Senate moves to probe ‘impersonators’ of presidential amnesty programme

The Nigeria Senate has resolved to probe impersonators of Presidential Amnesty Programme beneficiaries in various schools abroad.

In a sponsored motion by Senator Peter Nwaoboshi (PDP), Delta North Senatorial district, the red Chambers wondered how some names came into the Amnesty Programme and were not from Niger Delta areas, thus compounding the challenges of funds.

Nwaoboshi submitted with serious concern that paucity of funds due to non release of over N15 billion of the 2016 appropriation has completely grounded the amnesty programme, thereby strands the beneficiary students in various schools abroad.

“Mr. Senate President, distinguished colleagues, we should be concerned that 70% of the students in various schools abroad in 27 countries who are expected to graduate at the end of 2016/2017 academic year may not be able to do so for non-payment of tuition fees,” he said.

Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe and Godswill Akpabio maintained that their states were used in padding the list of those not from their areas as beneficiaries, insisting that, the amnesty office must be probed.

According to them, the development has resulted to the Federal government’s inability to cope with the funding, hence, the students studying at various schools abroad have been left to face difficulties.

After further contributions, the Senate urged the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun to release the balance of N15 billion for the programme immediately, adding that Nigerian students in the United Kingdom have already planned to protest to the High Commission in London.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, having referred to the Senate Committee on Niger Delta, charged that it carries out its findings and revert to the Senate in two weeks to avoid national embarrassment in foreign lands.

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