Representatives of the aggrieved beneficiaries, their legal counsel Abba Hikima, and top government officials, including Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, attended the meeting.
According to Senator Barau, the discussions were "productive," and the government has begun making arrangements to settle the outstanding payments. "The beneficiaries came to the Senate for help, and I reached out to the minister, who responded positively. We've had a fruitful discussion, and the government has shown clear commitment to clearing the backlog."
Professor Yilwatda acknowledged the debt, explaining that the allowances were captured in the 2022 and 2023 budgets but not released due to funding gaps. "We secured approval from the service-wide vote late last year and are now working to begin disbursement within this fiscal year. We are committed to settling everything before the year ends."
The beneficiaries' lawyer, Abba Hikima, confirmed that the lawsuit filed against the government had been suspended. "My clients are being owed around ₦81 billion. The minister has assured us that payments will start once the 2025 budget implementation begins."
Kehinde James, chairman of the N-Power beneficiaries, expressed gratitude to the Senate and ministers for addressing the matter after years of frustration. The Senate expressed confidence that, with the renewed commitment, the backlog will be cleared before the end of 2025.