Confusion as arrears pile up for NPower beneficiaries’ select states, FG mute
Barely three to four months after the takeoff of the celebrated NPower job initiative of the Federal Government, investigations have shown that the policy is apparently facing paucity of funds as arrears of monthly stipends have started piling up in many states.
Already some beneficiaries in some states including Oyo have staged a peaceful protest over non-payment of their monthly allowance since December last year.
Besides, the story is the same in Edo and Lagos states.
In Lagos, some of the beneficiaries took their protest to the Lagos State House of Assembly over the non-payment of their stipends for three consecutive months.
It would be recalled that similar protest had taken place in January this year where the group was
demanding the payment of their stipend, which led to the House to summon the State Coordinator of the scheme Mrs Shola Falana and the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Lola Akande for explanation.
However, the story of arrears seems not the same in other parts of the country as some are still being paid as at when due.
Spokesperson for the beneficiaries, Tolulope Temitayo, in a statement expressed disappointment over the neglect of some duly registered members in the payment process of December and January stipends while others in the scheme have been paid.
According to the Special Adviser to the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande was reportedly quoted to have said that the 200,000 unemployed youths across the 36 states and FCT have been posted to their respective places of work.
