Npower News: Beneficiaries Ask EFCC to Probe Minister

Batch A & B of Npower beneficiaries have called on the anti-graft agencies to probe the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar Faruk.

The concerned beneficiaries stated that the minister needed to be accountable for the unpaid five months allowances of more than 14,000 N-Power members. 

According to the petition signed by Comrade Bashir Usman Gobirp, the National Chairman of Association of Exited N-Power Beneficiaries of Nigeria, the minister was alleged to have mismanaged billions of Naira belonging to the affected beneficiaries. 

Investors King understands that this is not the first time Npower beneficiaries will call for the probe of the minister. Last year, some Npower beneficiaries called for the sacking of the Minister after a popular musician, D’banj was accused to be involved in the diversion of billions of Naira meant for Npower beneficiaries. 

Reading from a prepared speech on behalf of the group, Comrade Bashir Usman Gobirp listed the Unpaid five months’ arrears of allowances for 14,000 beneficiaries of batches A and B and Non-payment of exit package for the exited 500,000 beneficiaries for both batches as part of the allegations against the minister. 

The group, therefore urged both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Crimes (ICPC) to commence a holistic investigation into the matter which has caused hardship and even death to some members.  

“I therefore, in line with your statutory mandate, urge the Commission to take appropriate legal measures against any person who may be found wanting in the mismanagement of the N-Power funds, which has caused 500,000 persons untold hardships, deprivations and even deaths,” the petition read. 

It would be recalled that the Npower scheme was created in 2016 as part of the social intervention programmes of the Federal government to engage and train youth on economic skills. Beneficiaries are paid a stipend of 30,000 for the duration of their training or service. However, ever since the establishment of the scheme, issues of unpaid allowances have always characterized the programme, sometimes leading to protests.