The Senate has confirmed that the Federal Government has approved the payment of ₦81 billion in outstanding stipends owed to beneficiaries of the NPower programme.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth and Community Engagement, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, disclosed the development during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to Adaramodu, the arrears cover payments from 2022 and 2023 that were left unpaid under previous administrations.
He stated that the intervention followed ongoing legislative oversight aimed at addressing the concerns of aggrieved NPower beneficiaries and restoring public confidence in government youth empowerment initiatives.
“The Senate has received assurances from the Federal Government that ₦81 billion has been approved to clear all verified arrears owed to NPower participants,” Adaramodu said.
The NPower programme, launched in 2016 under the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), was designed to provide employment and skill development opportunities for Nigerian youths.
However, delays in stipend disbursement over the past two years sparked widespread protests and calls for government accountability.
Adaramodu added that the approval came after extensive interface between the Senate and relevant ministries, departments, and agencies.
He explained that the Senate is committed to ensuring that social intervention programmes are properly funded and efficiently executed.
“This payment will cover all eligible beneficiaries with verified claims. The disbursement process is expected to commence once the funds are released through the appropriate government channels,” he said.
He also reiterated that oversight on youth-focused programmes would be intensified going forward to ensure transparency and timely delivery of benefits.
The Senate’s confirmation comes amid broader reforms of the NSIP by the current administration, which suspended the NPower programme in October 2023 to address fraud, system inefficiencies, and verification lapses.
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation had earlier stated that a comprehensive audit was underway to sanitize the programme and prevent recurrence of payment issues.
The ₦81 billion approval is expected to provide temporary relief to thousands of unemployed youth who had enrolled in NPower with the expectation of monthly stipends and job training opportunities.
Analysts view the development as a step toward rebuilding credibility in government-led empowerment programmes and a signal of renewed commitment to youth welfare amid economic hardship.