N-Power Batch A and B: Protest Imminent As 500K Nigerian Youths Expected To Occupy Humanitarian Affairs Ministry

Following the expiration of the ultimatum given by the 36-state representatives of N-Power volunteers plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to Sadiya Farouq, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development of Nigeria to fulfill all her promises to the exited N-Power beneficiaries, majority of Batch A and B volunteers are ready to storm the Federal Secretariat Complex, Shehu Shagari Way, Central Area, Abuja.

Recall that in a statement in March which was signed by Kabiru Aliyu Pelemi, the National N-Power President, the council warned that failure of the federal agency to heed their request will mean they'll mobilize 500,000 youths to occupy the ministry.

Since releasing the NEXIT Portal on November 30 2020 - four months after exiting N-Power Batches A and B beneficiaries, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development of Nigeria which is saddled with N-Power duties have not effected the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Empowerment Programme.

This is despite the fact that hundreds of ex-N-Power beneficiaries have logged on to the NEXIT portal and provided the required additional information for possible placements into the various CBN intervention options.

Hundreds of them are also owed multiple months stipends.

“After our last peaceful protest on the 23rd of July, 2020, and our media conference at Ilorin Kwara state, the ministry came up with different delay tactics to stop us from embarking on another protest.

“I and some other State Reps have been to the ministry on different occasions and it's all promise and fail which even make the people we represent to think we were bribed, of which we never for one day collected transport fare from the ministry for the visit.

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“36 States and FCT N-Power Representatives Forum give you from today Tuesday,16th March 2021 to Monday, 12th April 2021 to fulfill all the promises you made to the exited N-Power Volunteers or we mobilize 500,000 Nigeria youths to occupy the ministry,” Pelemi had said.

About N-Power scheme

Established in 2016, the N-Power scheme is one of the national social investment programmes of the federal government targeted at unemployed graduates who are engaged by the government and paid N30,000 monthly stipend.

The N-Power programme has so far enrolled 500,000 beneficiaries; they include 200,000 from Batch A that commenced in September 2016, and 300,000 from Batch B which started in August 2018. Both batches have been disengaged.