The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs has confirmed that it is working in collaboration with the Independent Commission on Corrupt Practices and Other Related Crimes, to ensure the successful determination of the investigation into allegations of fraud in the ‘N-Power’ social empowerment programme.
This is following the arrest of Oladipo Oyebanjo, popularly known as ‘D’Banj’ about the alleged fraud of N-Power by the ICPC on Tuesday.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzod, noted that the Ministry had put in place a comprehensive mechanism for the selection of eligible beneficiaries from across the country and that this had been in place since the start of the programme.
He stressed that when the Ministry learned that there might have been sharp practices by some Payment Service Provider staff involved in payee payment processes, it immediately referred the matter to the CIPC for a thorough investigation.
Sani-Gwarzo noted that the Ministry had carried out a thorough hardening of its systems to eliminate all anomalies and prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The statement read: “The N-Power Program is a very successful component of the National Social Investment Program implemented by the Federal Government. It continued to deliver the desired impact through the onboarding of 1.5 million unemployed Nigerian youth (mostly graduates), providing skills development, targeted permanent employment and structured retirement across various careers; thus serving as a catalyst conveyor system for unemployed/underemployed Nigerian youth towards successful careers and a stimulus to the Nigerian economy.
The Ministry’s attention has been drawn to recent publications regarding ongoing investigations into allegations of fraud in the programme. We wish to affirm here the following;
The Ministry has implemented a comprehensive mechanism for the selection of eligible beneficiaries from across the country and this has been in place since the inception of the program. Working with our service provider, program beneficiaries are onboarded, trained, and deployed to pre-selected primary assignment locations.
“When we learned that there might have been sharp practices by Payment Service Provider staff involved in payee payment processes, the matter was immediately referred to the ICPC for a full investigation. We are aware that certain individuals have consequently been invited for questioning as part of ongoing investigations.
“In the meantime, we have carried out a thorough hardening of our systems to eliminate all anomalies and prevent something similar from happening in the future. To this end, we are in close collaboration with CIPC to support the successful determination of the investigation.
“The public may wish to note that in an attempt to ensure transparency and accountability in the implementation of N-Power and other National Social Investment Programs, namely the National Production School Feeding Program National, the Government Business and Empowerment Program and the Conditional Cash Transfer, Over time, the Ministry has involved other Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Security Agencies and Civil Society Organizations in follow-up checks and compliance in the 36 states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory.
“We want to assure all N-POWER recipients of the federal government’s continued commitment to the program and the subsequent exit/disconnection channels activated.
”Therefore, all program recipients should continue to apply themselves to the maximum in their primary assignment places. All monthly stipends will continue to be paid in accordance with program expectations.
“We call on members of the public to come forward with information about any irregularities noted in the implementation of the National Social Investment program.
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