Ex-IYC president tasks finance ministry on fund release for amnesty programme

To sustain the peace currently being enjoyed in the Niger Delta, former president of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Dr. Chris Ekiyor yesterday called on the Ministry of Finance to immediately release funds approved by President Muhammadu Buhari to the necessary personnel to continue the winding down of the amnesty programme.

Speaking to journalists in Benin City last night, Ekiyor said failure to comply by the ministry was putting pressure in the Special Adviser on Amnesty, in sustaining the peace in the region adding that the position could hamper the peace existing in the region.

“As it is now, there is a lot of pressure on the programme because funds are not being released and the backlash of that is not good for our country. People are abroad and they have not been paid, people are in countries, stipends have not been paid, stipends are being owed to ex-agitators and thereby giving the current SA double pressure to work hard to keep the peace, the funding need to be improved, the release of the fund needs to be done in such a way that he is able to manage the programme and work out the exit programme