- PPESPI urged lawmakers to exercise restraint during the PAP investigation.
- The group highlighted the programme’s role in sustaining peace in the Niger Delta and supporting the petroleum sector.
A civil society organisation has urged the National Assembly to apply restraint in its investigation of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP). Partners for Petroleum and Energy Sector Prosperity Initiative (PPESPI) issued the call during a media briefing in Abuja. The group warned that the ongoing process requires sensitivity due to the programme’s strategic mandate.
PPESPI Chairman Charles Ibiang addressed journalists and acknowledged Parliament’s oversight powers. He stated that lawmakers must still exercise discretion when applying those powers. This appeal followed the House of Representatives’ 72-hour ultimatum to PAP Coordinator, Dr Dennis Otuaro. The Committee on Public Accounts directed him to answer audit queries involving more than N26 billion.
Ibiang congratulated nine PAP scholars who recently graduated from leading universities in the United Kingdom. He noted that their achievements reflect the programme’s commitment to quality education. He also praised Otuaro for supporting skill development across the Niger Delta. These investments, he said, strengthen peace and support the national petroleum sector.
The group expressed concern about recent threats of arrest warrants issued by the committee. It stressed that the queries relate to the 2021 Auditor-General reports. These reports predate the appointment of the current administrator. Therefore, the group argued that any review must consider the appropriate timelines. It explained that audit reports should be prepared early to uphold transparency and accountability.
Ibiang added that the PAP administrator works in demanding environments. He often travels to communities where tensions can quickly escalate. His engagement with former agitators remains central to sustaining the peace achieved after the 2009 Amnesty.
PPESPI requested that lawmakers invite former administrators whose tenures are under review. It also urged Parliament to grant the current administrator enough time to respond appropriately. The group stressed that PAP remains a strategic agency for national stability. It called on all stakeholders to support ongoing reforms and strengthen the programme’s long-term impact.