N-Power beneficiaries to be disengaged, fresh application set to commence

Great number of graduates benefiting from the federal government’s N-Power scheme will be disengaged in the next two months, an official has said.

The federal government Friday announced plans to disengage both Batch A and B graduates enrolled in the N-Power scheme.

In a statement signed on Friday by the humanitarian ministry’s Deputy Director, Information, Rhoda Iliya, she said the exit of the volunteers would commence on June 30 and July 31 respectively for batches A and B.

The ministry also disclosed that the disengagement of both batches would follow a fresh enrollment for a new Batch C volunteers which will be effective from July 26.

According to the statement, the decision followed efforts to provide opportunities for more Nigerian youth to access the programme.

“The Ministry has announced that Batch A will exit June 30, 2020 and Batch B will exit the programme on July 31, 2020. And the commencement of enrolment for a new batch of N-Power beneficiaries effective July 26, 2020,” the official said.

“The federal government is committed to the continuation and expansion and as such will now begin enrolment and onboarding of a new Batch of beneficiaries. Skills acquisition for entrepreneurship and job creation are critical for an economy that will require a boost post-Covid-19 and we are gearing up proactively for the challenge.”

It noted that the Batches A and B volunteers are not eligible to participate in the new application process, adding that comprehensive details for the new batch “will be announced in the coming weeks.

The ministry also said that applications will be conducted using a hybrid system of enrollment to ensure that all Nigerians are given an opportunity to participate.

It added that special considerations would be available for persons living with disabilities.

“The online portal would be open to receive applications from noon on June 26, 2020 and will provide a level playing field for all applicants. All applicants must supply their Bank Verification Number (BVN) in their application. This is to ensure a streamlined and transparent selection process.

“Once applications are submitted, the ministry will review submissions and publish a list of successful applicants,” Ms Iliya said.

The humanitarian ministry also said efforts are being made to ensure that the exiting beneficiaries are absorbed into government entrepreneurship schemes after “completion of psychometric assessment to determine competency and placement into various opportunities.

“We have commenced the transitioning of beneficiaries from Batches A & B into government entrepreneurship schemes and engaging private sector bodies to absorb some of the beneficiaries after the completion of psychometric assessment to determine competency and placement into various opportunities,” Ms Iliya said.

The N-Power programme was inaugurated by President Buhari in 2016 with thousands of direct beneficiaries spread across the key industries targeted by the programme – Agriculture, Health, Education, and Tax.