 24 months (2 years) which all beneficiaries signed on to.”

She continued: “While the Batch A participants stayed on the programme for over 40 months, the Batch B members stayed within the 24-month time frame.

“To ensure other young Nigerians benefit from N-power, we set June 30, 2020 terminal date for Batch A beneficiaries and July 31, 2020 terminal date for Batch B members.

“Let me add that N-Power has contributed significantly to the socio-economic development of this country. We salute past beneficiaries for their service to the nation.

“It is gratifying to note that N-Power achieved one of its core objectives of making beneficiaries self-reliant.”

The minister disclosed that 109,000 among the 500,000 beneficiaries have gone to become business owners and some are already employers of labour.

“We are concluding arrangement to start the Batch C programme where other young Nigerians will participate. We will continue to work towards a better future for our young people,” she said.