N-Power Graduates Pen Urgent Plea to President Tinubu Over 9-Month Unpaid Stipends Amidst Lavish Government Expenditure
The letter highlights the financial hardship endured by the beneficiaries, juxtaposed with the government's plan to allocate Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) worth at least N160 million each to members of the National Assembly. The graduates emphasized the worsening economic conditions, with inflation soaring at about 35%, affecting essential commodities like food, fuel, energy, and transportation.
AKACHI NOEL 
Graduates enrolled in the National Social Investment Programme (N-Power) have issued a desperate appeal to President Bola Tinubu, expressing dismay over nine months of unpaid stipends. The National Association of Npower Beneficiaries (NANB) conveyed their grievances in an open letter signed by National Publicity Secretary, Adeshina Adex.
The letter highlights the financial hardship endured by the beneficiaries, juxtaposed with the government's plan to allocate Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) worth at least N160 million each to members of the National Assembly. The graduates emphasized the worsening economic conditions, with inflation soaring at about 35%, affecting essential commodities like food, fuel, energy, and transportation.
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NANB traced the root of their plight to the transfer of the National Social Investment Program Agency from the Presidency, under the supervision of former Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management for "political reasons." The graduates question the neglect of over a million unemployed youths, emphasizing the contradiction of lavish government spending amidst their prolonged financial distress.
The letter reads, "How do you expect these unpaid Npower Beneficiaries to react if they hear that the Federal legislators are planning to buy SUVs costing at least N160 million each on the ground that the expense is for necessity and not to indulge in their vanity?"
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It further criticizes the allocation of funds for office renovations, a presidential yacht, and other expenditures while neglecting the basic needs of unemployed graduates. The beneficiaries appeal for President Tinubu's intervention, citing the vulnerability of those at the economic bottom.
As the government faces mounting scrutiny over the allocation of resources, the plea from N-Power graduates underscores the urgent need for attention to their financial well-being.
