Abuja: The Partners for Petroleum and Energy Sector Prosperity Initiative (PPESPI), a civil society organisation, has urged the National Assembly to exercise caution on the probe of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP). PPESPI Chairman, Charles Ibiang, made this appeal while briefing newsmen on Monday in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the House of Representatives had issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Coordinator of PAP, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, to appear before its Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Dec. 9 to answer audit queries involving more than N26 billion. Ibiang, who is also the Director of Natural Resources and Petroleum at the National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN), acknowledged the National Assembly’s oversight powers but emphasized the need for caution and discretion due to the sensitivity of PAP’s mandate.
Ibiang highlighted recent achievements of the PAP, such as the graduation of nine scholars from prestigious universities in the United Kingdom, as evidence of the programme’s commitment to empowering Nigerians through education. He commended Otuaro’s leadership in prioritising quality education and skills development.
PPESPI recognizes the importance of supporting PAP’s efforts to maintain peace and stability in the Niger-Delta region, which is crucial for the Nigerian Petroleum sector. Ibiang urged the Federal Government to provide the necessary financial support for the programme to achieve its strategic objectives.
The group expressed concern over recent threats of arrest warrants and summons issued against Otuaro by the National Assembly House Committee on Public Account. These actions were based on alleged financial discrepancies in the Auditor General’s reports of 2021, which predate Otuaro’s appointment. Ibiang stressed the importance of timely audit reports to uphold accountability.
He further explained that Otuaro’s work is sensitive and demanding, involving constant travel to challenging environments and engagement with stakeholders, particularly ex-agitators, to sustain peace achieved during the 2009 Amnesty. PPESPI requested that the National Assembly extend invitations to former administrators whose tenures are under review, and that the current administrator be granted sufficient time to respond to queries and address concerns.