Former militant leaders from the nine states of the Niger Delta region, yesterday said the December 2015 termination date set by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for the Amnesty Programme, was not feasible.
Under the aegis of Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiative (LPCDI), the group which hailed the performance of the special adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig. Gen. Paul Boroh, explained that issues of non-payment of outstanding allowances and some promises by the federal government had not been fully addressed.
A statement at the end of the group’s meeting, signed by its national president, Gen. Reuben Wilson, aka General Pastor, said before the Amnesty Programme was terminated, government should release the required funds for the payment of outstanding tuition fees of Amnesty students in institutions of higher learning and training centres, both home and abroad.
“The federal government should release the allocations to the Presidential Amnesty Office in order to pay the beneficiaries their monthly stipends on time. The Presidential Amnesty Programme should be extended beyond December 2015 as earlier envisaged as expiry date,” it noted.
“The incentives promised the Ex-Generals and leaders of the various militant camps by the late President Yar’Adua in form of lifeline, security, accommodation and mobility should be fulfilled with immediate effect.
“The federal government should pay, with immediate effect, the three months outstanding payments for the Pipeline Surveillance contract awarded to the ex-agitators by the immediate past administration.
“The federal government should also reconsider its termination of the Pipeline Surveillance contract and re-award same to the ex-agitators for proper and effective security of the pipelines.
“The federal government should expand the Presidential Amnesty Programme to include the Niger Delta youths in the creeks who are presently not included in the Presidential Amnesty Programme”, he added.
The ex-militant leaders restated their confidence in the competent and pragmatic leadership of Brig. Gen. Boroh (rtd).
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