By Francis Sadhere
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Worldwide has said that the non-payment of the tuition fees and allowances of former Niger Delta agitators especially those undergoing undergraduate and post graduate degree programmes within and outside Nigeria is a deliberate ploy by the Federal Government to create another round of insurgency in the Niger-Delta region.
The group stated this in a statement signed by its Spokesman, Barr. Henry Omare, and made available to our correspondent in Warri Yesterday.
The group stressed that the non-payment of tuition fees and allowances since the inauguration of President Buhari has subjected beneficiaries of the Presidential amnesty programme to untold hardship with the federal government showing no concern.
Barrister Omare said: “The IYC wishes to alert Nigerians and the international community that the rising tension in the Niger Delta region as a result of the non-payment of allowances to beneficiaries of the Presidential amnesty programme would soon result into security breach in the Niger Delta region.
“We strongly believe that this is a deliberate ploy by some interest groups in the Presidency to frustrate the amnesty programme, create crisis in the Niger Delta region and use it as a justification to attack the region.
“The federal government has no single justification for not paying the accrued allowances because the amnesty office has sufficient funds in its account.
“For the umpteen times, the IYC call on opinion leaders, elders and the international community to prevail on President Buhari to fulfill the federal government obligation to the former Niger Delta agitators by paying their tuition fees and allowances without delay and ensure that the amnesty programme is followed to its logical conclusion by training all the beneficiaries. A stitch in time saves nine!”
