…Warns against frivolous petitions, among others
By Nosa Àkenzua
The Presidential Amnesty Programme ( PAP) at the weekend in Benin City, Edo State, lamented poor performances of ex-agitator students at various higher institutions of learning, saying that rather than engaging in serious reading culture they are engaged in frivolous petitions against PAP Co-coordinators.
At an interactive meeting with the ex-agitators, PAP frowns at the shoddy performances of some of the ex-agitators in their examinations, disclosing that no fewer than twenty one of them were dropped in the recent times from their schools for irregularities and poor examination performances.
Speaking with the ex-agitators, Mr Wilfred Musa, Head of Reintegration of the Presidential Amnesty Programme ( PAP) who represented the Interim Administrator of the Programme, Major General, Barry Ndvomu ( rtd) said:” PAP is certainly not happy that some of our ex-agitators are not doing well at the universities they were secured admission for. No fewer than 21 ex-agitators already in 300 level were in the dropped out of the Universities for very poor academic performances.We can’t continue to spend money in waste when the students are not ready for learning, instead of reading for their examinations, they are engaged in frivolous petitions “
He added” PAP has resolved to prioritize admission for ex-agitators into any university of their choice because it will no longer be business as usual especially with use of lists and we will ensure that all admissions are followed with the Universities’ standard of admission and not list. So the PAP cannot be involved in wasteful venture by with poor standards except those ex-agitators who are willing to be trained within the Amnesty Programme”, disclosing that the ex-agitators have responsibilities of projecting the workings of the Amnesty Programme in their leadership domains
On scholarship:, PAP noted that the programmes and policies of the Amnesty over years have been very robust especially in the area of scholarship, adding that PAP with the recent ugly experiences, has resolved to prioritize admissions and proper screening of application for scholarship, disclosing that Amnesty money is a loan and not a grant as it may have been taken for granted by some of the applicants and the leaders.
We are going to be screening properly all applications for admissions, scholarship and loans, and not the way it used to be there are no standard. We will not allow the leaders to the sleeping with the females and as well be collecting money from them. We are going to be meeting with them on one on one for proper screening ,” PAP disclosed
PAP however appreciates the ex-agitators for maintaining high level of decorum especially at various interactive meetings held in Rivers, Calabar, Abuja and urged them to shun divisive tendencies capable of inciting disunity among adding that as leaders, they should rise up and shut down side talks, frivolous petitions of bringing down the Amnesty Programme set out to ensure empowerment and scholarship for the Niger Delta region.
According to PAP” We have been applauded on the loan scheme and we task the ex-agitators to ensure unity particularly in the third phase of the Amnesty Programme where we have redesigned the programme for the betterment of the Niger Delta region. but as for the loans , Government reserves the right to collect the loan from those who are foot dragging to pay because it is a loan and not for those who are not serious. We urge the ex-agitators to stop the useless WhatSapp messages and frivolous petitions because it will go back to you as petitioners when not careful. We have spent so much in ensuring that the right thing.
