N-POWER: FG gives updates on exited Beneficiaries demands After Protests

Following the mass protest embarked by the exited N-power beneficiaries to demand for a meaningful exit, the Nigerian Government has told the exiting Batch A and B of N-Power volunteers that it cannot afford their demand of N600,000 each.

As reported on Thursday that hundreds of N-Power volunteers stormed the streets of Abuja protesting over their unpaid stipends.

The protesting N-Power beneficiaries demanded for permanent employment or the payment of the sum of N600,000 to each of them before disengagement, while the protest also challenged their sudden disengagement by the government without a substantial exit package.

Registering their displease, protesters stormed the National Assembly chanting anti-government and anti-Sadiya Forouq songs, claiming that ever since the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management was created and with Sadiya Umar Farouq in charge, things have not been the same, her removal for allegedly frustrating the programme was also demanded.

However, a statement by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development signed by its Deputy Director, Press, Rhoda Iliya, said the protesters’ request of automatic employment of all the 500,000 beneficiaries as well as payment of grant of N600,000 each, is not achievable.

According to the statement, “The ministry wishes to state that this demand was not part of the agreement of engagement they signed with the Federal Government, which clearly stipulated that they will be exited after two years.

“Furthermore, the government cannot afford the N300bn they were asking for as grant.”

Recall that the current administration had engaged about 500,000 beneficiaries through Npower programme since 2016.