IYC PRESIDENT CALLS FOR INCREASED FUNDING OF PRESIDENTIAL AMNESTY PROGRAMME
The Ijaw Youth Council 9th National Executive Council, Zonal Chairmen, Critical Stakeholders led by the President, Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr meets with the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme Major General Barry Ndiomu, and the Management of PAP in Abuja.
President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr, has advocated for an upward review of the allocation accruable to the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) from the Federal Government’s purse.
Lokpobiri who made this patriotic call on Monday in Abuja while on a courtesy visit to the PAP Interim Administrator, Major General Barry Ndiomu (rtd), called for a strict intervention support from the Federal Government to enable the PAP meet up with current realities and expectations.
While noting that the Programme has been “tremendously successful” in terms of impacting lives of young Niger Deltans, he expressed the commitment and readiness of the IYC as the umbrella body of young people in the region to partner and work “strategically” with Ndiomu to further reposition the PAP.
“With the fast decrease in value of the Naira, a N65billion annual funding is a far cry. N65billion of now cannot do what N65billion of before would have done,” he said adding that, “It is our appeal to the Government of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu that there needs to be a review”.
As part of its contribution to building the capacity of youths, Lokpobiri disclosed that the IYC is currently building a Training Center in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. He said upon completion of the Center, the IYC will enter a strategic partnership with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for professional services and advice.
In his response, the Interim Administrator commended the IYC President for his acknowledgement of paucity of funds in the PAP. “When people make comments without getting their facts right, it becomes displeasing,”
