House Of Representatives Urged Federal Government To Resume Npower

Nigeria's House of Representatives has persuaded the federal government to resume Npower. The call comes two months after the suspension of Betta Edu, the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation over allegations of misappropriation of funds. Reports suggest the anti-graft agency the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has submitted interim reports suggesting prosecution for Betta Edu and Ms Halima Shehu, the suspended coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme Agency. 

According to Npower News, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's panel, led by Finance Minister Wale Edun, suggested moving the social investment programmes including Npower from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to the Ministry of Finance. Despite ongoing investigations and proposed reforms, the House of Representatives clamours for the resumption of these social investment programmes including Npower.

The Betta Edu Scandal

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu needed no one to tell him that in government, image matters as much as performance. When Bola Ahmed Tinubu became president on May 29, 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu demonstrated the courage of a man who did not intend to let dithering and indecisions drive his administration.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu served notice that he would be prompt and decisive in taking decisions to enhance good governance and positively impact on the nation and its harried citizens. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu chose to begin by settling the lingering and embarrassing fuel subsidy and its corrupt administration under all previous governments.

It had reached a point, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank repeatedly warned our leaders, where it was no longer sustainable, and its continuation was doing more harm to the national economy than serving Nigerians. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu knew that by refusing to provide for fuel subsidy from June 2023, President Muhammadu Buhari set a booby trap for him.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu chose not to dodge it. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu walked into it to let the nation know where he stood on the vexed issue of fuel subsidy from which all his predecessors, bar none, shied away. Matters became increasingly worse for the economy and successive administrations. It became a fish bone lodged in the throat of the nation. Removing it was a problem; retaining it was a problem. Catch-22? Obviously.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu removed it. I chalked it up in my book as the dawn of an era in which actions would matter more than words among our public officers. Indecisions in the past had hobbled our national progress at all levels. It was characterised by this shuffle: problems identified, solutions offered by panels or commissions and the solutions were inexplicably ignored.

The problem was allowed to linger and to mutate into myriads of other serious problems. Think of how long the debate on the removal of fuel subsidy lasted. Had President Muhammadu Buhari removed it on his honour in 2015 on his assumption of office, the fall out could have been managed and we would not face the current economic difficulties.

By the time President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office as president, the longest running war on the continent had gradually sputtered under the watch of the man who staked his integrity on killing corruption in the land. The fire had gone cold with its face covered in the ashes of indifference.

Public officers and civil servants freely helped themselves to the continent of treasuries at all levels. Stealing moved from the under the table to the top of the table. It leaped from millions into billions of naira. No shame; no conscience. The eyes of big brother looked but did not see what was happening to our treasuries.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, of course, knew that corruption had metamorphosed and was still wreaking havoc on the nation. President Bola Ahmed was jolted in January 2024 by the allegation that his Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, had dipped her hands in the pot of palm oil. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu promptly suspended Betta Edu from office to allow him to investigate what happened, how it happened and why it happened.

I chalked it up in my book as evidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was prepared to tackle corruption by acting promptly on all reported cases of official misbehaviour that border on corruption. I allowed myself to think that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not going to pass the buck to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) but where necessary the president would act to defeat this canker worm.

It has been some two months since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu suspended Betta Edu. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said nothing more about the incident. The former minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Betta Edu is forced to live in splendid isolation, unsure of her final fate in the administration. Silence appears to envelop Betta Edu's case.

This is no way to treat a public officer. I am sure Betta Edu and her family are anxious to see an end to her problem. This inaction on the part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not square with his initial prompt response to the allegations against Betta Edu. Is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I wonder, regressing into indecisions and dithering?

It would be a thousand pities if this is the case. It would drag us back to what happened to high-profile cases in the immediate past. Take one such case. In 2020, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, made 12 allegations against Ibrahim Magu, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

President Muhammadu Buhari suspended Magu from office and set up a panel chaired by Justice Ayo Salami, to investigate the allegations against Magu. The panel carried out its assignment and submitted its report to President Muhammadu Buhari within the stipulated time. The panel went beyond the allegations against Magu and suggested what needed to be done to make the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) more effective in its onerous task of chaining corruption.

The report never saw the light of day. President Muhammadu Buhari did not bother to read it, let alone act on it. President Muhammadu Buhari said nothing more about the case beyond his initial reaction that suggested that he had reminded himself of his promise to kill corruption. Magu was left to stew in uncertainty and inaction.

When he could take it no more, Magu retired from the Nigeria Police. That inaction or indecision put a question mark on Magu’s character. Magu is forced to live with the allegations for the rest of his life. It is not the way to treat a man who chose to serve his country as a police officer.

Betta Edu must not be allowed to suffer the same fate. In the name of fighting corruption, it has become the tradition to treat public officers rather wretchedly. Often enough, high profile cases die without explanation to the Nigerian public. If Betta Edu is clean, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should say so and either return Betta Edu to her office or let Betta Edu go home. If Betta Edu is guilty as alleged, let her face the wrath of the law, if only for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to show that under his watch, no one is above the law and there are no sacred cows and bulls.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has carved the image of an action president in his response to the fuel subsidy removal and the scandals of Betta Edu. It is an image many of us heartly welcome. For his own sake it is the image the president must maintain and constantly service.

To see the president act promptly today and regress into inaction and indecision tomorrow would not do his integrity as a person and his image as president much good.

It has been nine months since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office. It is time for the real Bola Ahmed Tinubu to now emerge in the public domain. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's new persona will be the product of the image he cultivates. That image tells us how the president wants to be seen and judged by the people he leads. Vacillation has its place in governance, but it is both the enemy of a good image and of personal integrity.

Source: https://guardian.ng/opinion/the-betta-edu-case/

Npower: House Of Representatives Urges Federal Government To Suspend New Board

 

According to Npower News, the House of Representatives have persuaded the Federal government to place on hold the alleged idea of a new steering committee board under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance to oversee Npower and other social investment programmes.

The idea according to the House of Representatives goes against the extant law which positions the implementing agency, Npower  and other social investment programmes under the purview of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

This followed the adoption of a motion urgent motion of national importance moved titled “need to resume the implementation of the national social investment programme in order to alleviate the current increasing hardship faced by nigerians sponsored by Honourable Billy Osawaru during plenary in Abuja.

Moving the motion, Honourable Billy Osawaru said that the enabling Act of National Social Investment Programme Agency was enacted in 2023 to address the issue of poverty and hunger across the country as well as to ensure a more equitable distribution of resources to vulnerable populations including children, youth and women.

Honourable Billy Osawaru also explained that since January this year, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Betta Edu was suspended and placed under investigation while the Chief Executive Officer and National Coordinator of National Social Investment Programme Agency, Ms Halima Shehu was sacked and a new Chief Executive Officer and National Coordinator replaced Ms Halima Shehu.

According to Npower News, Honourable Billy Osawaru said as a result of this transition, the implementation of all forms of government intervention such as Npower, Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme and Home Grown School Feeding Programme that are expected to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians, were placed on hold, pending thorough review of Npower and other social investment programmes and investigation of the alleged misconduct in the management of Npower and other social investment programmes.

Honorable Billy Osawaru expressed concerns that suspending the implementation of Npower and other social investment programmes particularly during this period of increasing hardship has the implication of skyrocketing the challenges of the vulnerable population relying on its assistance and could result to rise in poverty levels, social unrest and ultimately impacting negatively on the overall stability and development of the country.

Honorable Billy Osawaru said that the recent cases of looting of warehouses and food trucks in many cities across Nigeria was as a result of increasing hunger and sufferings, which signals the need for immediately action to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians such as the resumption of of Npower and other Social Investment Programmes.

” Relieved that the interim report of the six-man probe panel appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to investigate the allegations surrounding the embattled Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Betta Edu has suggested the resumption of Npower and other social investment programmes.

” Worried that an alleged recommendation suggesting that a new steering committee board under the leadership of the Minister of Finance should henceforth oversee Npower and other social investment programmes is not only an anomaly but is contrary to the extant law which situates the implementing agency and programmes under the purview of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

Honorable Billy Osawaru observed that while there may be legislative actions to amend the National Social Investment Programme Agency Act 2023, up until the Act is completely amended, and enacted, the current status quo cannot be reviewed by mere executive action.

The House of Representatives therefore resolved to persuade the Federal Government to hasten the completion of the investigation of the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu and to instigate further actions in the meantime, direct a serving Minister of State to oversee relevant approvals and implementation of Npower and other National Social Investment Programmes so as to reduce the adverse implication of increasing hunger and sufferings experienced by vulnerable Nigerians relying on Npower and other social investment programmes.

Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/03/nsip-reps-ask-fg-to-suspend-new-board/

House Of Representatives Urges Federal Government To Commence Payment Of Stipends To Beneficiaries Of Npower

 According to Npower News, the House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to commence payment stipends to beneficiaries of Npower and other Social Investment Programs in order to mitigate the effect of the current economic situation on vulnerable Nigerians.

According to Npower News, the suspension of Betta Edu the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and the removal of the National Coordinator of Npower have further escalated the hardship faced by beneficiaries of Npower.

The House of Representatives stressed the need for stability, development, and equitable distribution of wealth among Nigerians.

The House of Representatives also criticized the planned steering committee Board overseen by the Minister of Finance, as Npower and other social investment programs was an act of Parliament that requires legislative amendment before it could be supervised by another body.

The House of Representatives urged the Federal Government to expedite action to complete the ongoing investigation of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu and put on hold the planned establishment of the Steering Committee Board to oversee Npower and other social investment programs.

Source: https://radionigeria.gov.ng/2024/03/13/reps-want-fg-to-resume-payment-of-n-power/

Npower News: House Of Representatives Persuade Nigerian Government To Speed Up Investigation

According to Npower News, the House of Representatives has persuaded the Federal Government to speed up investigation into allegations of misappropriation of public funds against the suspended Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Beta Edu.

According to Npower News, Betta Edu the suspended Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation was alleged to have misappropriated public funds in the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) by requesting for public funds to be transferred to a personal account and as a result of this Betta Edu was suspended by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The House of Representatives made the call following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Representative Mr Billy Osawaru during a plenary session in Abuja on Wednesday.

Presenting the motion, Mr Billy Osawaru said that suspension of Betta Edu and the suspension of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) which includes Npower had resulted to untold hardship on vulnerable groups, and beneficiaries of Npower in the country.

According to Npower News, Mr Billy Osawaru said the problem could lead to a rise in poverty, social unrest and ultimately impacting negatively on the overall stability and development of the country.

The House of Representatives thereafter, persuaded the Federal Government to either conclude the investigation on Betta Edu or direct another minister to supervise the implementation of the National Social Investment Programme which includes Npower, Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, National Home Grown School Feeding Program and Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP).

Source: https://dailypost.ng/2024/03/13/betta-edu-reps-urge-nigerian-govt-to-hasten-investigation/

Beneficiaries Of Npower Express Disappointment On Betta Edu's Investigation

According to Npower News, beneficiaries of Npower have taken to social media to express their disappointment on the alleged silence of the EFCC and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Betta Edu's Investigation, while some beneficiaries of Npower said that "it is a closed case", other beneficiaries of Npower frowned at the development, maintaining "only poor men get jungle justice in Nigeria" Nigerians want to know whether President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will sack or keep Betta Edu, the minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation who played a significant role in Bola Ahmed Tinubu's emergence as Nigeria's 16th president in 2023.

On Monday, March 11th 2024, beneficiaries of Npower blast the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the presidency over their long silence regarding the alleged fraud case against the suspended minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu. 

While some beneficiaries of Npower expressed disappointment over the development, a few beneficiaries of Npower said they were not expecting less considering the status of the personality involved and the promise made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the campaign that he would continue where his predecessor stopped. 

Recall that in January 2024, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) interrogated Betta Edu. Betta Edu was suspended for allegedly transferring more than ₦585,000,000 of public funds into a private bank account. 

According to Npower News, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) spokesman, Dele Oyewale, told the press that Betta Edu was granted bail, but did not disclose the conditions of Betta Edu's release. A reliable source reported on Monday, that both the the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Presidency had not given beneficiaries of Npower any update on the case, two months after Betta Edu’s suspension. 

According to Npower News, in another publication, it was confirmed a scheme to link the chief of staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, to the ongoing scandal involving the suspended minister of humanitarian affairs, Dr Betta Edu. More leaked memos surfaced online from the humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation ministry and its affiliated agencies after the suspension of Betta Edu, who is currently under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). 

A leaked memo dated December 18, 2023, from the president's chief of staff's office revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had authorised the utilisation of ₦3,000,000,000 from the COVID-19 Palliative Fund to verify the National Social Register. 

Source: https://www.legit.ng/nigeria/1583056-what-expecting-nigerians-blast-efcc-tinubu-silence-betta-s-probe/

Npower News: EFCC, Betta Edu Have Left Npower Beneficiaries In The Dark Over The Next Line Of Action Regarding Npower

According to Npower News, after the January 8 suspension of Betta Edu, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had submitted an interim report to the presidency.

From reliable sources gathered, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had submitted the interim report of its investigation into the allegations against the suspended minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and recommended that Betta Edu be prosecuted.

On the contrary, considering the roles Betta Edu played in the success of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), some influential persons, like Senate President Godswill Akpabio are alleged to be mounting pressure on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to give Betta Edu “a soft landing”.

According to Npower News, this influential persons are appealing that Betta Edu be giving another government position, not necessarily the minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

Information also had it that Ms Halima Shehu, the suspended coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), may have been cleared by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in its interim report.

According to a reliable source, “The leaked documents about releases by NSIPA under Halima have been scrutinised by the EFCC. Those expenses are found to have followed standard procedures because all relevant parties endorsed their signatures.

“The monies were discovered to have been released for the purposes they were earmarked. Besides, Halima only continued the disbursements from where her predecessor stopped. And this was to avoid litigations, because the contractors had presented certificates of no objection".

According to another source, “But a strong personality in the Villa was not happy with the report from the EFCC and therefore told those who brought it to take it back and review the report further”.

But when Dele Oyewale, the spokesman of the EFCC, was contacted to talk about the validity of the claim that an interim report had been submitted to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he said that investigation about the matter is still on. When Dele Oyewale, the spokesman of the EFCC, was asked when the investigation would be concluded, considering that credible sources had confirmed the submission of an interim report, Dele Oyewale declined further comments.

Eseme Eyiboh, who is the spokesman of the Senate president, when contacted on the allegation that Godswill Akpabio was working hard to secure “a soft landing” for the suspended minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, said, “Betta Edu is never in the legislature and she is not a minister appointed by the president of the senate.

“I recall that she was suspended by her appointer and not the president of the Senate. This was intended to pave way for an official public service procedure. There is no way the president of the Senate could have or can influence the determination of the fate of any minister and particularly Dr Betta Edu".

Outcome of Betta Edu's investigation

According to Npower News, the suspended minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Betta Edu have not been listed for prosecution, which is part of the duties of the anti-graft agency, according to the Act establishing it.

Recall that Betta Edu was involved in a misappropriation of funds scandal when a memo surfaced online, wherein Betta Edu requested that the Accountant-General of the Federation, Ms Oluwatoyin Madein, transfer the sum of ₦585,000,000 to a personal account.

Thereafter, other documents where Betta Edu made controversial approvals, including approving air fares to Kogi, a state without an airport, went viral, prompting president Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend her.

Apart from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed that the panel led by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun should “among other functions, conduct a comprehensive diagnostic on the financial architecture and framework of the social investment programmes with a view to conclusively reforming the relevant institutions and programmes”.

The suspended social investment programmes are currently under the Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation ministry, and were initially being implemented by the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIPA).

The programmes includes; Npower, Conditional Cash Transfer Programme (CCT), Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), and National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), these Programmes not excluding Npower were placed on hold after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu suspended Betta Edu.

But a new development surfaced when Wale Edun -led presidential panel suggested the removal of the intervention initiatives from the scope of the Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Ministry and transfer this ministry to the Federal Ministry of Finance.

In other publications that surfaced on line, the presidential panel stated that the suspended programmes, Npower inclusive should be resumed to alleviate the sufferings of poor and vulnerable Nigerians, but that a new board under the leadership of Wale Edun should handle Npower and other social investment programmes.

“Convene a steering committee/board under the leadership of the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy to oversee the coordination of programmes,” the documents reads in part.

According to Npower News, reports had it that on February 21, 2024, Wale Edun had hinted on plans to relaunch direct cash transfers to about 12,000,000 vulnerable Nigerians amid the high cost of living in the country.

Wale Edun disclosed this during a retreat organised by his ministry in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Wale Edun stated that while the initial project was designed for 3,000,000 Nigerians, the current hardship has become a factor in increasing the number of beneficiaries to 12,000,000.

Wale Edun said, “The presidential panel on the social investment programmes has prepared to go to Mr. President with an internal recommendation to restart the direct payments to the poorest and the most vulnerable. Everything is being done to ease the pain.

“We know that there has been about 3,000,000 beneficiaries now, but given the way the rates have gone, there are probably another 12,000,000 people, households that can benefit from that payment”, Wale Edun said.

When Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy was contacted yesterday, he declined comments on whether or not the interim report had been submitted to his superior.

Source: https://dailytrust.com/2-months-after-efcc-presidency-silent-on-edu-halima/

Npower News Today On Npower And Npower Payment To Beneficiaries of Npower

According to Npower News, on February 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu placed on hold Npower and other National Social Investment Programmes. This suspension of Npower by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was as a result of an ongoing investigation into alleged misappropriation of funds within Npower and the Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

According to Npower News, this suspension of Npower by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was as a result of how Npower was handled by Betta Edu the ex-minister in charge of Npower.

The Federal Government has formed a committee to review the National Social Investment Programmes which includes Npower and recommend improvements. Additionally, investigations are ongoing by the anti-graft agency EFCC over matters in connection to misappropriation of funds by Betta Edu and this investigation will be concluded soonest.

According to Npower news as a result of the ongoing investigation, Npower payments to beneficiaries of Npower are on hold. Npower will resume after all investigations in relation to Npower is being concluded and Npower payments will be paid to Npower beneficiaries. We recommend staying informed for updates.

Npower beneficiaries depend on Npower. The suspension of Npower by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu raises concerns about Npower's effectiveness and the need for greater transparency and accountability.

According to Npower News, no Npower beneficiary will receive Npower payments during the suspension of Npower. Npower resumption date is uncertain because the investigations has not been concluded yet.

The government’s prompt action against suspected corruption demonstrates a commitment to cleaning up Npower. However, this also creates difficulties for beneficiaries of Npower who rely solely on Npower.

Source: https://tucnigeria.org.ng/npower-stipend-newss/

Npower News: Npower Registration 2024

Npower is a federal government scheme established by President Muhammadu Buhari, Npower is considered as a National Social Investment program that was established to tackle unemployment among Nigerian youths between the ages of 18-35 years. Npower has a year duration for graduate categories and nine months duration for non graduate categories. Npower does not assist Nigerian youths financially but aims to empower Nigerian youths through personal growth, entrepreneurship, skill acquisition and development.

According to Npower News Npower registration 2024 which is aimed at addressing youth unemployment in the country has not started yet, youths willing to register for Npower should know that Npower registration 2024 will start after investigation over misappropriation of funds by Betta Edu has been concluded by the anti-graft agency EFCC.

According to Npower News when Npower registration 2024 commences it will be open to graduates and undergraduates. Npower registration 2024 has not opened yet now and candidates cannot apply yet. When Npower registration 2024 starts candidates are to visit Npower portal and submit their application.

According to Npower News, when Npower starts, eligible candidate will be able to create their account with Email ID, Npower applicants can go to their inbox and follow the instructions given in the email. After verifying their account, Npower applicants should start filling out the Npower application by following the complete procedure.

According to Npower News, there are the two categories of Npower applicants that are eligible to apply for Npower. These Npower applicants are undergraduates and graduates. The eligibility criteria for N- Power program for both undergraduates and graduate categories are given below respectively.

The eligibility criteria for Npower under undergraduate categories are:

1) Npower applicants applying for Npower should be between 18 to 26 years old.

2) Npower applicants applying for Npower should have WAEC/NABTEB or Ordinary National Diploma. 

3) Npower applicants applying for Npower must be a Nigerian

Npower applicants who wants to apply for Npower under the graduate categories must meet the following requirements and have the required documents below.

1) Npower applicants applying for Npower should have National identification card

2) Npower applicants applying for Npower must possess WAEC/WASSCE with 5 credits minimum

3) Npower applicants applying for Npower must have Passport size photographs

4) Npower applicants applying for Npower must have an active email address

5) Candidates applying for Npower should be a Nigerian citizen should belong to Nigerian citizen

6) Candidates applying for Npower must possess a Bachelor of science or equivalent degree from well known University

7) Npower applicants applying for Npower under the graduate categories must have NYSC certificate or exemption certificate 

According to Npower News, when Npower starts candidates will be directed to visit the Npower portal of Npower, at http://NSIPA.gov.ng

After visiting the Npower portal, the Npower applicants must enter their name, email ID, and other information in the fields provided.

After visiting the Npower portal Npower applicants need to search for an activation link through a registered email ID.

After this, Npower applicants need to choose a specific program from Npower, like N-agro, N-teach, N-health, and N-build.

According to Npower News during the Npower registration, it is important for Npower applicants to provide their personal biographical information and attach all necessary documents.

Now, Npower applicants need to tap on the Npower registration option to complete their registration.

After completing the Npower registration, a confirmation mail will be sent to the email that the Npower applicants entered during their Npower registration.

Npower applicants can always check the status of their Npower registration after applying for Npower by visiting the nasims dashboard, Npower portal or NSIPA website at  https://NSIPA.gov.ng/check-status.

Npower applicants will be expected to enter his or her Email ID that was provided during the Npower registration for Npower, to check the status of their Npower registration, Npower applicants should click on the check option.

After clicking on the check option, the status of the Npower registration will be displayed.

In conclusion according to Npower News, Npower registration 2024 has not started yet, at the moment the suspended minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Betta Edu is undergoing an investigation for alleged misappropriation of public funds in the Ministry once the investigation is concluded and current Npower beneficiaries are cleared of their Npower payment then the new Npower will start under the Renewed Hope Job Creation program.

Npower News: How Betta Edu Warehoused ₦66,000,000,000,000

According to Npower News, Betta Edu, the ex-Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation last year December requested the Accountant General of the Federation, Mrs Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein to warehouse over ₦66,000,000,000,000 unspent in 2023 for the ministry.

According to a letter from the Office of the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to the Accountant General, Betta Edu made the request less than two weeks before the end of the 2023 financial year.

According to Npower News, the letter exclusively was dated December 20, 2023 and signed by Betta Edu.

The letter was titled, ‘Warehousing of Unspent Balance Fund from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation NSIP Account (NSIO) for Year 2023 Financial Year.’

According to Npower News, the letter read, “From 2020 to date, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation has in its budget line the National Social Investment Office which runs the National Social Investment Programme saddled with the responsibilities of ensuring social investment towards enhancing the livelihood of the people which is in line with the renewed hope agenda of the present administration.

“The NSIPA is facing some challenge in disbursing and processing payment to our beneficiaries and considering the year is coming to an end by 31st December, 2023; we have balances in various accounts as follows,

1) NSIO/ Special Intervention 0020208461637 (CBN): ₦65,828,891,947.58

2) NSIO 0020208461077 (CBN): ₦500,000,000.00

“Sequel to the above, we crave the indulgence of the Accountant General of the Federation to kindly warehouse the Funds above to enable us discharge our obligations and pay all our expenditure accordingly, as we already have approvals from the President to implement.”

“Please accept my warmest regards,” Betta Edu added. 

The total amount that Betta Edu demanded the Accountant General to ‘warehouse’ by the end of the 2023 financial year amounted to ₦66,328,891,947.58 (₦65,828,891,947.58 and ₦500,000,000.00).

On January 8, 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu suspended Betta Edu from office with immediate effect.

According to Npower News, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu further directed the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct a thorough investigation into all aspects of the financial transactions involving the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, as well as one or more agencies thereunder.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu further directed Betta Edu to fully cooperate with the investigating authorities as they conduct their investigation.

Betta Edu’s suspension followed reports of alleged misappropriation of funds against her as the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and poverty alleviation.

Earlier publications online showed how Betta Edu had requested the Accountant General of the Federation, Mrs Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein to send public funds to a private account.

According to a memo that went viral, the private account belonged to Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola, identified as a project manager by Betta Edu.

A letter from Betta Edu with reference number: FMHAPA/HQ/OHM/S.208 to the Accountant General of the Federation, Mrs Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein dated December 20, 2023, asked that over ₦585,000,000 should be sent to a private account.

 

The letter signed by the suspended minister, Betta Edu, is titled ‘Mandate for Payment of Grant for Vulnerable Groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos and Ogun States Respectively’.

It read, “I hereby approve the payment of the cumulative sum of five hundred and eighty-five million, one hundred and eighty-nine thousand, five hundred naira (₦585,189,500.00). These are payments for programmes and activities of the Renewed Hope Grant for Vulnerable Groups.”

According to Npower News, the details show that ₦219,429,750.00 was for 2023 Grant for Vulnerable Groups in Akwa Ibom State; ₦73,828,750.00 was for 2023 Grant for Vulnerable Groups in Cross River State; ₦219,462,250.00 was for 2023 Grant for Vulnerable Groups in Lagos State while ₦72,468,750.00 was for 2023 Grant for Vulnerable Groups in Ogun State.

The letter said the payment of ₦585,189,500.00 –the total sum – should be made to a UBA account: 2003682151 belonging to Ms Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola.

“This payment should be made from the National Social Investment Officer account with account number: 0020208461037 to the Project Accountant’s details listed above,” it added.

Earlier publications also disclosed how ₦226,188,500 was moved to Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo states through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation ahead of the November 11, 2023 governorship elections in the states.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) held governorship elections in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa states on November 11, 2023.

In the election characterised by irregularities including vote-buying, thuggery and pre-recorded results, the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were declared victorious in Imo and Kogi states while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate and incumbent Governor of Bayelsa State secured re-election in his state.

According to Npower News, documents obtained reported that the funds were moved to the states a few days before the elections in the name of providing palliatives for indigent and underprivileged people.

But government sources disclosed that the funds were mobilised to the states days before the elections to buy votes under the cover of catering for vulnerable people there.

“It was all a ruse to buy votes for APC and their candidates in the elections using the programme for vulnerable people as cover; that was why the events were done a few days before the governorship elections in the three states,” one of the sources had said.

A breakdown of the disbursement of the funds showed that N72,374,500 was moved to Kogi State on November 6, 2023, through the Director of Finance Account, National Social Investment Agency, just five days before the governorship election.

 

Also on November 6, the ministry approved and moved ₦72,423,250 to Bayelsa State under the ministry's 2023 grant for vulnerable groups programmes.

On November 3, 2023, a total of ₦81,390,750 was moved to Imo State under the same guise of providing grants to vulnerable groups, just seven days before the governorship election.

According to Npower News, the Minster of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu personally approved the transfer of the funds to the three states.

On October 31, 2023, the Nigerian House of Representatives summoned Betta Edu to brief the chamber on the status of the federal government’s conditional cash transfer programme to fifteen million households.

In a motion of urgent public importance, the House expressed concern over the handling of the programme, citing a lack of transparency and alleged fraudulent practices.

The lawmakers asked Betta Edu to provide details on the collation of data and the distribution of funds.

                   Image Credit: Sahara Reporters

Source: https://saharareporters.com/2024/03/06/exclusive-how-suspended-nigerian-minister-betta-edu-wrote-accountant-general-wanted-over

Npower News: Presidential Panel On Social Investment Programmes Led by Wale Edu Propose Changes

According to Npower news, the presidential panel on social investment programs, led by Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, has recommended the removal of social intervention initiatives from the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

According to Npower News, the presidential panel on social investment programs, forwarded its proposals to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The social investment programs, which includes Npower, Conditional Cash Transfer Program (CCT), Government Enterprise and Empowerment Program (GEEP), and National Home Grown School Feeding Program (NHGSF), are currently under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, with operations handled by the National Social Investment Program Agency (NSIPA).

According to Npower News, the national social investment programs including Npower were suspended as a result of the removal of Betta Edu as the Minster for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu is now under investigation by the anti-graft agency the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged misappropriation of public funds.

The scandal associated with Betta Edu became intense after a memo was displayed publicly, disclosing Betta Edu's request to transfer N585,000,000 to a personal account and documents revealing approvals of air ticket to Kogi, despite the fact that the state has no airport.

Reacting to this, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu suspended Betta Edu as Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and directed the panel, led by Wale Edun, to carry out a comprehensive and holistic investigation on the financial framework of the social investment programs.

The interim report from the panel, propose resuming the programs to alleviate the plight of vulnerable Nigerians. However, it suggests establishing a new board under Wale Edun's leadership to oversee these initiatives, calling for a thorough review and amendment of the National Social Investment Programme Agency's act.

An anonymous government official stressed the need for due process in transferring the programs to a new body, requiring an amendment to the existing laws.

This development comes against the backdrop of the senate's previous moves in October 2023 to place the NSIPA under the presidency, with a bill to that effect passing the second reading in the legislative chamber.

As the nation awaits further actions and responses from key stakeholders, the fate of these crucial social investment programs hangs in the balance, navigating a complex landscape of legal considerations and governance reforms.

Source: https://nigerianbulletin.com/ams/betta-edu-scandal-panel-led-by-wale-edun-recommends-major-changes-to-social-investment-programs.3230/