Permanency: "We Warned Volunteers", G-111 Reacts to Afolabi's Proposed "Enhanced N-Power"

Afolabi Imoukhuede

Outspoken 2016 N-Power volunteers group, G-111 for Permanency has swiftly reacted to Thursday night's Facebook live chat with Mr. Afolabi Imoukhuede on the future of the 2016 beneficiaries.

The group expressed disappointment over what it described as use of "political rhetorics and technical jargons" to cow gullible and unsuspecting volunteers into unconscious surrender.

READ ALSO: Tension as N-Power Suspend 8 Beneficiaries for Demanding Permanency 

In a statement signed by the group's National Publicity Secretary, Bolanle Abiodun and sent to CNR Nigeria on Friday, the N-Power permanency group urged beneficiaries to be wary of calculated efforts by government to sweet-talk them into sheepish exit from the scheme.

Read Full Statement Below;

Our attention has been drawn to the latest position of the federal government on their long awaited exit plan for the very dedicated 2016 N-Power volunteers. Recall that the issue of insisting on permanency or settling for exit package nearly tear this noble group apart. But we managed the situation carefully. Today, from the look of things and on account of Mr. Afolabi's live chat, it appears that those who feared government intention about exit package have been proven right.

Every keen observer or follower of our activities will agree that we have conducted ourselves in a manner that shows civility and decency, employing persuasive communication instruments and verifiable reasons to press home our demand. Right now however, it appears the government is determined to send us out with nothing after two years of what now look like second national service.

READ ALSO: N-Power Supervisors Storm LG Headquarters, Begins Clinical Supervision of Volunteers 

We have earlier expressed fear that the proposed exit package might end up being a mere Trojan horse. Every available evidence now points to the fact that we were right in our speculation. Having no specific plan for the exiting beneficiaries, the government have shun exit package and announced what it call " N-Power Enhanced" - a phrase never heard of in the history of job and labour studies. We saw this coming and warned volunteers.

Beneficiaries should be wary of calculated efforts by our government to use political rhetorics and technical jargons to cow gullible and unsuspecting volunteers into unconscious surrender. While we are not given to making malicious claims or creating unnecessary tension, we challenge the federal government and N-Power, as represented by the the Senior Special Assistant to President Mohammadu Buhari on Job Creation, our dear highly respected Mr. Afolabi Imoukhuede, to come clear, without any further delay, on what exactly he means by "enhanced N-Power". This is the only way we can be reassured of government's sincerity of purpose and understanding of the plights of the unemployed.

READ ALSO: 2016 N-Power Leadership Meet, Rejects Exit Package, Insist on Permanency 

Demanding for permanency in civil service is not part of the agreement we signed with N-Power at the beginning of the programme, but being provided with job to work and earn a decent living after serving our fatherland for one year under NYSC and another two years under N-Power is our fundamental human right as patriotic citizens of our beloved country. This principles, we think, should guide our government in whatever plan they have for us.

N-Power volunteers everywhere in Nigeria should be reminded that our agitation has no political connection whatsoever but rather, it was borne out of earnest desire to secure a rightfully deserving and rewarding future for Nigerian youths generally and N-Power beneficiaries in particular.

READ ALSO: N-Power: Delta 2016 Volunteers Storm Streets in Protest, Demand Permanency 

We urge our members and colleagues across the country to remain peaceful and thankful to the President Buhari-led APC federal government for the opportunity given to us. Whatever success recorded by this programme can only endure or sustained by absorbing the beneficiaries into the mainstream civil service. While every other measure taken to alleviate our fears can only be instantaneous, only absorption of volunteers into civil service can be both enduring and sustainable.


Bolanle Abiodun
National Publicity Secretary,
G-111 for Permanency
19/10/2018