The 2025 proposed budget shows an increase in spending, with N65 billion earmarked for the reintegration of transformed ex-militants in the new year.
In 2024, Nigeria allocated a substantial sum of N58 billion for the re-integration of ex-militants under the Presidential Amnesty Programme, according to data from the Open Treasury Portal.
Notably, N8.8 billion was spent on the programme in December alone.
The 2025 proposed budget shows an increase in spending, with N65 billion earmarked for the reintegration of transformed ex-militants in the new year.
SaharaReporters previously reported that the official website for the Presidential Amnesty Programme, osapnd.gov.ng, was non-functional, displaying a message indicating a critical error.
An earlier audit report by the Auditor-General of the Federation revealed alarming financial mismanagement within the programme.
Over N6 billion was withdrawn without proper auditing processes, including the payment of tuition fees for students in the programme without adequate records of their identities.
The audit highlighted significant breaches of financial regulations. This included N1.53 billion paid in tuition fees without supporting documentation, in violation of the Financial Regulations of 2009.
Additionally, N3.62 billion was raised without internal audit checks, leading to a loss of public funds and unapproved payments.
The report also revealed that N1.3 billion was approved, paid, and entered into the cash book without raising paid vouchers.
These financial irregularities have raised concerns about the management and accountability of funds allocated to the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
In 2020, then President Muhammadu Buhari suspended the programme’s coordinator, Charles Dokubo, over allegations of corruption related to the handling of funds.