Following the decision to suspend the N-power programme on Saturday, the federal government has announced a major overhaul of the N-power programme, with the ambition of employing five million youths over the next five years.
The National Programme Manager of N-Power, Akindele Egbuwalo, issued the statement on Sunday and appealed for understanding from Nigerians regarding the suspension of the programme.
According to Egbuwalo, the restructuring will extend the programme’s reach to include people between the ages of 18 and 40, an improvement over the previous age limit of 35.
“We are targeting 5 million beneficiaries in 5 years at a pace of 1 million per year under the graduate and non-graduate stream,” Egbuwalo said.
Egbuwalo pointed out that transparency and accountability will serve as the standard for the restructured programme when it resumes.
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“It shall no longer be business as usual as we make concerted efforts to put the nation on the right footing, ensuring that no one directly or indirectly unleashes suffering on Nigerians,” he said.
Egbuwalo reaffirmed Betta Edu’s explanation, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, that the Program’s suspension was necessary due to uncovered irregularities and to allow a thorough review of its operations during the previous year.
According to Egbuwalo, the Ministry’s conclusions have called for a thorough audit that would look into the claims of those who claim they are due up to eight or nine months’ worth of stipends.
The redesigned N-Power programme will include new projects in education, health, agriculture, technology, fashion, entertainment and other areas of employability.
This expansion aims to provide a wider range of opportunities for Nigerian youth.
