N-Power: What Beneficiaries Should Expect As FG Restructures Social Investment Schemes

Amidst various forms of outbursts by beneficiaries of the federal government N-Power scheme, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Farouq has announced steps being taken by the government.

Her ministry announced that the Federal Government has begun the process to revamp all the schemes under the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIPs) which includes N-Power.

According to a statement signed by Rhoda Ishaku Iliya, Assistant Director Information on behalf of the ministry, a general overhaul of the schemes will be carried out “to ensure maximum transparency, greater efficiency and more prudent application of resources”.

Some of the programmes under the supervision of the NSIP are: N-Power, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), Conditional Cash Transfer and the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme.

The N-Power scheme is, however, the most popular programme under the NSIP, with approximately 500, 000 Nigerian youths between the ages of 18 and 35 benefiting from the scheme.

Apart from N-teach, other categories within the N-Power scheme are N-Health, N-Tax, N-Agro, etc.

The N-Power scheme is a social intervention scheme introduced in 2016 by President Muhammadu Buhari, as a two-year programme for graduate and non-graduate Nigerians between the ages of 18-35.

The beneficiaries enjoy N30, 000 monthly stipend, and devices during the duration of their stay in the scheme in exchange for services offered including teaching, agric extension services, health, etc.

The N-Power scheme was previously managed under the supervision of the office of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo but was moved to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development under Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq following the creation of the ministry in 2019.

Last week, this online medium reported the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq appeared before the House of Representatives.

The Minister appeared along with the N-Power team led by Afolabi Imoukhuede, the senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on job creation and youth empowerment.

They appeared on Wednesday before the lawmakers for an investigative hearing on the N-Power scheme at the Federal House of Representatives, Abuja.