FG Denies Owing Ex Niger Delta Militants
Contrary to the claim by over 500 ex-militants who hit the streets of Abuja on Tuesday, October 20, protesting an alleged fraud within the management of the presidential amnesty programme, the federal government has denied owing the former Niger Delta agitators.
According to Vanguard report, the amnesty office stated that all monthly payments to ex-militants under the programme were up to date.
The head of media and communication in the presidential amnesty office, Owei Lakemfa, made this declaration in statement on Friday, October 23, in Abuja.
The media head in the statement dismissed the stance of the ex-militants noting that the federal government has always paid in full the monthly stipend of the beneficiaries under the programme through their respective banks.
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It stated that if there was any under payment or deduction, this should be brought to the notice of the programme for investigation.
The amnesty office noted in the statement that for those who seek to be included in the programme that the mandate of the amnesty programme is to cater for the 30,000 ex Niger Delta militants documented at the disarmament stage.
It said that the programme has since passed the demobilisation period to the on-going reintegration phase.
Lakemfa said: “The Amnesty Office has no powers to either expand the programme or make new intakes. Any such approval will be purely at the discretion of the Federal Government.”
He said that for beneficiaries who claimed that their housing allowance or hostel fees had not been paid that the claims were being verified.
The statement further said: “We reiterate our readiness to receive suggestions and enquiries.
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“To facilitate this, the amnesty office has opened a 24 hour call centre where individuals can make enquiries on issues bordering on the programme.
“The numbers are: 0703-5611-612 and 0809-0088-337 and the e-mail is: osapndcallcentre@gmail.com.
“We seek the co-operation and assistance of all to ensure continued peace and sustainable development in the Niger Delta.”
However, despite the progress being recorded in the fight against insurgency in the country, Amnesty International has maintained that serious violations still exist while culprits remain unpunished.
Meanwhile, some ex-militants under the aegis of the Niger Delta Liberation Force (NDLF) had recently asked Chief Edwin Clark, the former federal commissioner for information to shut up following his comments against Goodluck Jonathan.
Source: Legit.ng
