N-Power beneficiaries condemn alleged plan to scrap ‘Humanitarian Ministry’

The NPower beneficiaries have added their voice to the growing opposition against the alleged plan by the federal government to scrap the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

In a statement signed by Nazifi Mohammed Abubakar, President of the NPower Beneficiaries, Kano State Chapter, the group 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 formation of the ministry was a strategic move to streamline and coordinate humanitarian interventions, disaster response, and social welfare programs in the country. Scrapping it, he argued, would undermine the government’s efforts to address Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges.

He added that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation is the only government agency capable of projecting a positive image of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, given how closely the ministry is connected to the average Nigerian.

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The group also noted that the ministry oversees various social investment programs, including the N-Power scheme, Conditional Cash Transfer, and the Homegrown School Feeding Programme. They warned that scrapping the ministry could lead to poor coordination of these programs, potentially fostering 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 elimination would create a vacuum, worsening the situation.”

“The absence of this central coordinating body would allow corruption and mismanagement to thrive, undermining the effectiveness of these programs,” Abubakar stated.

“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 aligned themselves with other concerned groups, including civil society organizations and humanitarian experts, who have previously called on President Tinubu to rethink the decision.