In a heartfelt letter composed by their National Publicity Secretary, Gbadebo Adesiyan, the N-Power Batch “C” beneficiaries have reached out to President Bola Tinubu, seeking immediate assistance due to the distressing situation of not receiving their stipends for the past eight months.
The letter, signed by Adesiyan, highlights the immense distress, inconveniences, and hardships faced by millions of unemployed Nigerian graduates enrolled in the N-Power scheme.
Adesiyan underscores the fact that no beneficiary under Batch “C” has received any stipend from January to July of this year, with August, the eighth month, now coming to an end. This unfortunate situation has left beneficiaries grappling with financial uncertainty and despair.
According to Adesiyan, the delay in stipend payments is attributed to the non-approval and disbursement of funds for the unpaid months into the National Social Investment Management System (NASIMS) account by the presidency.
In his appeal, Adesiyan writes, “I wish to address this matter of national concern with a sense of urgency and a heavy heart, hoping to shed light on the suffering of millions of our unemployed graduates who rely on the NPOWER program. The non-payment of stipends has caused immense distress, inconveniences, and hardship.”
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He implores Mr. President to take prompt action to resolve this issue and restore the faith of the Nigerian people in their government’s commitment to their well-being and welfare.
Adesiyan further elaborates on the stipend issue, stating, “For the past eight months, NPOWER has failed to disburse stipends to its beneficiaries. Some received payments for October, November, and December of 2022, but the majority are still waiting. Shockingly, no beneficiary has received any stipend in 2023, including January, February, March, April, May, June, and July. This has left beneficiaries in financial turmoil.”
He questions the credibility of the reasons behind the delay, expressing, “The reason given for this delay is the claim that funds for the said months have not been approved or disbursed into the NASIMS account by the presidency – a situation that many find incredulous.”
Adesiyan also highlights the additional challenges faced by beneficiaries due to a problematic validation process introduced by authorities.
He emphasizes the technical glitches and inconsistencies that have plagued this process, hindering beneficiaries’ access to the vital stipends they rely on for their livelihoods. Even those who managed to complete the validation process have not received any payments.
“This situation has created a dire state of affairs, as beneficiaries struggle to meet their basic needs and support their families. The unpaid stipends were meant to alleviate financial burdens and enable individuals to contribute to the economy. Instead, the prolonged delay has exacerbated the already difficult circumstances faced by these individuals, pushing them further into poverty and despair,” concludes Adesiyan.
The N-Power Batch “C” beneficiaries’ appeal to President Tinubu underscores the urgent need for resolution in order to alleviate the suffering of those who depend on these stipends for their well-being.
