The Lagos State Coordinator of the N-Power’s programme, Mrs Shola Falana on Thursday said that applicants from the state would begin to benefit from the scheme by the end of January.

Falana gave the assurance at the Lagos State House of Assembly when she honoured an invitation by the lawmakers.

The House had, on Tuesday, directed the Acting Clerk, Mr Azeez Sanni, to invite the State’s Coordinator of N-Power scheme over a petition sent by applicants from the state.

The applicants, in a protest to the House, said the scheme had commenced in other states, but they had yet to start enjoying the programme.

Falana, however, told the lawmakers that Lagos had the highest number of applicants for the programme, which was responsible for the delay in take-off.

The coordinator, who was in company with the State Commissioner of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Lola Akande, said the applicants would benefit by the end of the month.

“N-Power is a Federal Government programme aimed at creating jobs for youth, especially graduates. Interested applicants are to apply through the website opened by the Federal Government.

“The scheme involves five programmes from the Federal level; one of them is the N-Power. The screening and short listing of applicants were done at the federal level.

“Lagos has the highest number of applicants and Alimosho led in the State. Over 11,000 applicants were successful in the state.

“It was as a result of this that we had a delay. By the grace of God, before the end of January, we will start paying the successful applicants.

“We shall also display the certificates of successful applicants and I promise to always acquaint with members of the House on the other programmes of the scheme.

“We are finalising the logistics across local governments in the state in order to commence the programme. Other states were able to commence early because they have few applicants.”

The coordinator said that applicants would work in local governments, schools and hospitals, and each would earn N30,000 monthly.

Akande said that the state had some logistics issues, one of which was verification of applicants in each of their local government.

“We have addressed all logistics, and by the end of January, all applicants would get their stipends. The delay was not deliberate; we will make sure it is faster next time.”

On whether the applicants would still earn their omitted December stipends, Akande said she was not sure as the programme was entirely Federal Government-driven.

She said other programmes were still coming and the ministry would ensure there was no delay.

Several lawmakers, in their comments, said they were supposed to be carried along on the activities of the scheme so that they would be able to inform their constituents.

The Speaker of the House, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, urged the coordinator to ensure that Lagos State is not short-changed while carrying out the directive of the Federal Government.

Obasa urged Falana and Akande to do everything possible to ensure that applicants from the state were paid both the December and January stipends.

The Speaker also directed the Coordinator to forward the list of the successful applicants to the House.

He said that some protesters alleged that many of those shortlisted were not indigenes of the state. (NAN

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