The Federal Government’s plan to provide humanitarian assistance to 25 million Nigerians annually has sparked backlash from Npower beneficiaries, who are preparing for nationwide protests on February 4 over unpaid stipends spanning nine to twelve months.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Bernard Doro, made the announcement on Friday in Calabar during the inaugural National Council on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction. He stressed that about 60 percent of Nigerians live in multidimensional poverty and called for stronger capacity building for states and local governments, which are at the frontline of humanitarian challenges.
“Nigeria is currently facing serious issues. Over 25 million citizens need humanitarian aid annually, and more than 60 percent of the population is experiencing multidimensional poverty,” Doro said. “States and local governments are on the front lines, and their capabilities must be enhanced through funding, skills development, data integration, and institutional support to enable locally driven, context-specific solutions.”
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The minister emphasized that tackling poverty and humanitarian crises requires coordinated efforts across all levels of government and society. He described the council as an institutional framework to realize the ministry’s vision of “One Humanitarian, One Poverty Reduction System,” aiming to harmonize interventions, eliminate duplication, and align humanitarian and poverty alleviation programs.
Deputy Humanitarian Minister Yusuf Sununu added that the government is open to ideas and solutions that improve citizen well-being, while Cross River Deputy Governor Peter Odey assured that the state government would continue efforts to alleviate the crisis within its resources.
Despite these assurances, Npower beneficiaries have expressed outrage over the federal government’s continued withholding of their N30,000 monthly stipends. Leaders of the Npower Beneficiaries Association accused the ministry of political posturing and called the announcement “propaganda” intended to distract from the ongoing payment delays. They vowed to continue their protests until the owed stipends are fully disbursed.
The planned February 4 demonstration underscores growing frustration among Npower participants, highlighting broader concerns over transparency, accountability, and effectiveness within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
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