The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, has unveiled the Federal Government’s ambitious plan to generate five million jobs for young Nigerians over the next five years through the revitalized N-Power scheme.
Edu, who recently announced the suspension of the program, outlined this vision during an interview with Channels TV.
The key objective is to establish one million employment opportunities each year and effectively breathe new life into the temporarily halted N-Power initiative.
Edu asserted that the suspension was essential to allow a thorough investigation into the program’s operations over the past year, as irregularities had been detected.
The investigation primarily focuses on evaluating the program’s enrollment numbers, identifying those who have exited, scrutinizing fund utilization, and rectifying discrepancies.
Edu highlighted the need to eliminate ghost beneficiaries and ensure transparency and accountability in the expanded program.
Under the restructuring, the age limit for beneficiaries has been extended to 40 years, broadening the reach and scope of N-Power.
This comprehensive transformation aims to enroll five million young individuals aged 18 to 40 over the next five years, with an annual goal of one million under the graduate and non-graduate streams.
Edu declared, “To earn the confidence of Nigerians in the expanded program, transparency and accountability will be the benchmark. It shall no longer be business as usual as we make concerted efforts to put the nation on the right footing, ensuring that no one directly or indirectly unleashes suffering on Nigerians.”