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Ex-Militants Receive Two Months Stipends

Ex-militants under the Presidential Amnesty Programme now have a reason to smile as they have been paid their stipends for the months of August and … Continue reading Ex-Militants Receive Two Months Stipends


Ex-Militants Receive Two Months Stipends

Ex-Militants Receive Two Months Stipends Ex-militants under the Presidential Amnesty Programme now have a reason to smile as they have been paid their stipends for the months of August and September, 2016.

The ex-militants who have been threatening to return to the creeks if their stipends were not paid, have been advised to be patient as the remaining three months stipends would also be paid.

A leader of Phase 3 of the Amnesty Programme, Mr Ramsey Mukoro, who spoke with Channels Television correspondent, confirmed that they have received two months payment out of their arrears.

He said: “The Amnesty Office has started paying but my third phase people have yet to get alerts. We are hoping that we in the third phase will benefit soon as well.

“It has really been difficult for us. We spent Christmas and New Year on empty stomach. The government should try to make the payment go round quick.”

Also, the Liaison Officer, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Bayelsa State Office, Mr Piriye Kiyaramo, confirmed that the Amnesty Office began the payment after the New Year holidays.

In a statement, Kiyaramo said, “The Amnesty Office commenced payment of the outstanding stipends this week after the New Year, precisely on Wednesday.

“The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd.), is concerned about the welfare of beneficiaries in the programme.

“He would stop at nothing until a sustainable re-integration of the ex-agitators into the society with sustainable source of livelihood.”

The commencement of payment of allowances came a few days after chairmen of Phase 1 and 2 of Bayelsa State Amnesty Programme, Mr Excel Divine, and Salvation Ibina-Rufus, respectively, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene.

They had opined that the President’s quick intervention would douse the tension already mounting in the region over the unpaid arrears.