… meets Niger Delta student delegates in Jordan, Dubai
By Emmanuel Elebeke

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Deltta and Coordinator of Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig. General Paul Boroh (Rtd) has started a verification exercise of some on-going training for delegates under the Presidential Amnesty Programme in foreign institutions.

General Boroh commenced the exercise at the Royal Jordanian Air Academy shortly after attending the graduation ceremony of 27 Amnesty Programme delegates as Aircraft Maintenance Technicians.

The 27 Aircraft technicians joined the growing list of Niger Delta youth who have successfully concluded their training in the aviation sponsored initiative under the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

Boroh praised the graduands for tenacity in completing their trainings. He described professionalism as the hallmark of excellence in the aviation sector and stressed the need to appraise their current training and improve on lapses.

He explained that the Amnesty Office is in the process to establish a structure which would ensure that consultants and Vendors who partner with the Amnesty Office deliver on the specifications of trainings agreed upon for any vocation or course discipline for delegates.

The Coordinator also commended the contributions of Nigeria’s international partners and reaffirmed the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the sustenance of peace, stability and development not just in the Niger Delta but the country at large.

‘’The people of the Niger Delta are proud of your accomplishments today as Aircraft Technicians , indeed, Nigeria is proud to identify with you. The Amnesty office has in the last couple of months been making frantic efforts to establish partnerships with both local and international groups to sensitize them of your resourcefulness and skills. We hope that by the time you return to Nigeria, there would be openings for you both in the private and public sectors.’’

Earlier in his welcome address, the Director General of the Royal Jordanian Air Academy, Mr. Mohammed Khaweldeh, congratulated the 27 graduands for their resilience, determination and zeal to succeed.

He explained that the technicians have successfully concluded the first major phase of their training and would subsequently commence a 10 month long on-the Job training to consolidate their experiences.

Meanwhile, General Boroh has dismissed reports that the Buhari administration was planning to cut short study scholarships under the programme.

General Boroh gave this assurance when he met with the delegates studying at the Canadian University Dubai, most of whom are already in their final year.

The Coordinator assured the Students of the Federal government’s continued support and readiness to ensure that they successfully conclude their study programmes.

Addressing the issue of the recent delay in payment of allowances and tuition fees of some delegates, Boroh said that though, the situation has been handled, a mechanism is being put in place to curb possible re-occurrence.

The Coordinator however, commended President Mohammadu Buhari’s directive for the release of previously delayed allocations to the Amnesty Office which he said fast-tracked the payment of the arrears of allowances owed the students.

He also addressed the issue of the new fiscal Treasury Single Account (TSA) Policy of the Federal Government and how it affects the disbursement of funds.

Gen. Boroh explained that the TSA which is expected to promote transparency in public spending would eventually help to mop up all available monies accruable to government coffers and boost government revenue base.

‘’ The Government is committed to enforcing fiscal discipline and prudence in public spending. The TSA might come with some initial delay in the release of funds and we might be affected as well but please have faith in the system and have the hope that in the long run, all will be well and we can easily access all monies due to the Amnesty Programme.’’

He enjoined the Students to study hard and strive for excellence while reiterating the imperatives for a knowledge based society.
‘’The Niger Delta needs you now more than ever, indeed Nigeria needs your expertise as we struggle to institute change and sustainable development’’.

A final year Public Relations Undergraduate student of the Canadian University Dubai, Isaiah Ukegbu who spoke on behalf of other students, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for its support.