The Victims Support Fund set up by former President Goodluck Jonathan to cater for the needs of victims of the Boko Haram sect is currently being slowed down by about N33.54billion unfulfilled pledges.
The committee, which is chaired by a former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.), realised over N50billion in pledges from government agencies, business concerns, groups and individuals during its launch last year.
Danjuma however told State House correspondents on Friday that one year after, the committee had not been able to achieve much because only N23billion had so far been redeemed.
He spoke shortly after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari behind closed-doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said he used the opportunity of the meeting with the President to brief him of what the committee had been able to achieve, one year after its inauguration.
He said out of the over N27billion being owed the committee, the Federal Government is responsible for N5billion.
He however said Buhari had promised to redeem the pledge on behalf of the Federal Government.
Despite the huge amount of unredeemed pledges, Danjuma said his committee had managed to do well within the limited resources available.
He said, “You know we were launched during the fund raising which took place a year ago.
“About the total amount of money that was pledged by various contributors was slightly more than N50 billion.
“Of this amount, only N23 billion have so far been redeemed, so there is a lot of money out there.
“Of the organisations and individuals that have not fulfilled their pledges, the Federal Government is one.
“We are expecting N5 billion from the Federal Government and the President promised today (Friday) that he would honour the pledge of the Federal Government.”
When asked what is being done to recover the unfulfilled pledges, Danjuma said his committee had been pleading with those who made the pledges quietly.
But he said he might resort to making the list public in order to shame the debtors.
“We plead with them quietly but we may also resort to naming and shaming those who have not honoured their pledges,” he said.
In order to achieve the purpose of which it was established, Danjuma said the committee would continue to ask people who pledged to honour their pledges.
He described the amount at the disposal of the committee as a drop in the ocean compared with the needs.
He said even if the war ends, displaced persons would be looking for support to go back to their homes and the money available would not be enough to help them.
Presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, later issued a statement quoting Buhari as directing the Head of Service of the Federation, Mr. Danladi Kifasi, to facilitate the immediate release of the N5billion pledged by the Federal Government.
Adesina said the President gave the directive after receiving briefing from Danjuma on the fund.
“Danjuma told the President that out of the N55.92billion pledged at the fund-raising dinner for the fund in August last year, N33.54billion was still outstanding, including N5billion from the Federal Government.”
He said the former minister urged the President to use his office to persuade all organisations and individuals to honour their pledges to the committee.
President Buhari urged the committee to ensure proper coordination with other government agencies providing support and assistance to victims of terrorism.
