Relief for N-Power beneficiaries as FG begins payment process for ₦81bn arrears

The Nigerian Senate has disclosed that the Federal Government is making arrangements to pay the ₦81 billion owed to N-Power beneficiaries for the years 2022 and 2023.

This assurance followed a closed-door meeting facilitated by Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, involving representatives of the Federal Government, aggrieved N-Power beneficiaries, and their legal representative, Abba Hikima.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Senator Barau described the discussions as fruitful and confirmed that payment processes had begun.

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“The beneficiaries came to the Senate to seek my intervention. I called the minister, and he responded positively.

We held a very fruitful discussion that assured the beneficiaries that the government is actively making preparations to settle the backlog,” he said.

He added that the beneficiaries had agreed to suspend legal action after observing the government’s clear commitment.

“This is a responsive government under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, and no one will be denied what is rightfully theirs,” Barau stated.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, acknowledged the debt and clarified that the arrears were captured in the 2022 and 2023 budgets but were not funded.

He assured that the government had received late approval via the service-wide vote and would initiate payments within the 2025 fiscal year.

“We acknowledge that we owe them. These arrears were part of the 2022 and 2023 recurrent budgets, but there was no provision for them in the 2024 and 2025 budgets.

Now, we’re working to activate the payment in the current fiscal year. As a responsible government, we will resolve this before the year ends,” the minister assured.

Hikima, who represented the affected beneficiaries, confirmed the suspension of legal proceedings, noting that the government had committed to settling the ₦81 billion owed once the 2025 budget implementation begins.

Chairman of the N-Power beneficiaries, Kehinde James, expressed appreciation to Senator Barau and the ministers for their intervention and commitment to resolving the prolonged issue.