After years of unanswered calls and mounting frustration, thousands of N-Power beneficiaries can finally breathe a sigh of relief. On Tuesday, the Nigerian Senate waded into the lingering crisis over ₦81 billion in unpaid stipends, securing fresh promises from the federal government to settle the backlog.

The decisive move followed a tense but hopeful meeting convened by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who brought aggrieved N-Power representatives face-to-face with top government officials and legal advocates in a closed-door dialogue inside the National Assembly.

“These young Nigerians have served their country, and they deserve to be paid,” Senator Jibrin said after the meeting. “We’ve heard their cries. The Senate will not look away while they suffer in silence.”

For over two years, beneficiaries of the N-Power scheme — a flagship youth employment programme under the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) — have waited in vain for the payment of their allowances, some dating as far back as 2022. Many say the long delay has plunged them into debt, joblessness, and despair.

Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo, who represented the government at the meeting, admitted the funds were owed and explained the technical hurdle: the stipends were budgeted as recurrent expenditure, which could not be rolled over into the following fiscal year.

“We acknowledge the ₦81 billion liability,” Gwarzo said. “The funds were approved but could not be accessed in 2023 due to timing. However, President Tinubu has instructed that it be captured in the 2025 budget implementation, and payments will begin as soon as it’s released.”

Barrister Abba Hikima, lawyer to the N-Power beneficiaries, confirmed that his clients — who had earlier threatened legal action — have agreed to hold off on their suit, trusting the assurances offered at the meeting.

“We’ve received a firm commitment from the government. Our clients have agreed to suspend legal action for now, but we are watching closely,” he said.

Kehinde James, National Chairman of the N-Power Beneficiaries Forum, described the Senate’s intervention as a “lifeline” for thousands who have endured years of broken promises.

“This is the first time we feel truly heard,” he said. “We thank the Senate for championing our cause. If these payments begin, it will change lives overnight.”

The N-Power initiative, once praised for its impact on youth unemployment, has recently come under scrutiny over poor coordination and unpaid benefits. But Tuesday’s breakthrough offers a glimmer of hope that with political will and institutional coordination, the programme can still deliver on its original promise — to empower a generation.