Fed Govt Sacks Over 2,500 Beneficiaries Of It’s N-Power Programme For Absence From Work
Federal Government has announced the sack of 2,525 beneficiaries of its N-Power programme for absenting themselves from their primary places of assignment across the country.The government also announced that 18,674 others have voluntarily resigned after having secured permanent employments elsewhere.
A statement today by the Communications Manager of the National Social Investment, Justice Bibiye, said that the body is still receiving reports from states that some beneficiaries of the Programme have stayed away for long periods of time from their primary places of assignment (PPA), “which instances have compelled the need for continued action against those who are seen to be undermining the smooth implementation of a well-thought out Federal Government social intervention initiative.
“Consequently, to ensure seamless execution of the programme in order to achieve the set goals, the NSIO has increased the number of monitoring partners, with fresh discussions having commenced in earnest to seek enhanced supervision and the strengthening of monitoring, for effective and efficient service delivery of all components of the NSIPs.
“Beneficiaries must understand that N-Power is not a charity program and, therefore, everyone captured under the scheme is expected to justify his/her engagement by demonstrating diligence, hard work and commitment to duty at their PPAs. Acts of dereliction of duty, indolence, absenteeism and indiscipline on the part of volunteers shall continue to be dealt with decisively and in line with the rules of engagement.
“Given the thousands of positive stories relating to the diligence and commitment of the beneficiaries from so many quarters, however, most of whom have worked to not only transform their lives, but also transform their communities; we are persuaded that the relatively fewer cases of misconduct have not hampered the overall success of the N.Power programme. Field reports reaching us from our independent monitors, the States, the schools and other places of assignment confirm that the vast majority of the volunteers have been of good conduct and are making significant contributions to National development within their PPAs.
“We, however, wish to also encourage continued feedback from the public, as we welcome constructive reports of absconding beneficiaries and similar malpractices in the field, as such information would enable us enhance programme delivery around the country.
“Indeed, even because Nigeria covers such a vast terrain, the public and the media would only be supporting the efforts of the Administration to reduce unemployment, by reporting the relatively few indolent, erring volunteers who were lucky to have been selected to serve under such a programme. The process has begun and can only get better if everyone embraces the programme and considers it a collective responsibility to ensure that the millions of deserving Nigerians that are the target audience of the NSIPs are impacted positively, with reduced unemployment indices in Nigeria.”
The N-Power Programme was introduced in 2016 by the President Buhari Administration as a job enhancement scheme aimed at imbibing the learn-work-entrepreneurship culture in Nigerian youth between 18 and 35 for graduates, as well as for non-graduates.
About 500,000 youth, spread across the 774 LGAs of the country are currently enrolled in the programme and have since been deployed to teach in public schools, act as health workers in primary health centres, as agricultural extension advisors to small holder farmers in the communities and also as community tax liaison officers. Beneficiaries under the graduate category take home N30,000 monthly for their services.
At the commencement of the programme, the identities of the successful beneficiaries of the Npower programme are authenticated by NIBSS (through their BVN), after which the distinctive lists of candidates are shared with each of the States. It is the responsibility of the State teams to physically verify their qualifications, age range and also confirm that they are unemployed, before they are deployed to their primary places of assignment within the various jurisdictions. Payment to the beneficiaries only commences after a confirmation of the completion of the verification exercise processes by the States, to the Federal team.
Full lst of the ministerial nominees which President Muhammadu Buhari forwarded to the Senate yesterday, July 22 evening has been released.
Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) has denied that its members carried any form of arms in the demonstration they staged today, July 22 in the Federal Capital, Abuja that resulted in the death of a Deputy Commissioners of Police and others.
Police have confirmed the death of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, FCT Command, DCP Usman A.K Umar, who was alleged to have been shot by members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), otherwise known as Shiites, in a violent demonstration today, July 22, in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.
“The violent protesters also razed down a National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Response Post close to the Federal Secretariat, Abuja and two vehicles.”
Nigeria Federal Capital went up in flame today, as police and soldiers fired gun and tear gas canisters in the battle with members of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), otherwise known as Shiites, who again staged demonstration around Eagle Square, close to the National Assembly.
In the melee, a member of the IMN was shot dead even as a reporter of Channels Television also received gunshot, possibly, from stray bullet and was rushed to a nearby hospital. Those who were injured were seen lying almost lifeless even as the security agents continued to fire at the protesters as they advanced toward the Eagle Square.
Saudi Arabia has decided to host US troops in a joint move with Washington to boost regional security, the kingdom’s defence ministry said, as tensions soar in the Gulf.
A chairmanship aspirant in the just-concluded Kogi State Congress of the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Mohammed Omuya has complained of bribery at the congress of the party, even as he rejected the outcome of the election that produce Engr. Sam Uhuotu as the Chairman.
