BREAKING: Amnesty students appeal to Tinubu to increase PAP budget

By Peters Monday, Abuja

Nigeria varsity students under the leadership of National Association for Presidential Amnesty Students (NAPAS) worldwide have appealed to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmen Tinubu GCFR to as a matter of utmost importance to the people of Niger Delta especially the ex-agitators to readjust and increase the Presidential Amnesty Programme budget before it would be passed into law by the National Assembly.

This was part of the resolutions in a meeting held recently by the students’ leadership led by its National President, Comrade Ebidouwei Messiah Miyenpririgha, who said due to the enormous contributions of the Niger Delta resources to the economic growth and funding of the budget of our dear country, the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) budget should be increased as well.

The statement was signed by the
Media and Technical Assistant to the National President, Miss Edio Dorah Ekomieyefa which a copy was forwarded to Congress newspaper correspondent on Monday.

The group explained “during the proclamation of the Presidential Amnesty Programme to restore peace, tranquillity, and increase oil and gas production in the Niger Delta region, $1 was N140 and the PAP budget was sixty five billion naira (N65bn). It would be imperative to note that N65bn is not enough to implement the PAP core mandate anymore, making it look like the Substantive Administrator Chief Dr. Dennis Otuaro does not have the beneficiaries at heart.

“However, as the cost of goods and services is in consonance with the dollar, Hence, the PAP budget should be increased from N65bn to one hundred and fifty billion naira (N150bn) for seamless implementation of the blueprint of the programme that will enable him to increase the In Trainings Allowance (ITA) of formal and vocational to two hundred thousands naira (N200,000) monthly and other entitlement of the beneficiaries should be given to us without protest or further agitation”, the group asserted.

Miyenpirigha reiterated that the goose that laid the golden egg should be given equivalent and appropriate treatment in order to maintain sustainable peace in the Niger Delta region. “What is good for the goose is good for the gander. As other ministries and parastatals budgets had been increased to over 100%, the PAP budget increment should be considered as well because nothing meaningful had been done in the programme over the years due to insufficient funding. His Excellency, sir, our appeal should be given utmost attention as the people of Niger Delta believe so much in your laudable plans in revamping the economic situation of our great country”.

The students’ president opined, His Excellency Tinubu should pay maximum attention to Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC and other regional parastatals in order to optimise the revenue allocated for economic growth and development in our oil rich and naturally endowed region seamlessly.