The Npower beneficiaries have called on the federal government and all state to absorbed whatever percentage they can and support others to be self reliant and employers of labour
Kwara State coordinator/chairman Npower beneficiaries Comrade Bello Mubarak Salau made the appeal while briefing newsmen in Ilorin the Kwara state capital.
Comrade Bello Mubarak Salauaid said “We are well informed by the federal government from initial that the empowerment is supposed to be for two years, not withstanding, we believed so much that the federal government can equally look into it and extend or perhaps gainfully engaged these people so that they don’t go into the street and course comotions so that they don’t go back and subdue our economy which we are trying to fight we are not saying that the government has not been magnanimous we appreciate the government for that but we hope that the government can do more like Oliver twist, we are asking for more , we believe so much that with Covid-19 at this time, the economy is crashing, we are trying to revive the economy, if you now disengaged 500, 000 youth at this period, are you helping the economy or you are making the economy worse more and that is why we are soliciting the federal government and all state to absorbed whatever percentage they can and support others to be self reliant and employers of labour” he said
According to Comrade Bello Mubarak Salau aid “In a sincere bid and hopeful quest for the agitation for permanency by the patriotic, hard-working, agile and pragmatic Npower beneficiaries who have served diligently, we have resolved to speak out and appeal to our father and President of the country, President Mohammadu Buhari and also to our mother, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Disaster Management and Social Development, the Senate President and Honourable Speaker of the House of Assembly and all other well meaning Nigerians as a matter of urgency to come up and see to our request.
“We Appreciate the federal government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari for the creation of a transparent and life touching empowerment programme (Npower) which has empowered gainfully 500,000 Nigerian Youths within the last four years as batch A and B of the scheme, this has tremendously helped to engaged the youths into productiveness and contributing to the growth and development of our dear country Nigeria.
“This has also helped to reduce the rate of crimes and criminality for as it’s said, an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. We pray that the government may not need to borrow more money in tackling insecurity, if it can’t borrow such money to fixup its youths.
“We also want to use this medium to Express our displeasure on the time of disengagement without a suitable modalities for the transition of the beneficiaries even when we are confronted with the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic as a people.
“We must understand that disengaging this youths at a time such as this is ill-timed most importantly when there seems to be no modalities put in place to keep this trained youths into gainful employment.
“Throwing this youths back to the streets at a time we are faced with a pandemic will only skyrocket the number of infected people in the country because of there running up and down in search of food.
“We implore the federal government to save the country from the impending disaster that may spring up from disengaging such capacity of trained youths back to the street particularly at a time such as this with all the harsh economic realities as a result of this pandemic.
We equally admonished the state government of our dear Kwara State under the able, capable and sincere leadership of His Excellency, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to find it as a matter of necessity and importance to gainfully engage the trained youths who have contributed immensely and positively in the area of teaching, Healthcare delivery, tax and Agriculture for the development of the state. Remember the mantra(unemployment and poverty, O To Ge in Kwara).
“We advise all the Npower beneficiaries to exercise patience and be hopeful that there would be a golden light at the end of this tunnel.
“We sincerely appeal to the ministry in charge of Npower scheme to look into the issue of Npower device for batch ‘B’ beneficiaries who are yet to receive their devices as promised by the federal government of Nigeria. The payment of the devices was said to be approved since 2018, but no body is answering query to its none existence. It is achievable and we believe that the needful would be done as soon as possible.
“Despite the odds and daunting challenges, we promise and will continue to be hardworking, patriotic, law abiding, progressive and prayerful for the growth and development, promote unity and peaceful coexistence of our dear country.
“Our wishes Provide permanent jobs for the capacity which the government can cater for and support others to create jobs and be employers of labour which government can also rely on.
Make available the devices of all batches A & B who are due for collection.
‘Set up a powerful monitoring team on this set of youths on till they are able to change the fortune of our country. Use the well trained and structured beneficiaries to subdue pressure of insecurity in our country in a way of community watch, expose and reward syndrome.
Conduct a continues training and sensitization of this beneficiaries to become violence free leaders of tomorrow. ” he said.
The N-Power Programme was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016 under the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) with the aim of taking citizens out of poverty through capacity building, investment, and direct support which paid N30, 000 monthly stipend to beneficiaries.
It would be recalled that the ministry of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development recently said two batches of beneficiaries of the N-Power will be disengaged.
In a statement on Friday, Rhoda Iliya, deputy director of information at the ministry overseeing the scheme, said those affected are batches A and B beneficiaries who will now exit the programme by June 30 and July 31 respectively.
A new batch C, however, will be enrolled starting from July 26.
“The Ministry has announced that Batch A will exit June 30, 2020 and Batch B will exit the programme on July 31, 2020. And the commencement of enrolment for a new batch of N-Power beneficiaries effective July 26, 2020,”
“The statement read.
“The federal government is committed to the continuation and expansion and as such will now begin enrolment and onboarding of a new Batch of beneficiaries. Skills acquisition for entrepreneurship and job creation are critical for an economy that will require a boost POST-COVID-19 and we are
gearing up proactively for the challenge.
“The online portal would be open to receive applications from noon on June 26, 2020 and will provide a level playing field for all applicants. All applicants must supply their Bank Verification Number (BVN) in their application. This is to ensure a streamlined and transparent selection process.
“Once applications are submitted, the ministry will review submissions and publish a list of successful applicants.
“We have commenced the transitioning of beneficiaries from batches A and B into government entrepreneurship schemes and engaging private sector bodies to absorb some of the beneficiaries after the completion of psychometric assessment to determine competency and placement into various opportunities.”
The ministry said the new development is meant to provide opportunities for more Nigerian youth to be part of the programme.
Although, the programme has enrolled 500,000 beneficiaries thus far – 200,000 from Batch A which started in September 2016 and 300,000 from Batch B which kicked off in August 2018.
