Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Keffi, Nasarawa State — Growing discontent has erupted in Keffi Local Government Area over reports that dozens of workers engaged under the Nasarawa Youth Empowerment Scheme (NAYES) have not received their monthly stipends for several months, according to accounts circulating among participants and youth advocacy groups. The situation has fuelled public frustration, heightened concerns about the implementation of youth employment programmes, and prompted appeals for state government intervention.
The Nasarawa Youth Empowerment Scheme was established by the Nasarawa State Government with the objective of engaging young people in meaningful work and reducing unemployment. The programme recruits youth across the state to serve in a variety of roles, including community sanitation, traffic management, and auxiliary security, with participants receiving monthly allowances as compensation. NAYES has been seen by many in Nasarawa as a vital avenue for income and engagement for unemployed graduates and youth without formal employment, though the stipend has traditionally been modest.
Recent reports indicate that a significant number of workers have allegedly not been paid their stipends for five to six consecutive months, leaving many struggling to support themselves and their families amid Nigeria’s broader cost-of-living pressures. A group of affected NAYES officers reportedly wrote an open letter to the state governor, explaining that the withheld payments have forced them into hardship and questioning why disbursements have stopped. Calls from workers have focused on restoring regular salary payments so that participants can meet basic needs and maintain their livelihoods.
This alleged withholding has sparked outcry among youth, community activists, and workers’ advocates across Keffi and neighbouring areas. Many have expressed disappointment and anger that a programme intended to empower young people is seemingly failing to deliver on its core promise of consistent remuneration. The narrative shared by NAYES participants reflects not only frustration about income loss but broader concerns about transparency and accountability within youth engagement initiatives.
The controversy also comes amid broader discussions within Nasarawa about workforce compensation in government-supported schemes. Observers suggest that NAYES personnel have long campaigned for improvements to monthly allowances, including past announcements that the allowance for certain categories, such as marshals, was increased, illustrating previous moves to address low pay.
Public discourse has highlighted structural and policy challenges facing youth empowerment programmes in Nigeria’s states, including funding consistency, administrative oversight, and integration with broader economic opportunities. Nasarawa State’s budget documents show significant allocations to youth empowerment and related training programs, reflecting official prioritisation of youth employment initiatives, but the practical execution of these initiatives has been questioned by participants when payments are irregular or delayed.
Advocates for the affected workers have also pointed out that delays or withholding of stipends, even if due to budget or administrative issues, can deepen feelings of marginalisation among young workers and undermine public trust in government programmes aimed at tackling unemployment. They argue that for any empowerment scheme to be effective, it must deliver its most basic promise: reliable compensation for services rendered. The psychological and economic toll on workers who depend on these stipends for daily survival cannot be overlooked.
So far, there is no official statement from the Nasarawa State Government directly addressing the specific allegations of salary withholding affecting NAYES workers in Keffi, and it remains unclear whether delays are the result of financial bottlenecks, administrative lapses, or other internal processes. Workers have continued to advocate for open communication, transparency, and swift resolution from the state authorities.
Some commentators representing local interests have broadened the conversation, positing that youth empowerment schemes require ongoing monitoring and public reporting to ensure that funds earmarked for empowerment actually reach the beneficiaries. They emphasise that empowerment programmes are meant to reduce unemployment and give young people dignity through paid engagement, and that breakdowns in payment systems threaten these goals.
The alleged withholding of NAYES stipends in Keffi has become part of a larger national dialogue about youth unemployment, empowerment programmes, and labour conditions across Nigeria. Similar movements of workers demanding unpaid stipends or salaries have recently surfaced in other parts of the country, demonstrating that challenges around wage payments and job security are not limited to a single state or programme.
For many involved, the situation is not simply about delayed money but about respect for youth labour and the dignity of work. With Nasarawa’s young population facing high rates of unemployment and underemployment, the effectiveness and reliability of empowerment schemes like NAYES are seen as central to both economic wellbeing and social stability.
As workers continue to voice demands for clarity and action, heightened public interest is likely to press state leaders to respond more directly, articulate clear timelines for payment, and strengthen the mechanisms that govern wage disbursements in youth programmes across the state.
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