Ijaw Youths Back Amnesty Programme’s Recent Reforms

The umbrella body of Ijaw youths worldwide, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), has thrown its weight behind the desire of the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), MajGeneral Barry Tariye Ndiomu (rtd), to redefine the operations of the amnesty programme in consonance with global standards and protocols.

It said despite the flaws noticed in the Amnesty programme and it’s wobbling and stumbling journey of 13 years, the few months of Ndiomu have shown considerable review and re-engineering of PAP’s operation which has led to open commitment of employment and empowerment of genuine beneficiaries of the programme by agencies of the government, including the private sector.

The IYC, through its National spokesman, Ebilade Ekerefe, said the Amnesty programme, which is 13 years old, has recorded some achievements, but not without controversies regarding its management.

He added that the ongoing efforts by the new Amnesty boss to consult and interact with stakeholders on the review process is gladdening and will stop the misconception that he is coming to terminate the programme abruptly when the mandate of the PAP is yet to be completed despite the fact that it has stayed longer than expected.

According to him, “The 13 years journey of the Amnesty programme is filled with various allegations with thousands of persons feeding fat from the PAP. As Ijaw youths, we are ready to support Maj-General Barry Tariye Ndiomu (rtd) in his re-organisation efforts and restore the confidence of the people back.”