Hope At Last For N-Power Beneficiaries?

SIR: Since the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sa’adiya Umar Farouq, announced the federal government’s decision to absorb batches A and B of N-Power beneficiaries into the federal government’s ministries, departments, agencies, and parastatals, she has been getting kudos for the resolution. This move has definitely raised hope, ambition, and spirit of the affected beneficiaries.

On a daily basis, we have been hearing recruitment exercises in various ministries and government agencies. Now, if the government can inject fresh hands into the so-called bloated federal bureaucracy, why not N-Power beneficiaries? Besides, they have spent almost three years receiving N30,000 as monthly stipends, without sufficient provision of transition programmes as promised by government.

Regrettably, in as much as the nation’s wealth continues to give undue favours to elected officials, while leaving the majority to languish in abject poverty, I see no reason why the affected beneficiaries will not demand for either permanent employment or valuable package to establish their own businesses. Therefore, if the government officials take time to evaluate, or more so, determine the implications of their actions or inactions, they will hardly contemplate their disengagement from the initial stage.

In view of the prevailing high unemployment and inflation rates; with most graduates desperately seeking to grab any available opportunity to get employed, to lay off those volunteers after they’ve been on monthly pay might pose serious threat to the nation’s well-being. I can bet to say there exist a hundred thousand graduates who have graduated after the engagement of batches A and B into the program, yet, they don’t have even a smidgen of hope of finding a job. Recent revelation about the huge number of N-Power applicants will reinforce this assertion.

Whilst I commend those who have managed to start some business from the N30,000 monthly allowance, however, with no intention to cheapen the importance of the programme, I can wager to say, it would be very difficult to use that N30,000 to attend the place of work, and at the same time have something to start up any business.

Although the exact details of the planned absorption are still sketchy, the minister’s press statement gives hope. It’s left to be seen when the process of absorbing them into the MDAs will commence. Sooner or later, we expected the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Investment program to roll out procedures and arrangements for this absorption. This is because, when this information was given by the media aide of Sa’adiya Farouq, it was greeted with deluge of reactions from fear, despair, and uncertainty to sudden enthusiastic commendations and jubilations.

Hajia Umar Farouq should ensure that their expression of genuine compliments to this gladdening news shouldn’t end with disappointment. No doubt, some beneficiaries have begun to despair of ever finding themselves being gainfully employed into the government agencies. But with the minister’s announcement, the exited N-Power beneficiaries received a beam light about their future.

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Humanitarian Ministry Moves To Strengthen State Focal Actors

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has described the Social Investment Programmes (SIPs) of the Federal Government as critical to alleviating poverty and boosting the socio-economic growth of Nigeria.

The Minister, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq said this in an interactive session with focal persons of the SIP from the 36 States of the federation and the FCT.

According to her, the programmes are also critical to fulfilling the mandate of the Ministry.

” The Focal persons were appointed by the State Governments to oversee the Social Investment Programmes of the Federal Government namely, N -Power, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (Geep), Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) and the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (HGSFP)“. She said.

She said the Ministry remains open to sharing and discussing with the Focal persons with a view to improving on its service delivery and impact of the programe.

“I am aware that some of you have expressed the desire for a more robust communication and engagements between the Ministry and the States. I have taken note of this and assure you of the Ministry’s support”.

” Today’s meeting is a demonstration of the Ministry’s consideration of you as important stakeholders that can contribute to the success of the Ministry in delivering social investments”.

“May i appreciate the support and buy-in of the Executive Governors and my colleague the Honourable Minister of the FCT towards the successful implementation of these programmes in your States and the FCT. I solicit your continued support for the improvement and expansion of the social investment programmes,” The Minister noted.

While appreciating the efforts of the State Governments, the Minister urged the Focal Persons not to loose sight of the fact that each one of the vulnerable persons are not mere numbers or statistics but real people with dreams, hopes, aspirations and a desire to live decent lives in peace and safety.

” Sadly, due to no fault of theirs, many have become victims of disasters and humanitarian crisis leaving them at the mercy of others for the basic requirements to lead dignified lives”.

“I would like to acknowledge and thank you for your support during the Government’s Covid 19 response which leveraged the structure of the social investment programs to support the implementation of the presidential directive related to Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programmes, the National Home-Grown School Feeding Program and the Conditional Cash Transfer,” Farouq said.

Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq called on all stakeholders in the humanitarian space to make deliberate efforts if considerable progress must be achieved to support poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

“We will forge ahead as we put in place humanitarian policies and provide effective coordination of National and International humanitarian interventions. As we continue to ensure strategic disaster mitigation, preparedness and response, I am optimistic that with your support, we can and will make a difference in the lives of poor and socially excluded Nigerians and change the humanitarian landscape in Nigeria,” The Minister added.

https://www.von.gov.ng/humanitarian-ministry-moves-to-strengthen-state-focal-actors/

N-Power: Farouq Speaks On Selection Of New Beneficiaries

The minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Farouq has promised to ensure there is transparency in the selection process from among the over 5 million applicants for N-Power Batch C so that only qualified beneficiaries are admitted into the program.

The minister spoke on Thursday in Abuja during an interaction with National Social Investment Program (NSIP) Focal Persons, Program Managers and State Operations Coordinating Unit (SOCU) officers from all states of the country.

“We have also received over 5 million applications from proposed N-Power Batch C and we are currently in the process of selecting the qualified beneficiaries coming into the program, Farouq said.

“I assure all the applicants and Nigerians that the selection process will be transparent.”

She said that plans are also in place to ensure that “exited N-Power beneficiaries are engaged or absorbed into other programmes”.

Farouq said she has given approval for the payment of stipends for the exited beneficiaries of batches A and B, up to the month of June 2020, including that of the independent monitors, adding that the final payment of stipend for Batch B is almost ready for transmission to the office of the Accountant General of the Federation for final checks and payment.

She said:“This event put together to appreciate the efforts of all the focal persons, program managers and others in different states across the federation. I am aware of the sacrifices and commitment you put in to ensure the smooth implementation of the different programmes and I commend your efforts.

“There is no doubt that the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP) are critical components of the present Administration’s activities and are vehicles through which His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari‘s vision of lifting 100 million people out of poverty in 10 years will be achieved.

“Since my assumption of office, I have remained focused on ensuring the sustainability and improvement of the programmes bearing in mind the high impact value they have to teeming Nigerians, whose lives have been significantly disrupted as a result of the present humanitarian and economic situation in the country.

“It is against this background that I urge everyone of you to continue to give in your best to ensure the lives of those we are called to serve are made better. We must not lose sight of the fact that each one of the vulnerable persons are not mere numbers or statistics but real people with dreams, hopes, aspirations and a desire to live decent lives in peace and safety.”

She added: “As we renew our commitment to the service of humanity, I will like to seize this opportunity to, once again, state that we have successfully exited Batch A and B of the N-Power beneficiaries in June and July, respectively, and we are still working towards ensuring a transition plan that will further engage or absorb them into other programmes.

“We have also received over 5 million applications from proposed N-Power Batch C and we are currently in the process of selecting the qualified beneficiaries coming into the programme. I assure all the applicants and Nigerians that the selection process will be transparent.

“Furthermore, I wish to reiterate that I have given approval for the payment of stipends for the exited beneficiaries of batches A and B up to the month of June 2020, including that of the independent monitors.

“Also, the final payment of stipend for Batch B is almost ready for transmission to the office of the Accountant General of the Federation for final checks and payment.

“I therefore appeal for patience and understanding from beneficiaries omitted for payment in previous months and those in batch B who are to get their final payment.”

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