N-Power beneficiaries dispute minister's claim of April payment

Several N-Power beneficiaries have said they have not received their April stipends, disputing a statement by the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Emergency and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq.

Ms Farouq had on Saturday announced the payment of April stipends to N-Power beneficiaries and further hinted at plans to streamline the programme for better efficiency upon payment of May stipends.

She also admitted that her ministry encountered issues with the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) that caused the delay of payment to the beneficiaries.

The minister’s comments came against the backdrop of the outcry by the beneficiaries for their April stipends amid the economic impacts of the restrictions to contain COVID19 across Nigeria.

“We encountered some delays on the GIFMIS platform but I can now announce that all N-Power beneficiaries from Batch A and B have been paid their April stipends,” the minister said.

No payment

However, following the reports of the minister’s announcement, many beneficiaries interviewed by phone and monitored on the social media expressed disagreement, saying no payment was made to them. They called for the resignation of the minister, saying that the delay in monthly payments since she took over the control of the social programme had caused them hardship.

The N-Power is Nigeria’s work-for-cash social assistance scheme with enrollees placed across public health and education establishments in the states. It started under the control of the Vice President but since the commencement of the second tenure of the Buhari administration, Ms Sadiya has been charge.

“I have heard a lot of my colleagues getting their own stipend as of Saturday but I have not received,” an N-Power beneficiary from Adamawa State told PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday. “Also, I know many others who are yet to receive the payment.”

The beneficiary asked not to be named because of fear of possible victimisation.

“I am just confused why all these are happening now, I’m a batch A volunteer and we had never experienced such in the past.

“They (humanitarian ministry) didn’t pay September and October 2019 stipends until November 2019. and November was paid on the 11th December 2019. Fortunately, they paid December stipends in the same December.

“Also they paid January stipend around 23 and 24 February, while the February stipend in March and March stipends was paid in April,” the beneficiary said.

Many Twitter users joined in rejecting the minister’s claim of payments.

Also, following a post on the verified Facebook page of N-Power asking, Have you started receiving your stipends?” on Saturday, many beneficiaries said beneficiaries were yet to be paid.

Nelson Confidence on Facebook said “No. You people are just joking with volunteers, but don’t forget that some of us are in the field working as health workers risking our lives in this pandemic period and the encouragement we could get from a mother is to seize our little stipend. God is watching.”

Emannuel Ajefu said, “Not yet. It’s high time you guys start(ed) giving us a concrete explanation as to the cause of the delay in payment since the creation of the new ministry.”

Jude Opara also said “So N-Power your body has reduced to telling lies about a fake payment going on. Shame on you and your government. Can u imagine that no one has witnessed any payment and the Minister went on air to announce she is done with April payment. Big shame on all of you.”

The complaints continued on Monday by many N-Power beneficiaries on social media.

In reaction, a spokesperson to the minister, Salisu Danbatta, said “Let them give you their account details for follow up and finding solutions. In the alternative, they should go to the appropriate officers they have been dealing with to lodge their complaints. That is the procedure.”