Posted by Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, in Niger Delta, Major General Barry Ndiomu (rtd), has vowed to continue with ongoing reforms.
He said saboteurs were peddling lies and sponsoring allegations against the PAP despite President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s commitment to the success of the programme.
Ndiomu spoke at the weekend during a meeting with traditional rulers in Warri, Delta State, weeks after a similar gathering
The monarchs were led to the parley by His Majesty, King Joseph Timiyan, the paramount ruler of Ogulagha Kingdom.
Ndiomu noted that he would have failed from the onset if he maintained status quo and allowed the “irregularities” discovered in capturing beneficiaries of the amnesty.
“It is difficult to bring about change when people are used to certain ways that bring them benefits, even if the ways do not conform with the purpose for which the programme was set up,” he said.
The retired General explained that the decision to delist some beneficiaries was to sanitize the system and ensure transparency.
Ndiomu further confirmed the current PAP administration has almost cleared all debts inherited from past administrations.
He disclosed talks were in progress with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and other agencies to absolve graduates and non-graduates from the South-South.
Ndiomu announced that before the end of March, another set of ex-agitators would be employed into the Federal Civil Service.
The administrator said the PAP was leveraging on the pipeline surveillance contract being handled by Tompolo’s company, Tantita Security Services, to absorb a number of ex-agitators.
In his remarks, King Timiyan, Chairman of Ijaw Traditional Rulers Forum in Delta, regretted how past leaderships of the amnesty programme dealt directly with ex-agitators without consulting them.
“The current leadership of the Amnesty Programme is a bit different, and I think he (Ndiomu) is going to do better,” the monarch added.