“₦115bn Amnesty Budget, Same ₦65,000 Stipend: Diseimoh Explodes, Demands Tinubu Probe Otuaro And Sack Him”

By Passman Akpos

A fresh controversy has erupted over the administration of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) as Tare Diseimoh, speaking on behalf of concerned ex-agitators, renewed his demand for the removal of the programme’s Administrator, Dennis Otuaro.

Diseimoh accused the Amnesty administration of abandoning what he described as the “original beneficiaries” of the programme, while questioning how the expanded budget of the intervention is translating into welfare, training and empowerment for former agitators.

His latest intervention centres on three major demands: a presidential probe of the Amnesty Programme, an investigation into its finances and the removal of Otuaro as administrator.

‘₦115bn Budget, Yet ₦65,000 Stipend’

One of Diseimoh’s strongest arguments is the disparity between the reported increase in the programme’s budget and the monthly stipend paid to beneficiaries.

He questioned why ex-agitators continue to receive a monthly stipend of ₦65,000 despite the reported increase in the programme’s annual budget from about ₦65 billion to ₦115 billion.

Diseimoh argued that the increase in government funding should be reflected in improved welfare and broader opportunities for beneficiaries.

“The question is simple: if the budget has increased significantly, what has changed for the original beneficiaries?” Diseimoh asked.

He maintained that rising living costs had significantly reduced the purchasing power of the ₦65,000 stipend and called on the Federal Government to review the welfare structure of the programme.

However, PAP Administrator Otuaro has previously described the stipend as a transitional allowance rather than a permanent entitlement, arguing that the programme should increasingly focus on education, training, empowerment and reintegration.

‘Original Beneficiaries Have Been Abandoned’

Diseimoh accused the current PAP leadership of losing sight of the people who surrendered their weapons under the Federal Government’s amnesty initiative.

According to him, former agitators expected the programme to provide not only financial assistance but also meaningful rehabilitation, education, skills acquisition and sustainable empowerment.

He alleged that many beneficiaries were becoming increasingly frustrated because they were not seeing sufficient opportunities from the programme.

The allegations come as PAP has continued to publicise scholarship, vocational training and human-capital development initiatives. The agency recently announced further overseas postgraduate deployments, while its official materials list scholarship, vocational training, job placement and post-training empowerment among its programmes.

‘Gbaramatu Amnesty Programme?’

Diseimoh also raised one of the most controversial allegations in his criticism of the administration.

He questioned whether the programme was gradually becoming what he described as a “Gbaramatu Amnesty Programme”, alleging that some beneficiaries and opportunities were being concentrated around particular interests.

He argued that the Amnesty Programme was established as a federal intervention for former agitators across the Niger Delta and should therefore operate transparently and inclusively.

Diseimoh called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to investigate the allegation and determine whether opportunities under PAP are being distributed according to established criteria.

The allegation is disputed. In December 2025, some ex-agitator leaders rejected similar claims that PAP had been transformed into a “Gbaramatu Amnesty Programme”, describing such allegations as an attempt to discredit Otuaro.

‘Probe The Amnesty Programme’

Diseimoh said the Presidency should go beyond assurances and conduct a comprehensive examination of PAP’s finances and administration.

“We call on the Presidency and the President to probe the financial management and handling of the Amnesty Programme,” he said.

He urged the Federal Government to examine how funds allocated to the programme are being spent, how training and empowerment opportunities are awarded and whether the intended beneficiaries are receiving the support for which the programme was established.

He also called for greater transparency over the programme’s contracts, training schemes, scholarships, welfare payments and other expenditure.

‘Sack Otuaro’

Diseimoh maintained that the concerns being raised by ex-agitators required a leadership response and renewed his demand for Otuaro’s removal.

He accused the administrator of failing to adequately address the concerns of beneficiaries and alleged that the programme had become increasingly politicised.

Diseimoh specifically questioned what he described as Otuaro’s involvement in political activities while welfare complaints from beneficiaries remained unresolved.

His comments come amid a broader debate over the direction of PAP under Otuaro. While critics have demanded changes to the administration, supporters have defended the administrator and pointed to training, scholarships, peacebuilding and human-capital programmes implemented under his tenure.

Amnesty’s Original Mandate Under Scrutiny

The Presidential Amnesty Programme was established in 2009 as part of the Federal Government’s response to militancy in the Niger Delta, with its mandate built around disarmament, demobilisation, rehabilitation and reintegration.

The programme has therefore remained closely linked to the region’s post-conflict stability.

Diseimoh argued that the success of the initiative should not be measured only by the amount of money allocated to it or the number of training programmes conducted, but also by whether former agitators believe they are being treated fairly and are receiving sustainable support.

He urged President Tinubu to listen directly to the grievances of beneficiaries rather than relying solely on reports from the PAP administration.

The Questions Now Before The Presidency

Diseimoh’s intervention has placed several questions before the Federal Government:

Why has the monthly stipend remained at ₦65,000 despite the reported increase in PAP funding?

How is the reported ₦115 billion budget being distributed?

Who receives PAP training, scholarships and empowerment opportunities?

Are the original beneficiaries receiving adequate support?

Is the programme being administered equitably across the Niger Delta?

And should the Presidency order an independent review of PAP’s finances and administration?

For Diseimoh, these questions can no longer be ignored.

He called on President Tinubu to urgently investigate the allegations, establish the facts surrounding the management of PAP and take appropriate action based on the findings.

He stressed that former agitators surrendered their weapons as part of a peace process and should not feel abandoned after choosing the path of disarmament and reintegration.

As the debate intensifies, the central issue remains whether the expanded resources allocated to the Amnesty Programme are producing commensurate improvements in the lives of the beneficiaries and strengthening the long-term peace and reintegration objectives for which PAP was established.

Tarakirivoice will continue to follow the controversy and report responses from the Presidential Amnesty Programme, the Presidency and representatives of ex-agitators.