Latest Update On How FG Plans To Sack 500,000 N-Power Beneficiaries

The news emanated from The Guardian on Monday that Federal Government has announced the imminent sacking of about 500,000 persons engaged in Nigeria’s Social Investment Programme (N-Power) was not far from the truth but a reliable source told OSUNREPORTERS NEWS the details update about the story.

According to the news reported by some media, “Salisu Na’inna Danbatta, Media Aide to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, made this known to The Guardian on Monday.

“He said the beneficiaries were supposed to spend 24 months on the programme, but Batch A beneficiaries have spent over 40 months.

“Both Batches will soon be terminated according to the (press) release for the reasons given in the (press) release.

“Danbatta noted that the programme has enrolled 500,000 beneficiaries thus far – 200,000 from Batch A which started in September 2016 and 300,000 from Batch B which kicked off in August 2018.

“He added that the scheme has contributed to the administration’s vision of lifting 100 million people out of poverty by creating opportunities to enhance the productivity of the Nigerian youth.

“Danbatta, who also quoted a statement released by the ministry’s spokesperson, Rhoda Iliya, said the current beneficiaries have overstayed in the programme “thereby denying other Nigerians an opportunity to access the programme and gain skills for entrepreneurship and employment.”

A source from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, who speaks on the order of anonymity because she was not authorized to speak on behalf of the ministry, told our correspondent that Federal Government is not planning to disengage any beneficiaries without providing a sustainable offer suitable for each category of Npower volunteers, adding that “no beneficiary will go back to the street to beg for employment.”

She further revealed that N-health and N-teach would be the first to graduate from volunteers to federal service while some would benefit from cooperate organizations after covid-19 pandemic crisis simultaneously, while N-agro beneficiaries will not left unconsidered.