PAP moves to end reliance of ex-agitators on N65,000 monthly stipends

The Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Program (PAP) Major General Barry Ndiomu (Rtd) has stated that his office is creatively setting up opportunities to impact the lives of ex-agitators, beyond dependence on N65,000 monthly stipends.

The Interim Administrator while speaking to journalists in Abuja on the commemoration of the 2023 International Day for Eradication of Poverty affirmed that is initiatives are tied to eradicating poverty in the Niger Delta Region, especially impacting lives of the ex-agitators.

Harping on this year’s theme of the Poverty Eradication Day – ‘Decent Work And Social Protection: Putting Dignity In Practice For All’, Ndiomu said the initiatives that the PAP has so far introduced, will create windows of opportunities for ex-agitators to escape the prediction of the World Bank which estimates that over the next decade, “one billion young people will try to enter the job market, but less than half of them will actually find formal jobs.”

Ndiomu while recalling initiatives such as the PAP Cooperative Scheme, Empowerment/Vocational training and many others that are still in the pipeline, will solve poverty and change the negative narratives of the region.

He revealed that over 700 ex-agitators have so far received funding in loans to undertake Agribusiness and other lucrative ventures, while 2500 applications are waiting to be processed.

He highlighted the 75 pilots and aircraft engineers sponsored by the Presidential Amnesty Programme to various Aviation Training Organizations (ATO’s) in Lagos (Nigeria), Johannesburg (South Africa) and Toulouse, (France) for type-rating courses as part of its aviation training scheme.

General Ndiomu recalled that when late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua instituted the Presidential Amnesty Programme in 2009, the age range of ex-agitators who laid down their arms, was between 25 to 30. 14 years later, he noted that they have now hit an unemployable age range of between 50 to 55 years.

Ndiomu downplayed PAP’s drive to channel the mindsets of ex-agitators away from formal employment and entitlement mentality, towards more viable and sustainable means of livelihood.

He further commended President Bola Tinubu for his determination to give further support and sustain the process, and give the PAP more life. “The President has the interest of the Niger Delta at heart. We will work in line with his Renewed Hope Agenda to change the negative narratives of the region,” Ndiomu said.