Future of Npower volunteers in Nigeria

In 2016, the Federal Government of Nigeria initiated the maiden edition of the Npower Scheme, a Federal Government's Graduate and Undergraduate contract work which sees to the engagement of the Nations teaming youths in four major sectors; Teaching (N-teach), Medical (N-Health), Agricultural (N-Agro), and the recently added Community Tax Workers (N-tax). The Undergraduate category is graced by N-tech, N-build etc.

The essence of the scheme has been from inception, to engage the nation's work force while empowering them to remain useful and responsible citizens of Nigeria. 200,0000 candidates where selected as pioneer volunteers, and were posted to their Places of Primary Assignment. Subsequent selections were made in 2017.

Howbeit, despite the monthly N30,000 stipend the volunteers are enjoying since the inception of the scheme, worries abound throughout the country as to what will befall the volunteers by the end of 2 years. Will they be dropped from the payroll, or will the government make a historic declaration of absorption?

Here is my analysis;

1. If the current npower volunteers are absorbed into various ministries, their salary scale will automatically be reviewed upward from N30,000 to matchup with that of existing workers on the same grade level. Consequently, Federal Government can not absorb 500,000 volunteers and keep the pay flowing.

2. State Governments are better advantaged to absorb volunteers from each state.

3. Some state governors in the opposition party will never welcome the idea of absorbing the volunteers so it won't be a credit to the Federal Government, and increase their chance of re-election in 2019.

4. Federal Government may empower volunteers at the end of the programme with micro grants to startup their business.

5. Npower lives beyond 2019 if President Buhari is re-elected in 2019.

6. Npower dies if President Buhari is voted out.

Also read: 2018 NPower Registration has begun. Apply now

The future of the volunteers seems to lie in their hand, because their welfare has been turned into the only bait for political conquest.

What is your take on this?