N-power: 5 Months Backlogs currently being paid, violators to face the law

The Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouk has announced that the 5 Months Stipend arrears owed to some of the exited Batch A and B N-power Beneficiaries are currently being paid.

In a press Statement signed by the Ministry's Permanent Secretary, Bashir Nura Alkali on Friday, Farouk noted that following a detailed investigation carry out on the 14,021 N-power Beneficiaries whose Accounts were flagged by the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) Server, 9,066 beneficiaries have been cleared for payment.

"The Ministry carried out detailed investigation in collaboration with relevant government MDAs and so far the accounts of 9,066 volunteers were cleared for final payment. Based on this reality, the 5 months allowance arrears of these volunteers, totaling N150,000.00 each, is currently being paid", Farouk stated.

Farouk disclosed that the allowances of the remaining 4,955 is withheld pending conclusion of further investigation.

The minister however threatened that upon further investigation on the remaining 4,955 beneficiaries, where clear violations of the agreements are established, such violators will be subjected to appropriate sanctions as stipulated by the law.

Farouk pointed out that beneficiaries having multiple accounts, or having accounts receiving other payments such as salaries and allowances from multiple Federal Government Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) on permanent employment or for participating in other schemes, clearly violates the regulations guiding the N-Power volunteer programme and could amount to gross misconduct and corruption.

She added that in the best interest of institutionalising the National Social Investment Programme, the Ministry deemed it a necessity to address the Backlog issues and prove its efficient management in line with Mr President’s resolve in ensuring transparency and accountability in its implementation at all times, contrary to public insinuations.