Please minister release the Npower Nexit loan
The Social Investment Programme was initiated by the Buhari administration in 2015 when it came to power. The programme included the Npower which engaged about 500,000 youths who were each paid N30,000 monthly stipend for the period of two years. After the expiration of their two years engagement, the beneficiaries were exited in the year […]
The Minister of Humanitarian affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq
The Social Investment Programme was initiated by the Buhari administration in 2015 when it came to power. The programme included the Npower which engaged about 500,000 youths who were each paid N30,000 monthly stipend for the period of two years.
After the expiration of their two years engagement, the beneficiaries were exited in the year 2020 with the promise that they would not be allowed to go back to the streets; that the federal government, through the Ministry Humanitarian and Disaster Management, which is the supervising ministry, promised that they would be placed on the Nexit programme. Under the new programme, each volunteer would be given a loan to start a business.
The volunteers were, therefore asked to fill an online application form in 2021 to show interest for the Nexit programme.
In February 2022, the same disengaged volunteers were again asked to dial a USSD code *45665#.
It took many of them an average of four attempts before they were able to access the USSD code successfully and each attempt costs N50. Imagine 500,000 making such attempts at least five times.
After all that, a text message was sent to some selected exited volunteers about the Nexit programme in March 2022 inviting them to a three-day training which will qualify them for a loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria to enable them to start a business of their choice. During the training they were asked to write a business plan for their chosen business, which will enable them to access the loan.
Unfortunately up to this moment, we have not heard from the minister and the ministry about the Nexit loan that was promised.
Even though the minister in interviews she granted various media houses admitted that the funds have been approved by the president for disbursement to the beneficiaries, none of them has received a kobo.
We are yet to know why the approved fund has not been disbursed or why it is taking too long to reach the beneficiaries.
It is in this regard that I am appealing to relevant authorities and the Ministry of Humanitarian and Disaster Management to please fast-track the process of disbursement to enable the Nexit volunteers to start something on their own in order to take care of themselves and their families in this harsh economic times.
Comrd Titus Chongkon wrote via [email protected]