NPower Disengagement: Nationwide Protest Re-Scheduled due poor turn out of beneficiaries

Recently N-Power Beneficiaries have been agitating on social media channels concerning their sudden disengagement by the Federal government amid coronavirus pandemic and nationwide economic downturn and hardship.

The Federal Government through the ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management announced the disengagement of the Batch A and B volunteers. Where the minister in charge of the ministry Hajiya Sadiya Farouq Umar in a statement signed by Mrs Rhoda Iliya said Batch A and B volunteers will be exiting the program by the end of June and July respectively.

In confirmation of the disengagement, few weeks ago the Hon minister sent a farewell letter to Batch A and B volunteers, wishing them well in their future endeavors as they exit the program to create space for the incoming batch.

As a follow up, the Hon minister in charge of the Federal ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning Mrs Zainab has again confirmed the disengagement of the five hundred thousand (500,000) N-Power Volunteers, as she disclosed GEEP Loan as exit package.

The minister while appearing on the Nigeria Economic sustainability plan two days ago on NTA News Abuja also made similar declaration.

Below are confirmation as gathered by online sources;

In what volunteers called unlawful Disengagement, Npower beneficiaries across the 36 states including FCT Abuja have planned to embark on a nationwide protest.

The aim of the protest as revealed in a letter by the Npower National representatives is to draw the attention of the Federal Government to fulfill their promise of “permanency” to all Npower Volunteers.

The protest which was earlier scheduled to take place Thursday 9th July 2020, was called off due to poor turn out of participants. However, the representives of Npower beneficiaries have seemed it fit to reschedule the protest to Thursday 16th of July 2020.

A memo written by the Npower Representatives read as follows;

Sir,

NOTIFICATION OF NATIONWIDE PEACEFUL PROTEST BY NPOWER VOLUNTEERS

On behalf of the entire five hundred thousand (500,000) Volunteers of the batch A and B of Npower scheme, of the National Social Investment Program (NSIP), we write to notify you of our peaceful nationwide protest.

Thanks.

The was signed by the following relevant authorities:

1. The Inspector General of Police Defense Headquarters Abuja.

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2. Director General, Department of State Secretary (DSS).

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3. Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC).

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4. The Marshall, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

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The news was confirmed in a Facebook post by Npower group.

According to the letter the protest is scheduled as follows;

Date: 16th July 2020

Time: 9am – 12am

Venue: All states capital and FCT Abuja

Npower Lagos state Facebook page has also posted a reminder for the protest, to remind volunteers on the upcoming nationwide protest. 

For update on Npower and other government social intervention programs, kindly join the Npower 2020/2021 WhatsApp Group here for latest news and events as it breaks.