N- Power: FG Disburses N13.3bn to 15,246 Beneficiaries In Kwara

By Steve Oni, Ilorin

The federal government backed National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) has disbursed the sum of N13.3 billion to 15, 246 beneficiaries of the national youth empowernment programme ( N-Power) in Kwara state.

Kwara state focal person for the programme, Hajia Bashirah AbdulRazaq, disclosed this on Wednesday in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, during an interactive session with journalists.

She explained that the Batch A beneficiaries of the N- Power scheme were engaged for a period of 42 months and were paid a total sum of N7.4 billion, adding that the Batch B beneficiaries spent 24 months and were paid a total sum of N5.7 billion.

“Non graduates received the sum of N10,000 every month and were engaged for a period of 24 months with a total sum of over N24 million spent”, she added.

Hajia AbdulRasaq expressed delight that the Kwara state government has replicated the youth empowernment programme codenamed K-Power in the state in order not to throw beneficiaries into the labour market after exiting N-Power.

The focal person, who said that about 10,000 people benefitted from “trader moni” programme in the state with over N1.3 billion disbursed to them, lamented that the people were not willing to repay the loan.

“Poor masses are not ready to repay the loan after collection because of the attitude of Nigerians to anything from the government thinking it is national cake. Also, those that disbursed the money do not have records of beneficiaries like phone numbers and addresses. Thus, making it difficult to track them for repayment.

“The programme is designed to provide soft loans to boost small scale businesses in the markets which Vice President Yemi Osinbajo flagged off sometime last year to support women with N10,000 as soft loans to be paid back and then enjoy the next stage of N50,000.

“Unfortunately, many beneficiaries didn’t pay back or the channel for payment was not identified, therefore, beneficiaries could not fulfill their pledges. Though, the component is going through restructuring with a view to seeing it achieve its objectives”, she said.

Hajia AbdulRasaq also said that the state government has replicated NSIP scheme in the state, tagged Kwara state Social investment programme, (KWASSIP), adding that, “in view of that, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has keyed into the programme by establishing the following, ‘owo arugbo’ (stipend for the aged), ‘owo isowo’ (soft loans to petty traders), ‘ounje ofe’ (home grown free feeding programme for public primary school pupils) and K-Power for unskilled youths.”