By Godwin Ogbe
As the President Bola Tinubu-led administration is on the verge of celebrating two years in office, the antenna is high to detect elements within the administration that have given it the desired spark to endear it to the populace.
This is to counter the narrative from the opposition that the administration has done only little to improve the lot of the citizenry.
Amongst the areas the APC-led administration would be beaming its searchlight on to prove that it has done well in the last two years is the efficient handling of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) where lot of ideas and initiatives that have improved the lives of the people of the Niger Delta were introduced.
Before the inauguration of the current administration, the Niger Delta region stood as a sore thumb as only a little had been done to convince the people about the good intentions of past governments.
Realising the need to bring all parts of the country to feel the impact of his Renewed Hope Agenda, President Tinubu started taking steps to address the grievances of the people of the region by giving them the desired attention and situating the right personnel to drive the initiatives.
One of the key appointments that confirmed that the President has a knack for putting round pegs in round holes was the appointment, on March 14, 2024, of Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro as Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).
The PAP was created as parts of efforts to douse the restiveness in the Niger Delta through the transformation of its youths into entrepreneurs and employable citizens so that they can also contribute to the economy of the region and the country at large.
On assuming office, Dr. Otuaro, who holds a PhD in Comparative Politics & Development Studies; an MSc in Public Administration, and a BSc in Education, combined the knowledge with his experience as a top-level executive of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) went into action to refocus the programme.
This was necessary because over the years, the mandate of the amnesty programme had shifted from its original intent and there was a need to take service to the core of the Niger Delta where the ex-agitators are domiciled.
Apart from losing focus, the PAP was also struggling with how to manage the challenges of ensuring smooth transitions for beneficiaries who on completion of their training do not want to exit for others to enrol.
All these issues combined, were posing fresh security threats to the region which needed peace for development.
Within a year, Dr Otuaru changed the narrative by introducing a number of initiatives to the programme and through that, the PAP was able to facilitate 50 stipend issue resolutions hitherto hampering the operation of the programme and hosted successful interactive sessions and sensitization programs in Warri, Delta State, involving traditional rulers, women leaders, and stakeholders from 8 Niger Delta states.
This particular action addressed critical issues and promoted peace in the region by resolving 100 out of 135 cases through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
It also addressed 17 court cases, ensuring representation and resolution efforts on behalf of beneficiaries and managed multiple petitions, such as BVN-related financial issues, leading to payment reinstatements for affected beneficiaries and withdrawal of petitions from the National Assembly.
Due to that effort, numerous issues affecting stipend payments, including BVN discrepancies and irregularities across multiple camps, benefiting hundreds of ex-agitators were achieved in record time fostering stability and cooperation amongst the people.
The big leap for PAP in the period under review, was the successful deployment of 1,554 onshore students, including 1,300 to partnering and non-partnering institutions, for the 2024/2025 academic session.
Quite significantly, it also deployed 10 offshore students to universities in the UK, USA and Canada and celebrated the graduation of 316 onshore students, including 41 Nigerian Law School graduates and a total of 10 offshore students who completed their studies in 2024.
The PAP was able to disburse N1.16 billion for offshore education allowances and tuition fees and another N1.75 billion for onshore tuition and allowances for the 2024/2025 session.
Under Dr Otuaru, the programme conducted verification of 1,594 students in 69 institutions (18 partnering and 53 non-partnering universities) and organized orientation exercises for students, ensuring compliance with the Student Charter and Formal Education policies.
It also Inspected facilities at six universities, including Nigerian Maritime University and Gregory University, to ensure quality standards and initiated partnerships with five universities through facility inspections and formal engagement and was able to Identify 16 absconded or withdrawn students, saving the PAP N41,033,600 in tuition and allowances.
Dr Dennis Otuaro has always acknowledged that manpower and human capacity development are critical to the economic growth of the region and the country hence his resolve to enhance the quality of manpower training for youths in the region.
The impact of staff capacity building was much as the program conducted in-house training sessions on emotional intelligence, temperament traits, conflict management, and problem-solving tactics to enhance staff efficiency.
Not done with that, the PAP addressed issues related to delayed allowances, insufficient training support, and accommodation challenges and deployed 98 delegates for a boot camp and a refresher course in maritime-related skills as part of its manpower development scheme for the Niger Delta.
Being in tune with President Bola Tinubu’s policy on the blue economy, Dr Otuaro also programmes the PAP to harness the massive opportunities in the country’s maritime industry for national development and deployed 98 maritime cadets to train skilled workers for the maritime sector of the economy.
The administrator said the deployment is strategic because the Tinubu administration is very interested in human capacity development for the blue economy while manpower development is very important to the development of the Niger Delta.
Never short of initiatives, Dr Otuaro has disclosed that under the current administration, there’s a plan to deploy 500 beneficiaries for the PAP scholarship scheme and empower 1,000 youths and women involved in different types of trades and businesses.
Little wonder the PAP Administrator has been receiving accolades and plaudits for his rapid impact in the region.
Royal fathers in the Niger Delta expressed their support to Dr Otuaro, describing his appointment as well-deserved and appreciated President Tinubu for finding their son worthy of the office and for putting a square peg in a square hole.
The royal fathers of Tuomo kingdom, HRM King Justice F. F Tabai (retd); Kabowei kingdom, HRM King Peremobowei Erebulu; Agbon kingdom, HRM King Ogurimerime Ukori, CON; Akugebene-Mein kingdom, HRM King S.P Luke; and Ogulagha kingdom, HRM King Joseph Timiyan, lauded Otuaro for showing capacity and ability to run the PAP Office, stressing that the educational and vocational initiatives of his administration would impact positively on beneficiaries and communities in the region.
No doubt, Dr Otuaro is one of the shining lights of the current administration.
(Ogbe, a public/social affairs analyst, writes from Abuja)
