Challenge Disclose In The N-POWER Program
An exclusive interview with Arise TV on the 3rd of October 2023, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, shared insights into the challenges and developments within the N-Power program, shedding light on the government’s commitment in reducing poverty in Nigeria.
Minister Edu began by acknowledging the issues uncovered within the N-Power program since her tenure began. One of the primary concerns was the over-registration of individuals beyond the program’s intended capacity. This overcrowding created inefficiencies and raised questions about the program’s transparency.
Furthermore, Edu addressed the delay in disbursing funds to N-Power beneficiaries. This delay in payments caused financial hardships for the program participants, many of whom relied on these funds for their livelihoods.
Edu also highlighted the issue of participants who were not actively providing services yet continued to receive payments. This further strained the program’s resources and its ability to achieve its objectives.
Beyond the N-Power program, Edu emphasized the government’s dedication to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. Specifically, the administration aims to lift 133 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2030. She also shared the government’s ambitious goal to help at least 20 million Nigerians escape poverty by the following year.
Edu’s statements underscore the government’s commitment to improving the N-Power program’s efficiency, ensuring it reaches the intended beneficiaries, and working toward the ambitious goal of poverty reduction in Nigeria.
