…call for timely release of N15bn amnesty fund
Members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday showered encomium on President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo over the peaceful resolution of the Niger Delta crises.
The lawmakers who acknowledged the resolve of the present administration towards tackling various challenges facing the oil producing region, specifically commended the seizure in the pipeline vandalisation by restive youths otherwise called Niger Delta Avengers.
In the bid to sustain the achievements recorded by Federal Government, the lawmakers during the consideration of the motion sponsored by Leo Ogor, Minority Leader, emphasised the need for timely release and payment of N15 billion for funding of Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).
Other lawmakers who spoke in favour of the motion including: Pally Iriase, Deputy Majority Whip and Johnson Agbonayinman (PDP), lamented that the further delay in the disbursement of the funds may reverse the gains of the amnesty programmes.
They also urged President Buhari to checkmate the excesses of various ministries, departments and agencies who allegedly frustrate laudable government’s policies and programmes.
In his lead debate, Ogor who expressed concern over staggered release of funds approved in the 2016 Appropriation Act by Federal Ministry of Finance, argued that the development has made it extremely difficult for the amnesty programme to meet its obligations tomits workers and beneficiaries.
According to him, 30,000 beneficiaries of the amnesty programme who are paid a monthly allowance of N65,000 are being owed five months arrears, while those under education programmes within the country are seriously affected by the debt owed universities to the tune of N1,873,044,700, in addition to a backlog of unpaid In-Training Allowances amounting to N830,500,000.
The Delta lawmaker further observed that 750 students benefiting from overseas educational programmes are greatly affected by the non-payment of in-training allowance between 2016 and 2017 totalling $4.200 million (equivalent of N1.332 billion) and unpaid tuition fee for 350 students amounting to the sum of $17.500 million (equivalent of N5.513 billion).
He further said 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 becuase of the non-payment of their tuition fees.
Ogor noted that 80 percent of the beneficiaries 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.
While ruling, Speaker Yakubu Dogara mandated the House Committee on Niger Delta Affairs to investigate the circumstances leading to funding constraints affecting the amnesty programme and report back to the House within two weeks for further legislative action.
