February 4, 2026 l By Dalena Reporters
ABUJA, Nigeria — Hundreds of N-Power beneficiaries converged on the National Assembly and the Ministry of Finance in the Federal Capital Territory on Wednesday to protest the non-payment of monthly stipends for nearly nine months, as anxiety grows among unemployed youths awaiting overdue support from the federal government.
Organised by frustrated participants of the federal government’s once-flagship youth empowerment programme, the demonstration drew a large contingent of officers from the Nigeria Police Force and officials from the Federal Ministry of Finance, who were urged to address the delayed payments and provide clear timelines for remediation.
The protest began early in the day as scores of protesters many bearing placards demanding “stipend now” and “no more excuses” marched from the NASS axis along Shehu Shagari Way toward the ministry’s complex. Among their grievances, beneficiaries cited severe financial hardship, rising cost of living, and the erosion of the programme’s original purpose due to persistent non-payment of stipends that were meant to provide monthly support to participants.
The demonstration took place despite ongoing engagements between representatives of the protesting beneficiaries and senior officials from the Ministry of Finance and the National Assembly’s Budget Office, who met with organisers to hear their concerns and seek a resolution. Officials reportedly promised improved communication and assurances that due payments would be processed, but did not provide a firm timeline.
Several protest leaders addressed the crowd, emphasising that many beneficiaries have faced loan defaults, rent arrears, and other financial pressures as a result of the stipend absences. “We enrolled to contribute to national development and gain experience,” one spokesperson said, “but we have been abandoned for nearly nine months without stipends, leaving many of us in distress.”
The N-Power programme, established under previous administrations as part of the federal government’s social intervention framework, aimed to provide skills acquisition, vocational training, and monthly support stipends to thousands of Nigerian youths. Over the years, it has been a key avenue for reducing unemployment and strengthening capacity among graduates, but critics argue that systemic delays and under-funding have eroded its impact.
In response to the protest, a representative from the Ministry of Finance acknowledged the hardship caused by delayed disbursements but attributed the problem to budgetary constraints and procedural bottlenecks in federal allocations. The official assured the protesters that the ministry “is working with relevant agencies to expedite the release of funds,” but stopped short of specifying when payments would resume.
Lawmakers who received the delegation acknowledged the protesters’ frustrations and pledged to raise the matter on the floor of the National Assembly to expedite budgetary approval for the outstanding stipends. Some members of the Assembly promised to conduct oversight exercises to ensure that funds earmarked for the N-Power programme are released and utilised as intended.
Labour and youth advocacy groups have backed the protesters’ call for accountability and timely payment, warning that failure to resolve the impasse could fuel broader disillusionment among Nigeria’s young workforce and undermine confidence in government-led empowerment initiatives.
As of this report, organisers of the protest said they would remain in Abuja until definitive commitments are made on the resumption of stipend payments and have called on citizens, civil society, and lawmakers to lend support to their cause. NGOs working on youth employment issues have also pledged to engage relevant ministries and accelerate solutions.