The beneficiaries of the N-Power programme have spoken against alleged plan by the federal government to scrap the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
President of the NPower Beneficiaries, Kano State Chapter, Nazifi Mohammed Abubakar, expressed strong reservations about the reported plan, citing the ministry’s critical role in addressing humanitarian crises, reducing poverty, and promoting social welfare.
According to Abubakar, the ministry’s formation was a strategic move to streamline and coordinate humanitarian interventions, disaster response, and social welfare programmes in the country.
He said scrapping it would undermine the government’s efforts in addressing Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges.
Abubakar added that the Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Ministry is the only agency of government that can project the good image of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration, considering the closeness of the ministry to the average Nigerian.
The group also averred that the ministry oversees various social investment programmes, including the N-Power scheme, Conditional Cash Transfer, and the Homegrown School Feeding Programme, warning that scrapping the it would lead to lack of proper coordination of these interventions, potentially perpetuating corruption and mismanagement within the agencies.
He said, “Nigeria is grappling with numerous crises, including internal conflicts, natural disasters, and a rising number of internally displaced persons. The ministry plays a vital role in managing these crises, and its scrapping would create a vacuum that would exacerbate the situation.
“The absence of this central coordinating body would allow corruption and mismanagement to thrive, undermining the effectiveness of these programmes,” Abubakar stated.
He added, “We urge the federal government to reconsider the alleged plan and instead strengthen the ministry’s efforts to address the country’s socio-economic challenges.”
The N-Power beneficiaries also threw their weight behind other concerned groups, including civil society organisations and humanitarian experts, who earlier called on Tinubu to rethink the decision.
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