By Dr. Odimientimi Agbedeyi
A wave of renewed agitation is sweeping through the Niger Delta as beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s Presidential Amnesty Programme have made a passionate appeal to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to urgently review their monthly stipend in response to Nigeria’s rapidly changing economic realities.
In a strongly worded letter addressed to the President and Commander-in-Chief, representatives speaking on behalf of approximately 30,000 Amnesty delegates called for an upward adjustment of the current stipend from ₦65,000 to ₦250,000, arguing that the amount has been severely eroded by inflation and the country’s worsening cost of living crisis.
The Origin of the Amnesty Programme
The Presidential Amnesty Programme was established in 2009 by the administration of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as a peace-building initiative aimed at ending militant activities in the Niger Delta and integrating former agitators into productive civilian life.
At the time the programme commenced, Nigeria’s economic environment was far more stable. The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) allowance was approximately ₦18,000, fuel cost around ₦65 per litre, and the naira exchanged at roughly ₦150 to one United States dollar.
Under those conditions, the ₦65,000 monthly stipend provided a meaningful economic buffer for thousands of beneficiaries undergoing reintegration and vocational training.
Economic Realities Have Changed
However, the delegates argue that Nigeria’s economic landscape has dramatically transformed over the past decade.
Fuel prices now fluctuate between ₦700 and ₦900 per litre, transportation costs have skyrocketed, school fees have risen sharply across tertiary institutions, and the naira has depreciated to over ₦1,400 to one dollar in the foreign exchange market.
These developments, they say, have drastically diminished the purchasing power of the stipend, making it increasingly difficult for beneficiaries to sustain even the most basic necessities such as housing, transportation, education, and food.
According to the representatives, what was once a meaningful reintegration allowance has gradually become economically insufficient and socially unsustainable.
Appeal Under the Leadership of Dennis Otuaro
The delegates made the appeal under the leadership of Dennis Otuaro, emphasizing that their request is driven by a desire to maintain peace, stability, and loyalty to the Nigerian state.
They respectfully urged the Federal Government to consider two key demands:
- An upward review of the monthly stipend from ₦65,000 to ₦250,000.
- Immediate implementation and payment of outstanding entitlements, including housing allowance, wardrobe allowance, and other previously approved benefits.
Commitment to Peace and National Unity
Despite the mounting economic hardship, the beneficiaries reiterated their unwavering commitment to peace in the Niger Delta and their continued support for national unity and development.
They emphasized that the Presidential Amnesty Programme remains a critical pillar of peace and stability in Nigeria’s oil-producing region, warning that neglecting the welfare of beneficiaries could undermine the delicate equilibrium the programme helped establish.
The signatories expressed confidence that President Tinubu’s leadership would respond with compassion and decisive action to restore dignity and hope to thousands of beneficiaries who have remained committed to peaceful coexistence.
For many observers, the appeal represents not just a financial request but a broader call for economic justice, social responsibility, and the preservation of peace in the Niger Delta region.
Source: Amnesty Programme Delegates’ Appeal
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