BVN confusion raises questions on claims that it was used to scream N-Power beneficiaries
Whereas the National Orientation Agency (NOA), has said that wrong Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) and account numbers provided by beneficiaries of the N-power job was responsible for delay in payment of their stipends, it would be recalled that the agency had earlier this month told Nigerians that BVN was used to scream and profile all beneficiaries.
The question then remains how come the same platform used to confirm beneficiaries is creating payment problems?
A biometric expert who pleaded anonymity explained that “The only thing that will cause confusion to an already screamed and profiled register is smuggling in of strange names that were not originally captured”.
“Otherwise, how can a data that has been generated and screamed using BVN turn back and become a problem at the point of payment”.
Moreover the fears of fraud was further heightened when the Deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu argued Tuesday that giving N5,000 to some people that may or may not exist amounts to abuse of public fund, stressing that the money would have better used in financing infrastructure development.
Efforts to get further explanation from NOA failed as at press time.
It would be recalled that the NOA Coordinator in Niger State, Alhaji Mohammed Aliyu, said during registration, majority of the participants provided wrong Bank details which had resulted in delay payment.
In his comments, majority of the participants provided wrong Bank account numbers and BVNs which made it difficult for the Federal Ministry of Finance to credit their account.
NOA added that “It is not the fault of the Federal Government that majority of the beneficiaries is yet to receive alert, rather the fault is from the participants themselves”.
“So far, for the past one month now, we are working on it and we hope in the next one week the problem will be rectified and they will get paid”, he said.
He disclosed that about 5,013 participants were short listed in the state and 4,198 have been posted to Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Health and Education.
