Amnesty: Fed Govt threatens banks over illegal deduction

The Nation

22 August 2011

Amnesty: Fed Govt threatens banks over illegal deduction

The Federal Government has warned banks deducting money from the Transition Safety Allowance (TSA) being paid to ex-militants to desist or face prosecution.

Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs Kingsley Kuku gave the warning yesterday.

He said some banks have been putting latent charges on the TSA of the delegates stating that nothing must be removed from the allowances.

Kuku, who was represented by the Technical Assistant on Reintegration, Larry Pepple, said the Amnesty Office has reported the issue to the Presidency and that any bank found wanting will be dealt with.

The Federal Government has sent 50 ex-militants to Tati University College (TAITUC), Malaysia, for vocational training in pipeline welding.

This brings the number of ex-militants sent abroad for training to 1,488.

Kuku also called for trainers in the programme to strengthen both their local and international capacity as the Federal Government will emphasise more on local training in the next financial year.

He said from next year, 70 per cent of the training would be local and 30 per cent offshore.

This will reverse the former 60- 40 per cent off shore.

Speaking to the ex-militants, the High Commissioner in Nigeria, Nick Mustapha Kamal urged them to be of good behaviour and always promote the brand name Nigeria as the way they act portrays the way people will view the country.

According to him, although Malaysia is already home to 7,000 Nigerian students, this is the first time the country is given the honour and trust by Nigeria to provide the much needed vocational training under the amnesty programme.