Amnesty Students allege bias over non-payment of allowances

Itsekiri students in the Presidential Amnesty Programme, under the umbrella of Joint Campuses Movement, have drawn the attention of the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Col. Dikio Milland, over what they described as bias against them, regarding the non-payment of allowances.

The students studying at Igbinedion University, Novena University and Elizade University among others, in a petition sent to the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme and made available to Fresh Angle International, Wednesday June 16, claimed that while they have not been paid their due allowances, their counterparts from neighbouring ethnic Nationalities, get their allowances on regular basis.

The statement signed by Comrade Omagbemi Kelvin, Comrade Great Okenmini and Comrade Edun Victor, on behalf of Itsekiri Amnesty Students in Novena University, Igbinedion University and  Elizade University, respectively, averred: “All attempts to draw his (Col. Milland) attention to our  plight, even when most of us are  genuine beneficiaries of the programme, have fell on deaf ear”. 

They stated: “We have resolved after due consultations with our leaders, to once again call on him to look into our issues or we may have no other option than to take out destiny in our own hands. The treatment of us as second class beneficiaries in the programme is enough”.

Other issues raised by the Itsekiri students in the Presidential Amnesty Programme were: “The non-payment of the three Itsekiri Students in Novena University, that were last paid in December 31, 2019.

“2. The 67 Itsekiri students, that have not been paid since their deployment and now in 400 level and some of them will be graduating soon.

“3. Non-payment of eight Itsekiri students in NOVENA University, deployed in February 20, 2020, who have sent their affidavits as at when due.

“4. Illegal removal of Itsekiri students in Elizade University, for which letter have been written in this regard, but without response till date and

“5. Non-payment of nine Itsekiri Students in Igbinedion University that were last paid in December 31, 2019 and two that have not been paid at all”.

While stressing that they have been undergoing hardship as a result of non-payment of their allowances, the students emphasized: “It is important to state here that most of us are genuine beneficiaries with our UNCodes, apart from the 67 students that were deployed based on passionate ground in 2017/218 by the then Coordinator”.

×