Vendors Advocate Better Funding Of Amnesty Programme

Presidential Amnesty Programme Vendors Union has pleaded with the federal government to adequately fund the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP). The group called for the immediate increase in the budget of the agency.

At a press conference in Abuja yesterday, its convener, Barr Etifia Ganrenowel Jonathan, said since the inception of PAP, its budget had remained unchanged.

Jonathan said, “As we would all agree, the value of the Naira has significantly been devalued since 2009. In 2009, the dollar to naira exchange rate was about N145 to a dollar, while today it has increased by over 700 percent. That is to say as regards its budget, the Presidential Amnesty Programme has become poorer despite the harsh economic realities being faced in its quest for success.

“As a union we have noticed a very worrisome trend that has technically hindered the performance of the leadership of the PAP and significantly distorted and destabilised the PAP towards its smooth running with the aims of delivering on its mandate. Stability in leadership is a panacea for success. But with the PAP, the opposite has been the case in recent times,” he said.

Jonathan said the PAP is a special programme and its management requires in depth knowledge that are mostly gotten with experience, adding that it is the opinion of the union that to get it right and ensure the success of the programme the leadership must have a definite tenure that is appropriate to tackle the challenges and yield desired dividends to the Niger Delta people and Nigeria at large.

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“As a union, we hereby draw the attention of the federal government to this challenge and urge for the immediate increase in the budget of the PAP, as the effect it will have in ensuring the PAP meets her objectives cannot be overemphasised. The difference between the success and failure of the PAP is largely hinged on the adequate funding of the programme,” he added.