Brigadier General Paul Boroh (rtd), the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, has urged ex-militants enrolled under the programme not to be agitated over the delay in the payment of their stipends for three months.
Boroh, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja.
He attributed the delay in payment of the outstanding allowance to the non-receipt of allocation to the Presidential Amnesty Office for the months of July, August and September 2015.
He said: “I want to assure the ex-agitators under the programme that arrangements are being made to fast-track the payment of their July and August stipends as soon as the Amnesty office receives its July allocation.
“The office has been conscientious in managing resources and has already cleared the July and August 2015 in-training and accommodation allowances for international students under the scholarship programme.
“And will presently conclude the payment of the in- training allowances of scholarship students in Nigerian Universities.”
According to Boroh, the Federal Government is aware of the pains the ex-militants are going through and will ensure that they get their stipends soon.
The coordinator recalled that prior to his appointment, the payment of allowances to all beneficiaries had been stalled owing to the change in government.
He added that the delay in payment was occasioned by the introduction of the Treasury Single Account System by the new administration to ensure accountability.
Boroh said his office was working assiduously to engage the relevant agencies of government to ensure the release of all accrued allocations to the Presidential Amnesty Office.
According to him, the release of the fund will ease payment of all allowances to beneficiaries of the programme.
He sued for patience and understanding, saying that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari was keen on achieving the ultimate goal of peace and stability in the Niger Delta.
NAN recalls the ex-militants are agitated over the non-payment of their monthly stipends for the months of July and August.
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