News

Release N15bn Amnesty Programme Fund, Senate Tells Minister

Published

9 years ago

April 7, 2017

The Nigerian Senate yesterday directed the Minister of Finance to release the sum of N15 Billion (fifteen Billion Naira) balance in the 2016 appropriation Act for further funding of the Amnesty Programme for Niger Delta ex militants .
The Senate has also mandated it’s committee on Niger Delta to investigate the circumstances leading to funding constraints currently destabilizing the Amnesty programme with a view to avoiding re-occurrence.
These resolutions of the upper chamber followed a Motion titled: “The monumental challenges facing the amnesty programme due to Paucity of funds” sponsored by Senator Peter Nwaoboshi representing Delta North in the upper Chambers.
Senator Nwaoboshi in the motion raised issues of serious concerns currently besieging the presidential Amnesty Programme leading to huge debt burdens and uncertainty of the future of the program and the beneficiaries .
According to him the program is already being marred by delayed funding or staggered release of funds by the ministry of finance as captured in the 2016 Budget.
The motion raised concerns that the financial challenges facing the programme is already threatening the ‘well conceived Amnesty Programme,’ and its objectives
According to Senator Nwaoboshi about thirty thousand beneficiaries of the N65,000 , Monthly allowances are being owed 5 months in arrears among other backlog of unpaid debts for the education and training aspects of the programme both home and abroad.
Details from the Motion moved by Nwaobushi indicates that the fund appropriated in the 2016 budget for the Amnesty programme was about N20 billion ýwith an additional supplementary appropriation of N35 Billion Naira in late 2016, adding that the sum of fourty Billion has soo far been released by the Finance Ministry leaving a balance of the sum of N15 billion.
His words “educational programme (offshore) is suffering the same fate as unpaid in-training allowances for 750 students between 2016 and 2017 amounted to US$4, 200, 000 equivalent of N1, 332, 000, 000 and unpaid tuition fee for 350 students amounting to. the sum of US$17, 500, 000 equivalent of N512, 500, 000
”If the planned protest by students in United Kingdom to the Nigerian High Commission is carried out over the nonpayment of tuition fees and allowances, it would bring Nigeria to ridicule and opprobrium before the comity of nations”,
The Senate also acknowledged the fact that there is a need to act fast because the situation is fast creating further tension in the already volatile region of the Niger Delta
The Senate equally expressed worry as the said tension ýand threats are capable of bringing the Nigerian government into disrepute nationally and internationally.-
Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki said the N35billion supplementary budget was approved by the upper legislative chamber to address the financial challenges faced by the amnesty office and to ensure peace in the Niger Delta region.
The committee on Niger Delta was also mandated to investigate cases of impersonation, and an alleged low representation of some other states like Abia.
The Committee is expected to report report back to the Senate in two weeks.

Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi

News

198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

3 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.

Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.

He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper, 7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.

He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.

According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin. This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.

“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education. We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”

Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic, “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.

The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.

News

Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council trains tra 1,000 teachers

Published

3 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.

This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies

The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.

He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.

Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.

“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.

“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.

On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.

Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.

He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.

Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo

Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.

He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.

He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.

According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.

Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.

She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa

News

RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

Published

3 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.

The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee

highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.

“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.

Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.

The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.