EXCLUSIVE: Afolabi Imoukhuede Speaks On N-Power March Stipend

 

Afolabi Imoukhuede, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to President Muhammadu Buhari on Job Creation, who also doubles as the N-Power Cluster Lead of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) says he cannot explain the delay in March stipend of beneficiaries.

Allnews reached out to the Edo-born technocrat on Monday, asking him the real reason beneficiaries' March stipend has not yet been paid with April almost halved.

While stressing that he and his team have played their part in the payment process, Imoukhuede directed us to the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, the government department saddled with Nigeria's NSIPs duties for further correspondence.

"I am as stupefy as anybody else to know why monies continued to be owed between January to date," Imoukhuede told Allnews exclusively.

"And I am even more stupefied that (this is happening) in a period of lockdown like this when all companies try to pay their staff on time - even some gave a little bit of palliative to help everyone.

"But I can't respond to the real reason. She (Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Farouq) is the only one that can tell you the real reason.

"But this is what I can say.

"In terms of payroll, we cut off payroll by early in the month so that we can start the processing on time.

"And we always ensure that on the 15th of every month, if your name is not on the payroll as at that time, we are not able to pay you. That's why you hear issues like backlog or something.

"Between the 15th to the 18th of every month, we ensure that the payroll has gotten to the ministry.

"And this is what we have been doing time immemorial. And they (N-Power beneficiaries) have been getting paid, sometimes 28th of the month; sometimes 31st of the month: sometimes 1st of the next month.

"Even with this new ministry (Humanitarian Affairs), that's what we have continued to do.

"If what we have done for many months worked, then if it is no more working, I am not the one to say, its the new ministry to really explain why.

"Unfortunately, we've done our part.

"For this particular March, they (the ministry) received it 18th of March, which is well more than enough time for ministerial approval, and for the ministry to process."

READ ALSO: EXCLUSIVE: Buhari's Aide Sheds Light On N-Power Situation

While Allnews is yet to reach the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development regarding the delayed payment of N-Power beneficiaries, Allnews can confirm the silence on the part of the ministry despite numerous complaints on social media by the beneficiaries.