Funds meant for NDDC, PAP Not properly Used- Jonathan
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Former President Goodluck Jonathan has stated that funds budgeted for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP)
are not used for the intended purposes.
Jonathan made the declaration when Colonel Milland Dixon Dikio paid him a courtesy visit during the week.
According to the former President, if 70 per cent of the funds meant for the two Presidential empowerment schemes for the Niger Delta were used for projects they were meant for, the region would have been in a better condition.
He called on the new PAP Boss to pursue goals that will sustain human capital development of in the region in line with original objectives of the programme.
He also advised Col. Dikio (rtd) to ensure that the scholarships for degree programmes within and outside the country alongside payment of monthly stipends to beneficiaries of the Programme are given the deserved priority.
Dr Jonathan however warned the new helsman to resist the temptation to embark on project his budget will not be able to support.
“One thing I should tell you also is that you should not bite more than you can chew as the saying goes. You should accommodate the projects which you think you can effectively carry out with your budget.”
The visit of the Interim Administrator, accorfing to Mrs Florence
Dibiaezue-Eke , PAPs Director Information, was to signal the commencement of full consultation with critical stakeholders in the Niger Delta, having met with the Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari last week.
Speaking earlier, Col. Dikio (rtd) commended Dr. Jonathan for his historic role as the first President from the Niger Delta and midwifing the entire Amnesty process as the then Vice President to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
He stated that his visit to the former President was in furtherance to his consultation with critical stakeholders in the region on how best to approach and tackle the task of productively running the office to the benefit of the region and Nigeria.
Col. Dikio (rtd) said that his vision was to restore and actualize the objectives that inspired the establishment of the Amnesty Programme through effective collaborative efforts with relevant government agencies, state governments and other stakeholders to achieve enhanced security for economic prosperity in the country.
“Consistent with the strategic objectives of the Federal Government, I am determined to work with all committed stakeholders to refocus the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) to its original mandate of development and security in the Niger Delta.
He said areas of priority include, “Restoration of the mandate of the Amnesty Programme to its original intent and taking service to the Niger Delta where the ex-agitators are domiciled”.
“Train the ex-agitators to become entrepreneurs who will act as agents of change thus reversing the narrative of a people dependent on stipends to self-actualized employers of labor and net contributors to the economic prosperity of the Niger Delta region”.
“Coordinate and cooperate with relevant agencies set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria to compliment the efforts of the Amnesty Programme to ensure the development and security of the Niger Delta making it the most secure place to live and do business in Nigeria” etc.
