Aggrieved N-Power Beneficiaries Sue Tinubu Administration Over Prolonged Unpaid Allowances and Entitlements

Thousands of former N-Power beneficiaries across Nigeria have dragged the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to court over the non-payment of their accumulated allowances and entitlements dating back several years. The aggrieved youths, who served under various batches of the Federal Government’s N-Power scheme, are demanding justice and accountability after what they described as “deliberate neglect and abandonment” by the government.

The suit, which was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, is seeking an immediate directive compelling the government to pay all outstanding stipends owed to beneficiaries across Batches A, B, and C. Many of the claimants say they were last paid during the tail-end of the Buhari administration and have since been left in limbo without official communication from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

According to the plaintiffs, their efforts to engage with relevant government agencies—including several protests and written appeals—have been ignored, forcing them to seek redress through legal means. Some of the beneficiaries, speaking with journalists, expressed frustration, stating that they relied heavily on the monthly stipends to support themselves and their families.

A lead counsel representing the beneficiaries, Barrister Musa Ibrahim, told reporters that the action was necessary to ensure the government upholds its obligations to Nigerian youths who participated in the empowerment program in good faith. “These individuals worked under the N-Power program with the assurance of being paid regularly. The failure to pay them their entitlements not only violates their rights but also breaches the trust they placed in the government,” he stated.

The N-Power scheme, launched in 2016 as part of the National Social Investment Program (NSIP), was designed to address youth unemployment and enhance social development. However, the initiative has recently faced widespread criticism over irregular payments, poor communication, and administrative lapses—issues that have worsened under the current administration, according to affected participants.

As the case proceeds in court, many Nigerians are watching closely to see whether the judiciary will offer relief to the thousands of young citizens who say they were shortchanged by a system meant to empower them. The Tinubu-led administration has yet to issue an official response to the lawsuit, though sources within the Ministry have hinted at plans to “audit and reform” the program before any payments can be processed.

This unfolding legal battle could potentially redefine how future social intervention programs are managed and might set a precedent for government accountability in handling youth empowerment initiatives in Nigeria.