We, the undersigned Fellows of the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP), are calling for immediate action, transparency, accountability and consistency regarding serious issues affecting Fellows across the Programme.

The Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) is an initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with funding and support from the European Union (EU).

The Programme was established to provide Nigerian graduates with meaningful 12-month work placements, professional experience and financial support through a monthly stipend.

However, Fellows at different stages of the Programme are currently facing serious concerns relating to placement, stipend payments, communication, uncertainty and grievance resolution.

OUR CONCERNS

1. STIPEND DELAYS, INCONSISTENCY AND PAYMENT ISSUES

Active Fellows have experienced delayed and outstanding stipend payments, alongside uncertainty regarding how attendance, reporting dates and other factors are being applied to stipend calculations.

Beyond delays, Fellows are concerned about the lack of consistency and predictability in stipend payments. A Fellow should not receive a stipend for one month and then be left uncertain as to whether or when the stipend for the following month will be paid, without clear communication or explanation.

Fellows who have fulfilled their obligations should not be left without clear information regarding the status of their stipends or the reasons for any delay, withholding or adjustment.

The Programme should maintain a transparent, consistent and predictable stipend payment system throughout the placement period, so that Fellows can reasonably know when and on what basis they will receive their monthly stipend.

2. PAUSED PLACEMENTS AND PROLONGED UNCERTAINTY

Some Fellows who had commenced or been assigned placements have had their placement status placed on “Paused” on their dashboards, in some cases for extended periods.

Fellows affected by such pauses may be left uncertain about the status of their placement, their reporting obligations, their stipend eligibility and when or how their placement status will be resolved.

A Fellow should not be left indefinitely in an unresolved placement status without clear information regarding the reason for the pause, the expected timeline for resolution and the steps available to the affected Fellow.

Where a placement has been paused, affected Fellows deserve timely communication and a clear pathway towards resolution.

3. SUDDEN TERMINATION OF ACTIVE PLACEMENTS

Of particular concern are cases where Fellows who have accepted their placements, completed onboarding and already commenced work with their Host Organisations subsequently receive emails informing them that their placements have ended or been terminated.

A Fellow who has resumed work and is actively fulfilling their responsibilities should not be left to discover, without adequate explanation, that their placement has been discontinued.

Where a placement is terminated, the affected Fellow should receive a clear reason, information on the applicable procedure and an opportunity to seek clarification or review where appropriate.

Where the termination of a Fellow's placement stands as the final decision, the Fellow should also be duly paid for the period worked.

Where a termination results from an administrative error or other remediable circumstance, the affected Fellow should have access to an appropriate remedy, including reinstatement or rematching where applicable.

4. PROLONGED TALENT POOL STATUS AND LACK OF PLACEMENT

Some Fellows have remained in the NJFP Talent Pool for extended periods without being matched with a Host Organisation or receiving a placement.

While waiting for placement, such Fellows may be left uncertain about their status, their prospects of deployment and the expected timeline for being matched.

Fellows who have been accepted into the Programme should not be left indefinitely without meaningful information regarding their placement status or the steps being taken towards deployment.

There should be clear and consistent communication regarding Talent Pool status, placement matching and expected timelines.

5. UNRESPONSIVE SUPPORT AND COMMUNICATION CHANNELS

Fellows have repeatedly attempted to raise stipend, placement and other Programme concerns through official NJFP support channels but have experienced difficulties obtaining timely and meaningful responses.

While Fellows continue to receive communications concerning mentorship sessions, meetings and other Programme activities, urgent concerns relating to stipends, placements, paused statuses, Talent Pool placement and termination remain unresolved.

Fellows need answers to issues directly affecting their livelihoods and participation in the Programme.

6. LACK OF CLEAR AND CONSISTENT INFORMATION

Fellows require clear, consistent and accessible information regarding:

- stipend eligibility and payment timelines;
- attendance and stipend computation;
- placement matching and Talent Pool procedures;
- the status and resolution of paused placements;
- placement termination procedures;
- rematching or redeployment options where applicable;
- options available to Fellows whose placements are terminated; and
- procedures for lodging and escalating complaints.

OUR DEMANDS

We therefore demand that the NJFP Management and the Relevant Programme Authorities:

1. Immediately resolve outstanding stipend payments and provide clear explanations for delayed, withheld or adjusted payments.

2. Publish and consistently apply clear guidelines on stipend eligibility, attendance requirements, stipend computation and payment timelines, and ensure that eligible Fellows receive their stipends regularly and predictably.

3. Review cases involving Fellows whose placements have remained paused for extended periods and provide affected Fellows with clear reasons, status updates and timelines for resolution.

4. Review cases involving Fellows whose placements were terminated after they had already commenced work.

5. Provide affected Fellows with clear reasons for placement termination and an avenue for review where the decision is disputed.

6. Provide appropriate remedies, including reinstatement or rematching, where a placement termination is found to have resulted from an administrative error or to have been unjustified; and where a Fellow's termination is final, the Fellow should receive stipends for the period worked.

7. Provide clear and timely information to Fellows who have remained in the Talent Pool for extended periods without placement, including their current status and the expected pathway or timeline for deployment.

8. Provide appropriate rematching or redeployment mechanisms for Fellows whose original placements become unavailable or are otherwise discontinued, where applicable.

9. Ensure that NJFP support channels are functional and responsive, with complaints properly acknowledged, tracked and resolved within reasonable timelines.

10. Establish a transparent mechanism through which Fellows can raise and track Programme-wide concerns.

11. Provide timely and consistent communication whenever decisions are made that affect Fellows’ stipends, placements, paused status, Talent Pool status or continued participation in the Programme.

OUR POSITION

We are not asking for preferential treatment.

We are demanding transparency, accountability, consistency, certainty and fair treatment.

Fellows have reported to their Host Organisations, performed their assigned duties, remained available for placement and committed their time, skills and resources to this Programme.

We therefore expect the NJFP Management and the Relevant Authorities to meet their responsibilities to Fellows with the same level of accountability expected from Fellows.

This petition is a collective call for immediate action on outstanding stipends, consistent and predictable stipend payments, fair and transparent placement decisions, timely resolution of paused placements, meaningful deployment of Fellows remaining in the Talent Pool, responsive communication and effective grievance resolution.

No Fellow should be left indefinitely uncertain about their status, placement, stipend or future within the Programme without clear information or a meaningful avenue for resolution.

SIGN THIS PETITION

If you are an NJFP Fellow, NJFP Alumni, Host Organisation Representative, Stakeholder or Concerned Member of the Public who believes that Fellows deserve fairness, transparency, accountability, consistency and certainty, add your voice by signing this petition.

NJFP Fellows deserve answers.
NJFP Fellows deserve accountability.
NJFP Fellows deserve consistency.
NJFP Fellows deserve certainty.
NJFP Fellows deserve fair treatment.