The Federal Government’s N-Power programme, once celebrated as a bold response to youth unemployment, has undergone years of turbulence, reform and transition as Tinubu’s administration attempts to restore confidence and reposition it for sustainable impact.
Launched on June 8, 2016, N-Power was a key component of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), designed to reduce poverty and address Nigeria’s growing unemployment crisis.
Targeted at unemployed youths between the ages of 18 and 35, the initiative provided structured volunteer placements alongside a monthly stipend of ₦30,000.
At its peak, the scheme deployed hundreds of thousands of graduates and non-graduates across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
Participants were assigned to critical sectors including education, healthcare, agriculture and technology under sub-programmes such as N-Teach, N-Health, N-Agro and N-Tech.
Administered by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, the programme aimed not only to provide income support but also to equip young Nigerians with practical skills to enhance employability and entrepreneurship.
From the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari to that of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the programme has faced mounting scrutiny over how billions of naira earmarked for unemployed Nigerian youths were managed.
Under the Buhari government, N-Power operated as part of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), supervised by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
During this period, allegations surfaced over irregular payments, ghost beneficiaries and questionable contractor engagements.
Former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, was questioned by the EFCC over alleged financial misconduct involving tens of billions of naira linked to social intervention programmes, including N-Power.
Investigators reportedly traced complex financial flows through multiple accounts as part of a broader probe into the ministry’s activities.
Although no final court convictions have been announced in connection with the minister as of the latest updates, the investigations marked one of the most high-profile corruption probes tied to the social investment framework established under Buhari.
The controversy deepened under President Tinubu’s administration.
In January 2024, the president suspended the then Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, following revelations that ₦585 million intended for vulnerable Nigerians was allegedly directed into a private account.
The suspension affected hundreds of thousands of youths nationwide, with estimates suggesting that close to one million Nigerians had participated in various batches since inception.
The EFCC subsequently launched a full-scale investigation into the ministry and the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), which oversees N-Power.
Sources within anti-graft circles indicated that investigators uncovered significant irregularities, including funds allegedly diverted through dozens of bank accounts.
The scandal triggered a broader audit of N-Power and related programmes, with authorities vowing to sanitize the system and recover misappropriated funds.
The government later announced the recovery of large sums as investigations expanded.
Beyond government officials, the scandal also touched the entertainment industry.
Popular Nigerian musician D’banj was previously detained and questioned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over allegations connected to N-Power funds and purported ghost beneficiary schemes.
While the EFCC has not publicly announced formal charges against the artist, the episode intensified public debate about the involvement of private individuals and influencers in public intervention programmes.
Investigations have also examined the roles of consultants, contractors and payment service providers accused of facilitating irregular disbursements or maintaining outdated beneficiary records that enabled fraud.
At its peak, N-Power enrolled hundreds of thousands of young Nigerians, providing monthly stipends and work placements in education, health, agriculture and technology. However, payment delays, verification failures and administrative lapses left many genuine beneficiaries stranded for months without stipends.
The 2023 suspension of the programme for audit exposed systemic weaknesses, including ghost beneficiaries, duplicate records and weak oversight mechanisms.
For many unemployed youths who depended on the ₦30,000 monthly stipend, the corruption allegations were not just political headlines — they translated into economic hardship.
Civil society groups and former beneficiaries continue to demand transparency from the EFCC, urging the agency to publicly release detailed findings, prosecute offenders where evidence exists, and ensure full recovery of diverted funds.
Analysts say the N-Power scandal underscores deeper structural challenges in managing large-scale social intervention programmes in Nigeria, particularly in areas of data management, payment systems and accountability safeguards.
As investigations continue across both the Buhari and Tinubu eras, the outcome of the EFCC’s actions may determine whether N-Power’s legacy becomes a cautionary tale of lost opportunity — or a turning point for reform in Nigeria’s social investment programmes.
The investigations revealed other issues like systemic issues, including inaccurate beneficiary data, mismatched Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs), and payment bottlenecks linked to third-party consultants. Authorities also uncovered cases of “ghost beneficiaries” — individuals listed on payrolls without active participation in the programme.
Government sources acknowledged that some individuals who had exited the programme remained on payroll, while others reportedly received stipends without reporting to their places of primary assignment.
Beyond payment controversies, analysts and beneficiaries alike questioned the programme’s long-term effectiveness. While N-Power provided temporary relief and work experience, many participants struggled to secure permanent employment after completing their tenure.
Critics cited gaps in job placement support, limited alignment between training modules and labour market demands, and inadequate infrastructure to help beneficiaries transition into entrepreneurship. Allegations of favouritism and informal payments for placement further dented public trust.
For many participants, the programme became a symbol of both opportunity and frustration — offering financial lifelines during difficult economic periods but falling short of guaranteeing sustainable livelihoods.
Following the 2023 suspension, the Federal Government resumed staggered payments of outstanding stipends from November 2023. By early 2025, officials reported significant progress in clearing arrears for verified beneficiaries.
Authorities introduced stricter verification processes, directing participants to update their details on the NASIMS portal to ensure direct payment to validated accounts, eliminating reliance on intermediaries.
Former beneficiaries under earlier batches were also enrolled in NEXIT, a transition initiative focused on entrepreneurship training, credit access and job placement support after programme duration which did not also see the light of the day..
In a broader reform effort, the government announced a successor initiative, the Renewed Hope Job Creation Programme (RHJCP). The new scheme is designed to recruit up to one million youths annually over five years, with improved accountability systems intended to prevent past lapses.
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- Court sets November 4 for hearing in N-Power beneficiaries’ case against Federal Government over unpaid allowances
Officials say the RHJCP will prioritize stronger data management, transparent verification mechanisms and clearer pathways to sustainable employment.
Nearly a decade after its launch, N-Power remains one of Nigeria’s most ambitious youth intervention programmes. It provided income support and public service opportunities to hundreds of thousands of young Nigerians during challenging economic times.
However, N-Power’s history also exposed structural weaknesses in large-scale public programme administration, particularly in data management, payment systems and post-training employment integration.
As the government transitions to a new framework under the RHJCP, policymakers face the task of learning from N-Power’s setbacks while preserving its core objective: empowering Nigerian youths with skills, income and meaningful economic opportunities.
The RHJCP also plans to expand the program to provide lasting support for beneficiaries even after the duration period.
