BIU students under Amnesty Program protest over non-payment of tuition fees

In Edo State students on the Presidential Amnesty Program in Benson Idahosa University yesterday protested the non-payment of their stipend and tuition fees by the Federal Government.

These ex-militant , Preye Kuete and 27 others appealed to the Edo state governor in letter a protest, Godwin Obaseki to intervene in the non payment of their in-taining allowance.
The students alleged their allowance have not been paid for the past seven months while their colleagues in other universities had been paid up till December 2016

the ex-militant students staged a bornfire within the school, disrupted normal activities both academic and non academic, put a bariccade at the school's entrance all the while chanting solidarity songs.

The protest which of course did not go well with the school management, was described as a violation of the rules and regulation of the school.

Prof. Ernest Izevbigie addressed the protesting students, He said "that the university would not tolerate students taking the law into their hands. He said: “Regardless of the number of months for which they have not been paid, it is not sufficient for anyone to disturb the peace or act in a very inappropriate way. We will leave no stone unturned. We will get to the bottom of this.” “Demonstration is a violation in the university rules. If you have any concern, there is a process

He assured the students that an investigation was being be conducted in conjunction with the Presidential Adviser on the Amnesty Programme to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the protest.

The ex-militants students spokesman Preye Kuete, apologized on behalf of his other colleagues to the school's management for disrupting the peace of the school, placing the blame on frustration caused by their plight , he said "a hungry man is an angry man. The ex-militants are paid monthly allowance under the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

Earlier Report

The ex-militants pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the ministry of finance to release fund for the payment of arrears. The speedy intervention of President Buhari, they said, would douse the tension that is already mounting in the region over the unpaid money.

The Chairman of Presidential Amnesty Programme Phase Two in Bayelsa State, Mr. Salvation Ibina-Rufus, said the government should take instant action to avoid another round of restlessness.

“We equally want to use this medium to appeal to President Buhari to instruct the Minister of Finance to release the N30 billion approved by the Presidency to the Amnesty Office to enable Boroh to perform his work effectively.

“We are optimistic that President Buhari is aware of the sufferings and pains Christians suffered during the Christmas celebration due to non-release of salaries by the Ministry of Finance,” he said.

He made the request, as he sympathised with the upset ex-militants, encouraging them to exercise patience with the government.

Ibina-Rufus stated that based on the meeting held with Special Adviser to the President on Amnesty, Brigadier General Paul Boroh (rtd), he was optimistic that recipients of the scheme would be paid immediately after the New Year celebration.

The members of the former militant group believe that the delay in payment that they were experiencing was due to the Ministry of Finance’s inability to release funds for the Amnesty office to commence payment.

He then applauded his members for their patience and understanding, saying, “this is really a tempting time so I am advising you to maintain the existing peace”.

Ibina-Rufus rationalized that Boroh had shown honesty and commitment to ensuring the payment of all their arrears and advised other former militants to maintain peace and order, assuring them that he is very optimistic that their salaries would be paid immediately after resumption of official duties.