“₦115bn Budget, Yet Students Wait Till December!” — Perela Challenges Otuaro As PAP Memo Admits 6–9 Months Allowance Arrears

By Passman Akpos

The prolonged delay in the payment of allowances to students under the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has triggered fresh controversy, following the emergence of an official memo acknowledging that some beneficiaries have gone six to nine months without receiving their outstanding allowances.

The memo, dated September 8, 2026, and signed by Charles Ariye, Head of Education, Presidential Amnesty Programme, was titled “Important Notice For Delayed ITA” and addressed concerns over delayed payments to students.

According to the document, PAP acknowledged that some students had been waiting for between six and nine months for their outstanding allowances.

The memo attributed the delay to “pending processes and funding arrangements at the Federal Government level” and stated that payment arrangements were anticipated to be ready from December 2026, subject to the completion of the necessary Federal Government processes.

The development has generated anger among some beneficiaries and observers who say students should not be expected to continue schooling for months without the financial support attached to the programme.

Reacting to the memo, Apostle Daniel Ezekiel Perela launched a scathing criticism of the PAP administration headed by Chief Dennis Brutus Otuaro, questioning the programme’s priorities and demanding greater transparency over its finances.

Perela alleged that the situation had become particularly troubling because, according to him, students deployed to various institutions had continued to wait for their outstanding allowances while PAP was allegedly spending money on other activities.

He questioned why students could reportedly face months of unpaid allowances while other expenditures associated with PAP were being undertaken.

«“Students going to ten months now, that they have deployed in various schools in Nigeria under the scholarship scheme, going to ten months, this doll-looking Dennis Otuaro has not paid them,” Perela alleged.»

He also criticised the decision to continue deploying additional students while existing beneficiaries were allegedly still owed substantial arrears.

‘What Is He Doing With The Money?’

Perela further questioned what he described as the failure to translate the increased PAP budget into improved welfare for beneficiaries.

He recalled that the PAP budget had reportedly increased from about ₦65 billion to ₦115 billion, arguing that the increase should have resulted in more effective support for beneficiaries.

«“Amnesty stipends he has not increased. The question is, what is he doing with the money?” he asked.»

Perela also alleged that PAP funds had been used for other purposes, including the provision of vehicles and financial support to PAP structures.

He specifically alleged that Hilux vehicles were provided to Phase I, II and III PAP chairmen and that each received ₦30 million for campaign-related activities.

Those allegations have not been independently established by Tarakirivoice, and PAP officials have not been given an opportunity in this report to respond to each specific claim.

Memo Contradicts Earlier Attempts To Downplay Crisis, Perela Claims

The emergence of the September 8 memo has also intensified debate over previous statements concerning the payment crisis.

Perela alleged that following the circulation of the memo, attempts were made by individuals associated with the PAP administration to deny the seriousness of the situation.

He specifically mentioned Edgar Biu, whom he described as a technical adviser to the PAP Administrator, alleging that he was involved in efforts to challenge the authenticity or interpretation of the concerns raised by students.

Tarakirivoice has not independently verified Perela’s allegation regarding Mr. Biu’s alleged involvement and therefore presents it as an allegation requiring a response.

‘Students Are Beggars Now’

The latest controversy comes against the backdrop of growing concerns previously raised over the welfare of PAP beneficiaries at institutions including the Federal University Otuoke in Bayelsa State.

Tarakirivoice had earlier reported allegations that some PAP students were struggling to afford food and other basic necessities because of delayed allowances.

Some students and sources familiar with the situation alleged that beneficiaries had been forced to depend on friends and relatives for food, while others were considering abandoning their studies because of prolonged financial hardship.

One source described some Amnesty students as “purely beggars now,” alleging that parents and guardians sometimes assume that PAP is taking care of their children’s expenses and therefore reduce the support they provide.

There were also allegations that some beneficiaries had stopped attending school because of hunger and frustration.

These claims require urgent clarification from PAP, particularly given the programme’s stated educational and empowerment objectives.

December Payment Timeline Raises New Questions

The most significant issue arising from the latest memo is the reference to December 2026.

With students reportedly already facing arrears extending to six or nine months, beneficiaries are now confronted with the prospect of waiting even longer before payment arrangements are ready.

The memo, however, does not state that payments will necessarily be completed in December. It says payment arrangements are anticipated to be ready from December, subject to the completion of Federal Government processes

That distinction is important because students and their families need clarity on when actual payments will commence and how many months of arrears will be cleared.

Questions PAP Must Answer

The latest development raises several questions for the Presidential Amnesty Programme:

– How many students currently have outstanding allowances?

– How many months of arrears are outstanding across the various institutions?

– What is the total financial value of the unpaid allowances?

– Why have some beneficiaries reportedly waited six to nine months?

– How many students have abandoned their studies because of the payment delays?

– What is the exact timetable for clearing the arrears?

– Will all outstanding months be paid at once or in instalments?

– Why are new students being deployed while existing beneficiaries reportedly remain unpaid?- What safeguards exist to ensure that students do not go hungry while awaiting their allowances?

‘Opportunity Must Not Become A Burden’

The fundamental concern raised by the controversy is whether an educational intervention designed to empower young people can achieve its purpose when beneficiaries are reportedly left without financial support for extended periods.

A scholarship can open the door to education, but students still need food, transportation, accommodation, learning materials and other basic necessities to remain in school.

For beneficiaries without reliable family support, prolonged delays can therefore become a serious threat to their education.

Perela, who said he had previously advocated for improved funding for PAP, expressed disappointment that the increase in the programme’s budget had, in his view, not translated into corresponding improvements in beneficiaries’ welfare.

He called for greater accountability and transparency in the management of PAP resources.

The controversy now places the Otuaro administration under renewed pressure to explain the status of outstanding student allowances and provide a clear, verifiable timetable for payment.

For thousands of young people whose education depends partly on the programme, December may appear a long way away.

The central question is whether PAP can provide sufficient assurance that beneficiaries will not be forced to choose between remaining in school and being able to feed themselves.

Tarakirivoice will continue to monitor developments and welcomes responses from the Presidential Amnesty Programme and all persons mentioned in the allegations.