The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has scheduled a crucial meeting with Npower beneficiaries over the prolonged non-payment of their stipends, some of which have been pending for up to 12 months.
The decision followed a letter from the Association of Npower Beneficiaries Nationwide, appealing for the NLC’s intervention after months of frustration with the federal government’s delay in disbursing payments.
In response, the NLC issued a letter dated August 5, 2025, signed by its Acting Secretary General, Benson Upah, inviting beneficiaries to a meeting on August 25 at 2 p.m. The session will be held at the Labour House headquarters in Abuja.
According to the NLC, the gathering is intended to address grievances and chart a way forward in ensuring beneficiaries receive their long-overdue entitlements. The labour union pledged its unwavering support to uphold the rights of the young Nigerians enrolled in the program.
This development comes after Npower beneficiaries had earlier dragged the federal government before the Industrial Court in Abuja over unpaid stipends. However, the case was temporarily put on hold after a closed-door meeting involving the Senate, the beneficiaries, and the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Professor Nantawe Yelwatda, who also serves as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
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Launched in 2016 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, the N-Power programme was designed to reduce youth unemployment and boost social development through skills acquisition and community service. The scheme, which has been tainted by payment controversies in recent years, includes categories such as N-Teach, N-Health, N-Agro, N-Build, N-Creative, and N-Tech, covering both graduates and non-graduates.
Beneficiaries are entitled to monthly stipends while serving in their assigned roles across states, but many have gone for almost 3 years without payment, leading to growing discontent nationwide.
With the NLC now stepping in, expectations are high that the union’s intervention could finally pressure the federal government into resolving the crisis and restoring confidence in one of Nigeria’s flagship youth empowerment programmes.
