Youths accuse N-Hypadec of withholding start-up packs, stipends two years after program
POLITICS DIGEST – Some angry youths have accused the management of the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission, N-HYPPADEC, of non-distribution of start-up packs and payment of stipends to some participants in different empowerment programmes organised by the commissions.
According to the protesting youths, the commissions promised to provide a start- up pack and transport allowance for all the participants at the end of the youth transformation programme, which was organised in 2021–2022.
The group lamented that the promise is yet to be fulfilled by the management two years after the completion of the training.
DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that the group had already scheduled a protest at the commission’s headquarters in Minna, on Monday before the intervention of security agencies.
Some of the youths who spoke to DAILY NIGERIAN accused the management, under the leadership of Abubakar Yelwa, of insincerity, a lack of communication, and shoddy practice.
They also accused the management of using security operatives to intimidate and prevent them from embarking on a peaceful protest.
“Since its inauguration by the Managing Director of N-HYPADEC, the programme has promised significant development through training in various skills for 5,000 beneficiaries annually.
“However, the reality for these beneficiaries has been far from the promised transformation.
“The programme, unveiled for 2021–2022, included training periods ranging from three to six months, during which participants were meant to receive a modest allowance.
“Unfortunately, numerous complaints arose regarding the adequacy of this allowance, with some beneficiaries reportedly receiving N20,000 for three and six months for the entire duration of their training.
“The most pressing issue facing these beneficiaries is the failure to provide the promised starter packs upon completion of the programme.
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“This lack of follow-through has left many youths disillusioned and disheartened, feeling abandoned after investing their time and hopes in a programme meant to span three years.
“Efforts to seek clarity and updates from Hyppadec Nigeria have been met with silence and indifference.
“Despite assurances of engagement, the commission has continued its operations without addressing the grievances of the youth transformation programme beneficiaries.
But reacting to the allegation, the head of press and public affairs of the commission, Nura Wakil, said the “ill-fated protest” was sponsored to cause mischief.
He said the commission is doing everything possible to ensure that the programme achieves its desired objectives.
The statement partly reads,“Currently, we have secured concessions from the Corporate Affairs Commission, who offered a 50% discount to register business names for each graduate.
“We have requested for the graduates to report to their state or area offices to update their records along side with a letter from their master trainers and an undertaking from the parent or guardian of the trainee that the start-up kits to be given are not transferable under any guise and a detailed verifiable address of where the trainee intends to set up his/her business. To our dismay, only a fraction of the graduates presented themselves for the exercise.
“We therefore called on all graduates to present themselves for this exercise as our contractors have since started supplying the start-up packs across the six N-YPPADEC states, and the distribution of the packs is expected to be flagged off soon by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu CON, in Minna, Niger State.
“It is important to place on record that our empowerment programmemes, especially the youth transformation programme, YTP, are designed to respond to the issues encountered by such other initiatives by both public and private organisations in the past, where you throw the baby with the bath water.
“Ours encompasses other aspects that will ensure the sustainability of the businesses after resettlement because the target is not only the well being of the trained youth alone but nurturing entrepreneurs who will contribute to building a stronger economies in their local communities.”
