MRS Beatrice Kitchener, the N-power Focal
Person in Taraba, said on Saturday in
Jalingo, that over 2000 volunteers, under the
Federal Government’s Social Investment
Scheme, were paid their allowances promptly.
Kitchener said that her office had updated the
profiles of another 1000 volunteers, expected
to be paid soon.
She said that the error made by the unit in
updating the profiles of the 1,000 volunteers
caused the delay, but had been resolved.
Kitchener noted that discrepancies between
bank details and profiles of the volunteers
were partly responsible for their invalidation.
She said that the Bank Verification Number
( BVN) details indicated that some of the
disqualified volunteers were already
employed, while others exceeded the
maximum 35 years requirement.
Kitchener said another set of over 400
volunteers, who were erroneously alleged to
be absent from duty, were expected to be
paid by the end of May.
The focal person said that out of the 30,000
applications for both N-power employment
and N-power empowerment from the state,
3,965 applicants were successful for N-power
employment category.
She warned the volunteers against the
formation of a group called, `Association of
Volunteers,’ adding that the association was
illegal.
“Some volunteers that have challenges have
formed an illegal association accusing me of
being responsible for their inability to receive
their money.
“Let me make it very clear that my position is
to coordinate N-power activities; I don’t pay
volunteers even their screening was done by
NOA and NYSC staff.
“Payment of volunteers is done by the
Federal Government, not Taraba Government;
therefore, we cannot deny anyone his money
or even deduct anything from it.
“Any volunteer that has issues should come
to us to help him update his profile so that
he can be paid rather than resorting to
mischief and blackmail,” the official warned.
NAN reports that some disqualified N-power
volunteers in the state had accused Kitchener
of not doing enough to address their plight.