N-Power: September 22, Yet No Words From Sadiya

Neither the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, headed by Sadiya Umar Farouq nor the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation have given reasons for the delay of Stipends and backlogs related issues lately.

Batch B beneficiaries of the N-Power scheme were dislodged from the N-Power programme without going home with their July’s stipend an outrage many condemned and tagged inappropriate.

The silence maintained by both sides shows “carefree” attitude of public offices towards public outcry.

Beneficiaries of the N-Power scheme have taken to social media demanding immediate release of their entitlements.

Similarly, the 14,000 outstanding stipends owed from March to July, 2020 is yet to get the needed attention from concerned authorities.

Many N-Power volunteers now rely on the President’s Independence Day speech, which will be delivered on the 1st of October, 2020.

It is worthy to note that, both Sadiya Umar Farouq and the office Accountant General of the Federation had once promised to rectify these issues, stating precisely last week Friday, but failed to put their words into action, and the delay lingers.

N-Power 36 states representatives had a National Press Conference in Illorin, the Kwara state capital, North Central Nigeria, where they appealed to the Presidency and the National Assembly to pay all stipends and backlogs to mitigate the impact felt by the covid-19 pandemic on N-Power volunteers.

“Over 14,000 N-Power Volunteers have not been paid their monthly stipend since the month of March to July, 2020 with the claim from the  Minister Sadia Umar Farouq was that it was caused by GIFMIS new payment platform that flagged their account.

Not resolving to pay them their stipends till date after her promise, which is totally inhumane because they have been suffering for the past 5 months without payment.

We implore the Federal Government to quickly implement the transition program for the exited N-Power Volunteers latest by 1st October, 2020 to reduce the suffering already meted on us.

Therefore, we enjoin all N-Power volunteers across the country to remain calm, focused and steadfast as we await the next line of action after October 1st speech of President Muhammadu Buhari. By then, we would have known the plan the government has for us.

The 5 months unpaid stipends to 14,000 N-Power volunteers, outstanding backlogs, the July stipends for Batch B should be released to the beneficiaries without further delay”N-Power State Executive Press Release 2020.