FEDERAL Government has released
the outstanding funds earmarked for the Amnesty scheme and resumed the payment
of allowances to former militants from the Niger Delta region with a view to encourage them to sheathe their
swords.
Amnesty Scheme was initiated by
the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and sustained by the previous administration
towards bringing succor to the indigenes pursuant to equity and justice on account
of oil pollution and clear degradation in the region...
The spokesperson of the Amnesty
Scheme, Owei Lakamfa reportedly said the payment has commenced and assured that
the Federal Government is determined to see that all the arrears to the former
militants are cleared despite the global fall in oil prices.
“The payment of allowances is
ongoing. Before now, there were some logistics issues, which we have addressed.
“We had a funding gap — only N20
billion was approved this year as against N64 billion in 2015.
“But additional money has now been
provided and the beneficiaries are getting their stipends through the central
bank”, Lakemfa reportedly said.
The amnesty scheme was introduced
in 2009 after years of violence, including kidnappings and attacks on oil and
gas installations, by militants demanding a fairer share of revenues for local
people.
Under the scheme, a repentant
militant receives N65,000 naira a month in exchange for renouncing violence
with about 30,000 ex-militants already in the scheme.
Apart from those earning monthly stipends
under the scheme, a good number is studying abroad on government scholarships, though
there was outcry earlier that the study allowances had not been paid which the
spokesperson similarly denied.
“There is no problem at all with
those on overseas training, as their tuition and allowances are being paid
promptly,” he said.
