The Ijaw People's Development Initiative (IPDI) has exonerated the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), High Chief Dr. Dennis Otuaro, from blame for not increasing stipends of delegates of the programme, stressing that those blaming the PAP Boss are doing so out of ignorance.

According to the IPDI in a statement by its national president, Comrade Ozobo Austin, the increment of the PAP stipends is a sole decision of the President of the Nigerian federation, the Accountant General of the Federation, the Budget Office of the Federation and Office of National Planning, the Ministry of Finance, the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), and the National Assembly's Appropriation Committee.

Explaining further, the IPDI stated that the monthly stipend of the amnesty delegates cannot be unilaterally approved or implemented by Dr. Otuaro, emphasising that Otuaro can only push, propose, and advocate for an increase, but ultimately it requires higher approval.

The advocacy group urged critics and attention seekers to channel their energy towards pressuring the Presidency and Ministry of Finance to approve and implement new stipend formula rather than blaming Dr Otuaro ignorantly. 

"Let's be honest and clear, Dr. Otuaro is not the one making these decisions. So criticising, blackmailing and assassinating his character for things that are not within his powers are acts of primitivity, ignorance," adding that such am action is "unacceptable."

The IPDI further emphasised that the PAP Boss would be the happiest person if his efforts towards the increment of PAP delegate stipends were approved by the presidency.

The group also recalled that Dr Otuaro spoke in support of the increment of PAP delegates' stipends in one of his first stakeholders' engagement meetings at KFT Event Centre in Warri, Delta State, while it reminded critics that such a person cannot be accused recklessly of not doing enough in that regard. 

"I am aware of Dr Otuaro's pending memos in the presidency regarding the increment of the stipends," Ozobo further clarified.

The IPDI called for patience and cooperation from stakeholders, stating that Dr. Otuaro is working towards the best interests of the beneficiaries while emphasising the need for collective responsibility and understanding of the decision-making process. 

"I urged stakeholders and PAP beneficiaries to understand the complexities of government bureaucracy, and do engagement of the presidency more for such high profiled decisions rather than insulting and blackmailing an innocent man," the statement emphasised.

#penglobalcommunity #PAP #NigerDelta