Beyond the euphoria of FG’s suspension of plan to terminate amnesty programme
By GbaramatuVoice Editorial Board
GbaramatuVoice Newspaper considers as responsible, responsive to the wishes of the people and most importantly, a right step taken in the right direction, the recent news report that following opposition from stakeholders in the Niger Delta region, the Federal Government has rescinded its earlier plan to terminate the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
The statement reads, “The Federal Government has heard the concerns of Niger Delta people and, with our best interests at heart, has decided to shelve an unwanted termination agenda and transform PAP into a more sanitized, transparent, efficient, robust and sustainable entity.
Ndiomu said the federal government’s willingness to retrace its steps demonstrated the sensitivity of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to issues affecting the Niger Delta. The decision was taken after the feelings of stakeholders and people of the region were communicated to the government and proves that the Buhari’s administration will not do anything to jeopardize the peace in the Niger Delta.
However, while the people of the Niger Delta region in jubilation continue to celebrate the development , GbaramatuVoice is of the view that more work needs to be done and more reforms must be made to put the programme on the part of profitability to the people of the region.
As earlier underlined in the previous editorial comment, the newspaper believed and still believes that to sustainably resolve the current challenge bedeviling the programme, the PAP coordinator should be able to provide answer(s) as to: How many Ex-Militants were originally enlisted for the programme? How many have been trained? How many are still undergoing training? What stage is the programme; Disarmament and demobilization process, rehabilitation/ training processes, or the Strategic Implementations/Action Plan for the holistic development of Niger Delta as a region?
How many of the Ex-militants are still receiving training? How many are currently receiving allowance? What is the amount? Is it the same amount approved right in 2008 or has it been reviewed? What is the fate of those that were youthful then, but today mature adults with families? Are they still dependent on the stipend as approved in 2008 or has the Amnesty Office reviewed such allowances upward to accommodate their new status?
Now that the programme has been extended, what becomes the fate of the PAP beneficiaries recently delisted?
Most importantly, with this latest development, what is PAP leadership doing to make the programme self sustaining?
Providing answers to these questions will be highly rewarding.
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