By Paul Joseph
Beneficiaries of Nigeria’s N‑Power programme have intensified calls for pro‑democracy activist and campaigner Omoyele Sowore to intervene as they continue to grapple with months and in some cases years of unpaid monthly stipends owed to them by the federal government.
The youths said their repeated appeals and protests have yielded little response from authorities, exacerbating hardship for thousands across the country.
The N‑Power scheme, established in 2016 under the National Social Investment Programmes to provide skills, work experience, and monthly financial support to young Nigerians aged 18‑35, has long been hailed as a key initiative to tackle unemployment and poverty.
However, many beneficiaries have reported extensive delays in stipend payments, particularly after programme suspensions and administrative changes in recent years.
In a phone interview with Starnews, beneficiaries including Khalid Muhammad and Habibu Muhammad expressed deep frustration over what they described as governmental neglect of their plight.
They said repeated letters, formal appeals, and peaceful protests including demonstrations at the National Assembly and Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja have failed to secure government action on outstanding payments.
“We have appealed to the government at every level,” one beneficiary told Starnews, “but our stipends have been withheld without explanation. We believe Mr. Sowore, with his courage to fight injustice, can help amplify our cause and push for accountability.”
On social media, several beneficiary groups and individuals have shared posts tagging Sowore alongside other prominent figures, urging them to spotlight the unpaid stipend crisis and back their campaign for justice.
Many of these posts highlight years of service offered by the beneficiaries without compensation, leaving some struggling to support themselves and their families.
The crisis has triggered ongoing demonstrations. In early February 2026, thousands of N‑Power beneficiaries staged a peaceful protest in Abuja, bearing placards demanding immediate payment of nine months of outstanding stipends and transparency from government agencies tasked with administering the programme.
While there have been official promises in the past including government statements about paying arrears and commitments from the Senate and executive officials to release backlog funds many beneficiaries say these assurances have not translated into timely payments for all eligible youth.
So far, no formal response has been issued by Mr. Sowore regarding the beneficiaries’ latest plea, and government spokespeople have yet to address the specific allegations of prolonged stipend non‑payment raised in the Starnews interview.
However, the growing protests and public calls for intervention reflect mounting frustration among a generation of young Nigerians who see delayed stipends as symptomatic of broader governance challenges.
As beneficiaries continue to mobilise online and offline, their appeal to Sowore underscores a wider demand for accountability and effective delivery of social welfare programmes in Nigeria’s ongoing struggle with youth unemployment and economic hardship.
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