The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has taken up the case of N-Power beneficiaries who have been left without stipends for between eight and twelve months, a delay that has plunged many into financial distress.
In a letter dated August 5, 2025, Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Comrade Benson Upah, acknowledged a formal request submitted by the National Association of N-Power Beneficiaries (NANB) on July 10. The beneficiaries had appealed to the Congress to intervene in their planned peaceful protest over unpaid arrears.
Responding to the appeal, the NLC assured the beneficiaries of its commitment to addressing the matter and invited their representatives to a meeting with its leadership. The meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 25, 2025, at 2 p.m. at the NLC Headquarters in Labour House, Central Business District, Abuja. The Congress President will lead the engagement.
Beneficiaries have repeatedly raised alarm over the hardship caused by the prolonged delay, with many struggling to meet basic needs such as rent, food, transportation, and medical expenses. For some, the stipends represent their only source of income, and the arrears have left them vulnerable. The NLC’s intervention offers them a platform to press their case more forcefully.
Labour leaders have consistently argued that workers, volunteers, and beneficiaries who contribute to national development deserve timely compensation. The NLC insists that denying them their entitlements undermines trust in government’s social investment programmes and weakens the morale of young Nigerians engaged in national service.
The Congress also views the issue as part of a larger debate on accountability and the welfare of vulnerable groups in Nigeria. By inviting the beneficiaries to the negotiation table, the NLC signals its readiness to hold the authorities accountable and prevent the situation from escalating into unrest.
Stakeholders see the upcoming meeting as a turning point. If successful, the engagement could put pressure on government officials to release the withheld stipends and restore confidence in the N-Power scheme. If not, beneficiaries may proceed with their planned protest, which could heighten tensions and draw wider public sympathy.
Launched in 2016, the N-Power programme was designed to provide employment, skills development, and social support for Nigerian youths. However, recurring payment delays, inadequate funding, and irregular administration have weakened its credibility. The latest backlog of stipends has once again raised questions about the sustainability of the initiative.
For the beneficiaries, the meeting on August 25 represents more than a dialogue; it is a test of whether the system can deliver justice and fairness to young Nigerians who offered their time and skills in service of the nation. Many now wait anxiously to see if the intervention of the NLC will finally unlock the long-delayed payments and give them relief.
