By Paul Joseph
The Association of Npower Beneficiaries Nationwide have criticized the federal government for its request to cancel the planned protest on February 4th.
This response from the beneficiaries came just a day after two of their members held an unscheduled meeting at the office of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction on Monday.
The beneficiaries re-iterated their frustration over what they perceive as a series of unfulfilled promises from the government, insisting that the protest will proceed.
One of the beneficiaries, Haris Abubakar Bayawa stated on Facebook, “The protest is not being called off.” Another user, Robert Sunday Abur, added, “We don’t need words; we need action.”
During the brief meeting, the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Bernard M. Doro, reiterated the federal government’s commitment to addressing all outstanding issues related to the Npower program.
He mentioned that the government has been monitoring discussions on social media and is eager to resolve the beneficiaries’ grievances in a timely manner.
Following the meeting, the minister issued a statement to further clarify the situation, saying, “Dear N-Power Beneficiaries, I recognize the concerns being raised about the program, and I assure you that your voices are being heard.
Since my appointment, I have been working closely with the National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA) to thoroughly assess the program, identify gaps, and tackle the structural issues hindering its effective implementation.
Rest assured, all legitimate and verified concerns are currently being addressed. Earlier today, I had a comprehensive meeting with representatives of the beneficiaries, where these issues were discussed in detail.
All beneficiaries with validated issues will receive the attention they deserve and their payments will be processed.”
He also emphasized that the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda is fully committed to restructuring the program to ensure long-term sustainability and to establish clear exit pathways for beneficiaries, in line with the President’s vision and the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The new minister, who succeeded the current APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yelwatda, stated that the delays are from the Ministry of Finance, adding that the President has already signed the necessary documents for the release of their stipends.
After the meeting, Npower beneficiaries took to social media to criticize the federal government for repeating the same excuses over the years, expressing doubts about the credibility and integrity of the Nigerian government.
They questioned how the President could sign documents and issue orders while the Finance Minister failed to comply.
In a subsequent development, a video believed to have originated from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs was released, allegedly addressing their concerns. However, many remain skeptical about its authenticity.
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