Ex-Niger-Delta militants protest at N/Assembly over unpaid allowance

A coalition of Niger Delta ex-agitators yesterday protested at the National Assembly in Abuja over the non-payment of their six-month allowance. 

They urged the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Office to pay them. 

They carried placards with such inscriptions as “Our wives have left us”, “Our children are back home because of school fees”, “Pay us our six-month allowance”. 

Their leader, Passman Akpus, said all they want was their N65,000 monthly stipend.

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He said the interim administrator of PAP, Barry Ndiomu, should be relieved of his position if he failed to pay their entitlement. 

Reacting, Freston Akpor, spokesman of PAP, said the office was investigating multiple accounts linked to BVN by some of the beneficiaries.

He asked the protesters to exercise patience until the investigation was completed. 

“Those protesting are part of the problem, they’re those whose multiple accounts are linked to one BVN. This is a criminal case, a financial crime, the issue has been reported to the office of the NSA and it’s being investigated. Investigation is ongoing and until it’s completed nothing can be done.”