Presidential Amnesty Programme Commences Clean-up Of Database For Effective Planning, Management

The management of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), has commenced the clean-up of its database with the primary motive of ensuring effective management and proper functioning of the programme in order to achieve the desired results of the programme.

The exercise which is long over due given the duplication of names of beneficiaries and other abnormalities in the programme database, which is in tandem with the policy directive of the government as contained in the terms of reference handed down to the Interim Administrator, Maj-General Barry Tariye Ndiomu (Rtd).

According to the Technical Assitant to the Interim Administrator, Flt Lt. Terry Ajobena (Rtd), the exercise became necessary because of the duplication of names of beneficiaries in the database in the bank.

Ajobena stated that the management of the programme had no option than to delist the names of delegates who have been trained, yet are collecting the monthly stipends, adding that another category of those delisted include delegates who are in vocational training but, are still being paid both in-training allowance alongside the monthly stipends.

Ajobena however, advised delegates who does not fall into the various categories with genuine cases to forward their names and their UN code and camp names to the presidential amnesty programme call center for necessary correction.

He stressed that the present exercise ought to have been a routine exercise meant to clean-up the data of the programme for ease of management, planning and effective administration of its database.

Ajobena added that the delisting of delegates is not embarked upon because of the wind down directive, neither is it meant to witch hunt any delegate. It is purely meant to ensure the integrity of the database of the programme.

He further stated that the need for an authentic database cannot be over-emphasized given the importance of data in the planning and management of the programme, especially at this critical period when the government is thinking of a new policy direction to achieve the desired results.

The technical assistant restated that though the government is planning to shut down the programme but, it does not intend to do so abruptly due to the negative backlash it may generate in the Niger Delta region.

Ajobena reiterated the fact that government is equally sensitive to the demands of the people, it will not take drastic actions that may cause rancour which will destabilize the peace in the region.

Ajobena further assured delegates who are inadvertently affected by the present action to be patient as efforts will be made to address their concerns in no distant time with regards to the payment of monthly stipends.