Presidential amnesty programme: Senate C’ttee expresses dismay over poor funding

The Senate Committee on Niger Delta has expressed dismay on the delay in release of funds for payment of stipends and other allowances to beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).

The committee expressed its view in a statement issued by Mr Murphy Ganagana, Special Assistant, Media to the Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Prof. Charles Dokubo in Abuja.

Ganagana said that members of the Committee during their visit to the office described funds so far released out of the 2018 budgetary allocation to the office as grossly inadequate.

“This committee became aware of the fact that amnesty office got only N5 billion twice out of the N65 billion allocated to it in the 2018 budget.

“And this N5 billion translates to approximately 7.7 per cent, which is grossly inadequate,” Sen. Baba Bashir Garbai, Vice Chairman of the Committee said.

According to him, the committee will henceforth ensure prompt release of funds allocated to the programme.

Army tests officers’ mental fitness, combat readiness

The 81 Division of the Nigerian Army has commenced its Inter Brigade Sports Competition aimed at testing the officers’ mental fitness and combat readiness.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Maj.-Gen. Musa Yusuf, in a statement in Lagos, said that continuous training was the only guarantee of having physically and mentally fit personnel.

“The competition has all the formation and units of the division grouped into four to ensure maximum participation.

“The formations participating are 35 Artillery, 45 Engineer Brigade, 81 Div. Garrison and 9 Brigade.

“Continuous training is the only way of having able bodied men and women to carry out the security duties effectively,” he said.