Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq, has said that N-Power beneficiaries would receive payment of October and November arrears on or before December 20.

During a media briefing on Monday in Abuja, Farouq said the delay in the payment of the October and November stipends to the beneficiaries was as a result of issues bordering on logistics, but they would be cleared before the end of this month, including the December stipend.

She also said the N-Power initiative was one of the four clusters of the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP) designed to stem the tide of poverty, unemployment and social insecurity in Nigeria.

She said: “I have received briefings from heads of agencies and programmes reporting to the ministry from October, 2019. However, on account of the technicalities involved, the handing over project is still ongoing. With regards to recent agitations and outcry against the non approval of payments of October and November, 2019 stipends to N-Power beneficiaries, the ministry wishes to reaffirm its commitment to ensuring that beneficiaries of all the Social Investment Programmes (SIP) access interventions designed for them within the stipulated guidelines.

“The Home Grown Feeding Programme, which is also a cluster of NSIP, has continued to run smoothly since its transfer to the ministry. Except for four states that were submitted during my absence and this has already been treated. All arrears will be paid as soon as the handing and taking over processes are concluded and grey areas addressed.

“The estimated timeframe is on or before December 20th. Therefore, there should be no apprehension with regards to the continuity or sustainability of the SIP programmes as government will continue to adequately fund them and ensure that they reach the beneficiaries and touch lives positively.”

(Blue Print)

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