Politics
THE Ex-agitators and the Indigenous People of the Niger Delta (IPND), have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to beam searchlight on amnesty programme to ensure the benefits gets to the beneficiaries.
IPND President, Tiemo Pumokumo made the call at a news conference held on Thursday in Abuja.
He said that the programme introduced by late President, Umaru Musa Yar’adua in 2009 was aimed at reducing the unrest situation in the Nigerian Delta region, by fostering peaceful coexistence among members of the communities and the business companies.
Pumokumo said that as laudable as the initiative was, some individuals were sabotaging the good efforts of President Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government.
He alleged that the money approved for the amnesty programme had been tampered with and that was affecting the effective implementation of the programme.
He claimed that less than 40 per cent of the ex-agitators, who accepted the peace initiative of the Federal Government, were being catered for, leaving over 60 per cent stranded and betrayed.
“Though, all the ex agitators were captured by the Joint task force, but only a few receive their monthly stipends from the amnesty office, as a result of the huge corruption that exist within the office.
“Many of the ex-agitators are now more vulnerable and many are marginalized. This makes us to wonder why our leaders play politics without considering the interest of the common man.
“This amongst others was what led to the uprising of the Niger Delta Avengers which brought down the oil sector and crippled the Nigerian economy which we are yet to recover from.
“The relationship between the youth of Niger Delta and the Federal Government is no longer cordial, but in doubts.
“So we call for urgent action to remedy the situation so as to discourage the ex-agitators from going back to the creeks. A stitch in time saves nine.
“However, we still have confidence in the President Buhari’s administration, especially on his good plans for the people of Niger Delta and to curb corruption in Nigeria at large.
“It is on this note that we demand the President Buhari to as a matter of urgency beam his search light on the Presidential Amnesty office to put an end to some illegalities and ensure that the amnesty benefits gets to the beneficiaries,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Prof. Charles Dokubo had expressed concern over the delay in the payment of In-Training Allowances (ITA) to the beneficiaries of the programme for three months, saying payment will be made soon.
Dokubo had expressed the concern in a statement issued by his Special Assistant Media, Mr Murphy Ganagana in Abuja.
According to him, the office is pleased to notify the affected beneficiaries that the processing of payment for their outstanding ITA has reached advanced stage and payment would be made as soon as possible.
“We are deeply concerned over our inability to pay our students studying onshore their allowances for the past three months, and wish to state that the delay was caused by some unforeseen circumstances that bordered on bureaucracy,” he said.
Dokubo underscored the need for relevant organisations to collaborate with the programme to ensure effective and efficient service delivery of its mandates.
On the challenges, he said that on his appointment, a committee was set up to review the amnesty programme and make recommendations.
“Immediately, I was appointed, I set up a committee to review the amnesty programme and from there we have seen shortcomings and challenges, these are the issues that I’m addressing, especially training and retraining,” he said. (NAN)
– Aug. 9, 2018 @ 19:17 GMT |
Tags: Group urges President Buhari to probe amnesty programme
