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Amnesty To Enlist More Beneficiaries On President’s Order
Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Porgramme (PAP) Prof. Charles Dokubo, has said that only President Muhammadu Buhari can give orders before more people could be accommodated in the amnesty programme. •Prof. Charles Quaker Dokubo made this known while fielding questions in Abuja.
He said the office was waiting for the declaration of the president to admit more people into the programme because they were all from the Niger Delta.
Dokubo also allayed the fears in some quarters that the amnesty programme would be terminated, saying that there was no date for the termination of the programme.
“For those who want to come anew into the programme, it is not in my power to admit them unless Mr President gives the order because they are not part of the budget that has been passed for us.
“So the President must make a declaration. We have phases one, two and three. Phase one is the initial Presidential declaration, phase two also was Presidential order and even phase three. “ These new people need the support of this amnesty programme and we will do all it takes that they are not the forgotten ones and they are part of the programme. “There is no date for terminating this programme and I will not advise any government to cut it off because of the achievements it has recorded. “There is peace in the Niger Delta, there is human security and it impacts positively on the people.”
Commenting on the policy of sending beneficiaries abroad to study courses that were available in Nigerian institutions, the Coordinator said he would curtail it because of budgetary constraints. According to him, a lot of people who were sent abroad were on faulty premises; how can you send somebody to the US to read political science when most universities in Nigeria offer political science. “That is why I am concerned about offshore training because the money we will spend on one person, we can spend on 10 people in Nigeria; only specific courses like pilots, aircraft maintenance that I can look at.’’
Speaking on the Federal Government’s plan to build modular refineries, Dokubo was of the opinion that as long as it would benefit the people and not endanger their health, it was a welcome development.
According to him, if the government deems it fit that it is good, my concerns are just about the environment and the pollution it creates. “If modular refineries are the new path to empower my people and it will not endanger their health later and where the government will spend a lot of money training them again, I will say welcome.’’ Speaking on the agitators laid off from the amnesty office, he said those who were laid off were either not qualified or failed the examination. Dokubo added that efficiency was key and the work did not belong to any particular persons, so if there was a need to put better qualified people on the job, those there had to be excused.
In another development, Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Prof. Charles Dokubo, has underscored the need for relevant organisations to collaborate with the programme to ensure effective and efficient service delivery of its mandates.
Dokubo said this while speaking at the flagship programme of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum, in Abuja.
He said if relevant agencies could collaborate with the programme, the beneficiaries of the amnesty programme would be economically empowered to be independent of government’s stipends.
“I believe that if arrangement can be made with various organisations on how to accommodate some of these trained ex-agitators, they could be taken up to assist the amnesty programme and also walk to earn a living.
“I came into the office at a period when they have done most of the demobilisation of the programme, so what the organisation was facing was the reintegration aspect of it.
‘That is my motive and my drive for the programme; how do we reintegrate those who have been trained and empowered?
“How do they get job to do, so that they could fit into the system and could contest for job in whatever situation they find themselves.
“Because most of them are so qualified or over qualified from those we have trained or send abroad,” he said.
He further noted that not every ex-agitator could be an academic, saying there are also vocational programmes that most of the beneficiaries have participated such as farming, welding and other ICT repairs.
Dokubo said that most of them have been trained by some groups of experts on skills acquisitions and were also employed.
“Definitely, it has imparted on them, but we also still believe that there is a lot to be done, because not everybody has gone through this process.
“So, we still have a process of checking those who have not been trained, checking out those who have not been imparted and also trying to give them the basic training.
“Even those who have been trained before; there is also a policy of retraining; because of the new things that are emerging; just to ensure that they could adapt to new technology and others.
On the challenges, he said that on his appointment, a committee was set up to review the amnesty programme and make recommendations.
“Immediately, I was appointed, I set up a committee to review the amnesty programme and from there we have seen shortcomings and challenges, these are the issues that I’m addressing, especially training and retraining.
“And also cutting out waste from the programme, the programme was somehow unwinding, but I’m trying to put everything into perspective.
“I’m trying to run it in such a way that it is effective and efficient and that it goes directly to those who are supposed to get the benefit of this programme.
Dokubo, however, identified multiplicity of issues that should be handled by a unit in the agency being handled by multiple units within the same agency, saying this has been streamlined.
“Now you can look at a particular unit and know exactly what they are doing; if you look at offshore education you look at what they are doing, how school fees and stipends are being sent to the students so that they don’t go into problems anymore,” he said.
The Organised Labour yesterday, called on the Federal Government to ensure inclusiveness in policy making and guide against erosion of rights, such as free speech and association.
The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero made the call at the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration held at the Eagle’s Square, Abuja.
The Tide source reports Ajaero and the President, Trade Union Congress, Mr Festus Osifo delivered a joint statement on behalf of the organised labour at the event.
Ajaero described May Day as, not only a moment to honour workers’ sacrifices, but also a platform to demand justice and accountability from those in public office.
He frowned at the alleged suppression of protests, and the erosion of rights of workers by some agents
According to him, workers have a duty to resist economic injustice, insecurity, and policies that undermine their dignity.
Speaking on the theme of the day, the NLC President underscored the need for Nigerian workers to reclaim the civic space and resist policies that contribute to worsening economic conditions.
“Our theme this year – “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the midst of Economic Hardship – reflects the urgent need for citizens to protect democracy and push back against repression.
“The civic space, where Nigerians express their concerns and challenge injustices is shrinking.
“If we fail to reclaim this space, the foundation of our democracy risks collapse,” he said
Ajaero, therefore, urged workers to unite and resist division, fear, and despair.
He also urged them to mobilise and organise for change, declaring that the right to demand better conditions is non-negotiable.
“Without workers, there is no society; without labour, there is no development. We must take our place in the fight for economic justice and democratic governance.”
Speaking in the same veins, Osifo said workers are the backbone of the nation—the educators, healthcare providers, builders, farmers, and innovators who sustain its economy -.
He stressed the need for the labour to reclaim the civic space even in the midst of economic hardship.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disassociated itself from a fraudulent site requesting payments from candidates who missed the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The board said that the site, “Copyrightwriter Personal J Rescheduling Flw” and account number 8520641017 at Sterling Bank, associated with it, are scam.
The disclaimer is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Benjamin said the account is being exploited to defraud unsuspecting candidates who missed their UTME.
“We issue this urgent notice to inform the public about this nefarious scheme targeting candidates who were unable to participate in the UTME.
“Some unscrupulous individuals are deceitfully soliciting payments of N15,700 under the false pretence of offering rescheduling services for the examination.
“Let us be unequivocal: this, it is a blatant scam, and we are confident that the public will not fall prey to such cheap and regressive tactics.
” The individuals behind this scam have no affiliation with JAMB or any legitimate government agency.
“The account details provided in these communications are entirely fictitious and bear no connection to any official processes; they exist solely for the purpose of perpetrating fraud,” he said.
Benjamin called on Sterling bank to take immediate and decisive action against this criminal activity.
According to him, JAMB has reported the matter to the relevant security agencies and actively pursuing those responsible for this deceitful act.
He further said that “JAMB does not reschedule examinations for candidates who miss their scheduled tests due to reasons unrelated to the Board’s actions”.
He, however, said that the Board is conducting a thorough investigation for candidates whose biometrics failed during verification and were thus unable to sit for the examination.
He said those without discrepancies would be invited to retake the examination at no cost , stressing that “no cost is required”
“It is imperative to understand that JAMB does not charge any fees for examinations after a candidate has completed their registration.
“We strongly urge all candidates to remain vigilant and not to succumb to these fraudulent schemes.
“Protect yourselves and report any suspicious activity immediately,” he explained.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has expressed its willingness to partner with the United Nations (UN) to accelerate the development of the Niger Delta region.
Dr Samual Ogbuku, Managing Director of the NDDC, made the appeal in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, in Port Harcourt on yesterday.
According to the statement, Ogbuku sought the UN’s support during his visit to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (UNRHC), Mr Mohammed Fall, at the UN regional office in Abuja.
He called on the global body to provide the NDDC with technical assistance and expert services to support the region’s development.
“We are eager to collaborate with the UN, recognising that the state governments in the region and the NDDC alone cannot achieve the level of regional development required,” he said.
Ogbuku identified key areas where support would be needed, including the provision of portable and affordable drinking water powered by high-tech solar energy sources.
He also highlighted the importance of reforesting the mangrove swamps, which have been severely damaged by decades of environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
“Although the NDDC has made progress in providing solar-powered streetlights across the region, we still require UN support in delivering solar energy solutions for residential buildings.
“We also wish to explore the possibility of installing solar mini-grids in homes across communities, which would boost local commerce and trade,” he added.
The NDDC managing director further appealed for increased UN involvement in areas such as healthcare, education, youth training, gender development, and food security.
Ogunku stated that such interventions would significantly enhance the standard of living in the region.
In response, Fall affirmed the UN’s readiness to collaborate with the NDDC to fast track development in the Niger Delta.
He assured that the UN would support initiatives in food security, job creation, education, and renewable energy, among other areas.
“We aim to approach development in the Niger Delta holistically, rather than focusing solely on environmental pollution.
“This is merely an entry point; however, the UN’s development vision aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are designed to positively impact various aspects of people’s lives,” Fall stated.
He assured the NDDC of continued and fruitful engagements to drive the region’s development.