Release N15bn to amnesty programme, reps tell FG

The house of representatives on Tuesday urged the federal government to release the sum of N15 billion appropriated in the 2016 budget to fund the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).

The lower legislative chamber also mandated its committee on Niger Delta Affairs to investigate the circumstances leading to the challenges of funding as it affects the amnesty programme.

Moving the motion on the floor of the house, Leo Ogor, the minority leader, said challenges of poor funding started with the 2016 budget.

He said that 30,000 beneficiaries of the programme who should be paid a monthly allowance of N65,000.00 were being owed for five months.

“Those under education programmes within the country have a backlog of unpaid in-training allowances amounting to N830,500,000.00,” he said.

Ogor noted that 750 students benefiting from educational programmes overseas have been greatly affected by the non-payment of in-training allowance between 2016 and 2017 totalling US$4,200,000.00.

“70 percent of the 637 students in various institutions in 27 countries who are expected to graduate at the end of the 2016/2017 academic year may not be able to do so because of the non-payment of their tuition fees.

“This is just as more than 80 percent of them have been excluded from lectures, with the warning that if their tuition fees are not paid, they would have to repeat the year in school.

“The federal ministry of finance has not released to the Amnesty Programme the sum of 15 Billion Naira budgeted for in the 2016 Appropriation Act and the situation is becoming more serious and is capable of truncating the lofty programme as tension and threats are already palpable in the Niger Delta region and amongst the beneficiaries of the programme.

“Both those who are onshore and offshore, with a propensity that is capable of bringing Nigeria into disrepute nationally and internationally, unless the matter is addressed,” he said.

The house adopted the motion after it was put to a voice vote by Yakubu Dogara, the speaker.

The committee is expected to report back to the house in two weeks for further legislative action.