The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bayelsa State

  • Dickson vows to hand over healthy public sector to successor

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson on Friday vowed to hand over a highly professionalized, disciplined and motivated public service sector to his successor.

    Speaking in Yenagoa, the state capital, Dickson told residents that the ongoing reform was not witch-hunt but designed to rid the service of all forms of irregularities and sharp practices.

    He said: ‘‘The mindset that you can keep your name on the payroll without coming to work is negative and we have to draw the red line now because we want to leave behind a reformed, repositioned, motivated and efficient workforce that can stand the test of time”, he said.

    He Commended the various labour leaders in the state for identifying with the process of sanitizing the public service at the state, local government levels and all the educational institutions.

    The governor assured that the exercise would promote efficiency and increase productivity.

    He lamented that over 1,090 workers with teaching qualification were redundant at the local government councils despite the the urgent need for teachers in the state.

    He said such workers had been penciled down for redeployment in schools after going through some trainings.

    He directed the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission to formulate a template that would ensure the employment of fresh graduates into the vacancies that would be created arising from the reforms.

    Dickson also directed the committee handling the verification of the state workers to release the salaries of identified genuine workers who were affected by the suspension order.

    Dickson asked the people of the state to brace up to the ongoing public sector reforms insisting that his administration.

    He lamented the rots in the sector and likened the state’s payroll to the voter register where he said all kinds of names could be found.

    He said in 2012 he inherited over N5bn monthly wage bill in the service and N1.6bn in the local government area but worked very hard through various verification committees to bring it down to N3.7bn for state and N1.1bn for the council.

    He said all his efforts were geared towards handing over a disciplines, efficient public service to the incoming government adding that the motive was not to sack anybody.

    While saying that genuine workers affected by the exercise would be re-absorbed and redeployed to other areas, he insisted that persons who had no reason to be in the service must go.

    “We want to leave behind a reformed, repositioned, motivated and efficient workforce.

    Whatever is good for this state, we are going to get it done.

    He said: “Those who would be affected are citizens, we have to look at genuine issues. We are working in avenues to ameliorate the hardships and create other avenues for survival.

    “Many states are sacking workers. The central focus is not to sack. It is repositioning.

    In this reforms, those with teaching qualification, working in the parastatals, who can teach, the state needs all of them.

    “We have ways of absorbing people on the condition that they must be existing workers, they must be committed workers. If you are workers in Abuja, Lagos Port Harcourt, this state has fed you enough for the past 20 year. Enough is enough”.

     

  • Breaking: Three condemned to death in Bayelsa for kidnapping 

    A State High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has sentenced three accused persons to death either by firing squad or hanging for their complicity in the kidnapping of Mr Duncan Eke.

    The victim was abducted at Igbedi community, Kolokuma/Opokuma local government area of the state.

    Eke, retired manager of Exxon Mobil was kidnapped on January 24, 2016 when gunmen stormed the Anglican Church at Igebdi community.

    The kidnappers also shot the presiding priest Revd Ezekiel Obata before whisking away their target.

    A ransom of about N20m was paid for the release of Eke, but the police were arrested three suspects Austine Nimite, Dengiyefa Doupere and Korinnake Mark for aiding the crime while while another suspect Dakolo Jackson fled.

    The three accused persons were  charged  on two count of conspiracy punishable under section 5(1) of the kidnapping and Allied Offences  Law Bayelsa state, 2013 and kidnapping punishable under section 2 of the Kidnapping and Allied Offences Law, Bayelsa state, 2013

    Justice Ineikade Eradiri of the Kaiama judicial division who was first assigned the case by the Chief Judge refused to conduct the proceedings on the grounds of his relationship with Eke.

    But the matter was transfered to Justice Nayai Aganaba.

    The prosecution team produced four witnesses in court including the victim, Eke who told the Judge how he was blindfolded and kept in the kidnappers den for 21 days.

    He said he was released after he paid advanced ransom of N10m and full payment of N20m when he rejoined his family.

    Justice Aganaba in his judgement found the accused guilty for aiding and abetting the kidnap of Eke and sentenced them to death either by firing squad or death by hanging.

    Read Also: Police arrest 19 kidnapping, robbery suspects

  • Bayelsa varsity compiles list of 1,700 workers for redeployment, dismissal

    Throws weight behind Dickson’s public sector reforms

    The Governing Council and Management of the Bayelsa State-owned Niger Delta University (NDU) has thrown its weight behind the state government’s ongoing public service reforms.

    Describing the move as good for the state, Chairman of the Council, Prof. Steve Azaiki said the reforms had already thrown up a list of 1,700 workers of the university for redeployment, retirement and outright dismissal.

    Speaking in Yenagoa after a meeting between the state Governor Seriake Dickson and the Governing Board of the school, Azaiki, expressed the council’s readiness to implement the government’s policy of sanitizing the public service.

    He  noted that a practice where the university solely depended on the state government to fund its over-bloated workforce was unsustainable.

    He commended Dickson for his bold steps and absolved the governor of any blames in the current shake-up that affected 1,700 workers in the university.

    He said: “It was the leadership of the university that listed the affected staff following the outcome of a discreet verification to make for more efficiency, better service delivery as well as create space for the employment of young qualified people, particularly Bayelsans.

    “The amount of money that government has been giving to NDU is not sustainable. Suppose oil price falls or there are issues of governance or politics, anything can happen and then the university will collapse. So, we need to look inwards and see how we can come up with a sustainable figure.

    “We are going to look at the list again especially in the case of NDU. We provided to the government, 1700 non-academic staff that we think should be redeployed or should be disengaged by the institution to make sure that the policy of government is effective.

    “However, one of the key things the governor said in the meeting, is that, there could be need for us to reabsorb most of these people. So, Council will meet and review the list, and we will come up with a solution on how best we can help our own people.

    “After all, some of them are due for retirement, some are incompetent while others are facing disciplinary actions. So, we will make separate recommendations for all the cases because I believe that the Governor is ready to accommodate Bayelsans in our system. So there is no need for people to take laws into their hands.”

    While, urging labour unions to show understanding and play by the rules of engagement, Azaiki warned students and lecturers against social vices such as cultism and sexual harassment.

    He insisted that the university would not only expel or sack anyone found culpable, but also work closely with law enforcement agencies to ensure the prosecution of such persons.

    Also speaking, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of NDU, Prof Samuel Edoumiekumo described rumours making the rounds that, the university increased its school fees, as malicious, blatant lies and the height of blackmail.

    According to the Vice Chancellor, returning students in management and social sciences, education are paying N35, 000, while their counterparts in the medical sciences pay N45, 000 as against the N230, 000 and N250.000 insinuated in some quarters.

    While calling on parents and guardians, as well as the general public to ignore the rumours, he urged all concerned stakeholders to visit the institution’s website to avail themselves of the official fee structure of the university.

    Edoumiekumo restated the university’s resolve to implement the rules and regulations as enshrined in the students’ handbook.

    He said that any student who failed to pay their schools within the stipulated period of payment would be sanctioned accordingly.

    On his part,  the Special Adviser to the Governor on Students Affairs, Mr. Austin Adigio said the governor created a new platform to foster a stronger students-government relationship to enable him interact more closely with students on a monthly or bi-monthly basis.

    He reaffirmed the present administration’s commitment to building the state for posterity through education and stressed the need for students to remain law abiding.

    He said the government would deal decisively with anyone caught fomenting trouble to scuttle the academic calendar of any institution in the state.

     

  • Bayelsa hails Nigeria’s wrestling contingent

    The Bayelsa State Government on Saturday commended the country’s wrestling contingent to the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia for their victorious outing.

    In a statement signed by the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the government hailed the resilience and dogged disposition of the wrestlers.

    The wrestlers won eight medals, comprising three gold, two silver and three bronze medals.

    The statement was full of praises for the Bayelsa wrestlers, who accounted for four of the medals, adding that, their performance underscores Bayelsa’s position, as the craddle of wrestling in Nigeria and Africa.

    The statement also described the feat of the wrestlers, as a direct manifestation of the Restoration Government’s investment in the sports sector in the last six years.

    According to him, the wrestlers did not only have their pre-games camping in Yenagoa, but were provided with a conducive atmosphere and supported during the two-month camping period, which enabled their excellence in Australia.

    The commissioner particularly commended Blessing Oborodudu-gold medalist, Melvin Bibo-silver medalist, Amas Daniel and Ebikewenimo Welson, bronze medalists for making Bayelsa and the country proud at the games.

    He stressed that, their place in the annals of sporting history at the state and National levels would remain indelible.

    The statement paid special tribute to the President of the Nigerian Wrestling Federation and member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Daniel Igali for his drive, passion and personal commitment to the growth of wrestling in the country.

    “As a state and as a government, we are proud of the performance of the wrestlers and for Daniel Igali, he has remained a shining star and a modivating force behind the success story of Nigerian wrestling. We can only, but keep supporting and encoyraging him to do more for the country”, he said.

    According to Iworiso-Markson, the Bayelsa State Government, will at the most appropriate time accord our worthy sporting ambassadors a deserving honour and recognition.

  • Bizarre: 8000 inherited employments uncovered in Bayelsa civil service

    Dickson’s successor won’t inherit rot, says govt

     

    Preliminary report of the ongoing reforms in the Bayelsa State public sector has thrown up some bizarre discoveries in the state civil service.

    Over 8000 civil servants got their appointments by inheritance, a report of the verification committee said yesterday.

    Without going through the established due process for recruitments, the indicted workers were said to have been brought in by their friends, parents and relatives who left they system to replace them.

    The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, who disclosed some strange findings, said the magnitude of rot inherited by the government was mind-boggling.

    “The reforms have thrown up some discoveries which include over 8,000 inherited appointments. Some family members of deceased civil servants inherited their positions while irregular appointments, arbitrary promotion and impersonations has led to the over-bloated wage bill which the government is gradually reducing”, he said.

    He said the investigations further revealed that people were selling appointments for N250,000 and engaging in other employment racketeering especially at the local government level.

    On redeployment of staff, he said part of the reforms was to identify redundant persons and transfer them to other agencies in their interest and public good.

    The commissioner who spoke to select journalists in Yenagoa assured the people that the implementation of the reforms was not meant to witch-hunt any public servant.

    Iworiso-Markson averred that as painful as the government’s action was, it was done to avoid a collapse of the state’s public service.

    He said that the government embarked on a painstaking process of implementing the reforms with a focus on the welfare and wellbeing of persons, who might be affected by the exercise.

    He explained that  the government was resolute in its decision to redeploy the affected workers to remove the clogs in the wheels of the state’s progress.

    For instance he said the state-owned Radio Station (Glory FM) had over 300 personnel, while its private counterparts operate effectively with less than 12 personnel.

    According to him, it was the decision of the government to screen, train and redeploy workers with specialization in education to schools since the state was in need of teachers.

    He said that contrary to the erroneous impression created in some quarters, salaries of the affected persons were being paid into the Unpaid Salaries Account to be released after the redeployment.

    He added that to give a human face to the implementation of the reforms, the government made an arrangement to make financial provision for persons found not qualified to be in the system.

    Iworiso-Markson said that the plan was for the government to expose such people to training in the area of agricultural and entrepreneurial skills to enable them venture into private businesses.

    He said: “The exercise itself is still ongoing and the entire public service is aware. You must note that the names of the people listed for redeployment are those submitted as redundant workers by the general managers and supervisors.

    “For instance, there are over 300 staff in radio Bayelsa alone while private radio stations have about ten or fifteen doing the same job. The general managers were given the responsibility to fish out redundant personnel many  of who  were employed under questionable circumstances.

    “So Government is saying that this is not sustainable. The onus is on government to bring them in, check their qualifications and redeploy them to appropriate agencies. Anybody with B. ED for instance, would go to the teachers training institute, trained and redeployed. Government would use these people to teach”.

    Also the Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd), told persons opposed to the ongoing public sector reforms that the move was borne out of Governor Seriake Dickson’s desire to hand over a healthy and productive civil service to his successor.

    He took a swipe on the opposers of the reforms describing them as unpatriotic individuals and groups.

    “The government wants anyone who cares to listen that it has a responsibility to clean up a system that has been bastardized by some greedy individuals who over the years have taken advantage of the loopholes in the public service to perpetrate all forms of fraud”, he said.

    Though he admitted some minor imperfections ‎in the reform process, he said avenues had been provided for anyone address all genuine concerns. .

    “We have a responsibility to reform the system within the limits of human imperfection. Like every other process we know this is not perfect but we are working to ensure a fair deal for everyone”, he said.

    Jonah insisted that the restoration government was working hard to leave behind a robust public service by setting a standard for the next government to leverage on upon resumption.

    He said: “We want those opposed to the reforms to know that it is not a witch-hunt but an inevitable exercise to save the public service from near collapse. The government is not selective in the renewed fight against payroll thieves and robbers.

    “The right civil service procedures wil‎l be followed to disengage those who have either compromised the system in one way or the other or have allowed themselves to be beneficiaries of illegality.

    “Contrary to insinuations in some quarters, we are not sacking anybody but those who have been confirmed to have falsified their age, certificates or have promoted themselves arbitrarily will have to go. These are cases that cannot be overlooked.

    “However we are mindful of the effect of the action we are taking. So what we are doing is give those affected some form of soft landing by given them 3 months notice or 1 month notice of payment in lieu of their disengagement.

    “To show our sincerity in the reforms, we are following the normal procedure as laid out in the civil service rule. As a responsible government we have made it possible for those who due to administrative and humans are caught in the web to seek redress before the judicial commission of inquiry headed by a competent judge”.

  • Bayelsa vows to sue Fed Govt over $1bn ECA funds

    The Bayelsa State Government on Saturday vowed to sue the Federal Government if it refused to deduct the 13 percent derivation component of the $1bn Excess Crude Account Funds (ECA) it planned to withdraw to tackle insecurity in the country.

    He state Governor Seriake Dickson earlier demanded that the 13 percent derivation component of the funds should be deducted and deployed in the oil-producing states to address the peculiar  security challenges in the region.

    The state government was said to have formally presented its position to the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who is also the Chairman of the National Economic Council.

    The State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said in a statement that the government remained adamant on its request.

    Iworiso-Markson quoted Dickson, as explaining that withdrawing the $1bn without deducting and paying the 13 percent derivation to the oil-producing states would amount to arm-twisting them  to make double contributions to the security funds.

    Read Also: Bayelsa creek communities threaten showdown with oil firm

    He said: “The governor said that wholesome withdrawal of the funds inclusive of the 13 percent derivation would mean that the oil producing states would be making double contributions because  they would be contributing their allocations like all other states and then the 13 percent derivation constitutionally provided for, to address security and other pressing needs in the states.

    “Dickson had earlier called the attention of the Vice President, Osinbajo, to the position of the State Government on the proposed withdrawal of the ECA funds last December.

    “The governor had stressed that while Bayelsa was not opposed to the withdrawal of the funds to enhance national security, “the utilization of the funds involving the armed forces, intelligence services and police must cover every part of the country”.

    He added: “The Bayelsa State Government will approach the court to enforce deduction of the 13 percent derivation component from the $1 billion ECA funds which the Federal Government claims it  plans to withdraw  to tackle insecurity.

    “We have held meetings with the Vice President, President Yemi Osinbajo, on this issue. We even backed it up with a formal letter to the President through the Vice President which was taken to Abuja by His Excellency, the Deputy Governor and delivered by hand to the Vice President to underscore the importance we attach to the issue in question.

    “Our position remains the same: while the state government is not opposing the planned withdrawal of the funds for security and indeed the general well-being of the society, it would be unfair and unjust to pull out the funds without releasing the 13 percent to the oil- producing states.

    “An arrangement that compels a group of states to contribute twice to the fund while their counterparts contribute only part of their statutory allocation cannot be said to be just. The constitution is clear on this and we shall approach the court to advocate our position.

    “For the purpose of emphasis, Bayelsa has formally notified the Vice President who is Chairman of the National Economic Council on this matter.

    “That Bayelsa is in support of the withdrawal of the funds to improve the capacity of the Armed Forces and Security Agencies to protect Nigeria and her citizens is not in doubt but we are insisting that the right thing must be done.

    “Governor Dickson had earlier demanded the constitution of a committee of the Governor’s Forum to work with the Chairman of the National Economic Council and heads of the security agencies on the items listed to be procured with the ECA funds.

    “He said that Bayelsa like all other states of the federation would like to know what component of these security procurement would directly benefit the security architecture in the state (Bayelsa State).”

    “He had said that only such an arrangement would suffice in addressing the widespread fears already expressed by various bodies and individuals in the country”.

  • Bayelsa creek communities threaten showdown with oil firm

    Demand govt intervention

    Creek communities in Nembe Kingdom, Bayelsa State on Saturday voiced their frustration over unresolved crisis between them and an oil firm operating in their area, Aiteo Production and Exploration.

    The communities said they had run out of patience and vowed to disrupt the operations of the oil firm if their demands were not given immediate attention.

    Accusing Aiteo of indifference and nonchalant attitude to their plight, the communities said theI creeks were so polluted by the company that their lives were in danger.

    The communities spoke out in a letter addressed to the company, government authorities, security agencies and other stakeholders and titled, ‘Make your choice: our blood or our oil’.

    The letter was copied to the Amayanabo of Nembe Kingdom, His Eminence, King Dr. E. M. Daukoru, Mingi XII; Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd); Area Commander, Nigeria Police Force, Nembe; Commander, Joint Task Force, Nembe, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, among others.

    Those, who signed the letters were Amadabo of Nembe Creek Communities, His Highness, Kemmer F. Igbeta; Vice-Chairman, United Nembe Creek Fishermen and Farmers Association (UNCFFA), Chief Nimi Lawson Peters and other executive members of UNCFFA.

    The communities said: “AITEO Production and Exploration took over the Nembe Creek Oilfields from Shell Petroleum Development Company’s divestment.

    “Ever since that divestment, the corporate social relations and responsibilities have deteriorated unprecedentedly. AITEO’s reckless oil operations in terms of environmental pollution and degradation, and spoilage of the ecosystem have become so rampart and free that the entire Nembe Creek territory have been reduced to a no-man’s land.

    “Recall that on 26 July 2016, a major crude oil spillage occurred from Flow Station 2 and crude oil oozed from the pipes for several days and spread to the creeks and the sea by the aid of the ebb and flow of the tide”.

    They said another major spills occurred on September 17, 2016 and March 2018, without efforts by the company to clean and reclaim the environment.

    They said the firm snubbed all their letters requesting for a meeting to discuss an immediate and comprehensive clean-up and remediation of the affected area; provision of relief materials to the affected communities and payment of adequate compensation impacted communities.

    They said: “We have explored several means to have an opportunity for us to sort out these issues with AITEO, yet, the company has appreciated none of these gracious olive branches.

    “We have written letters and made series of verbal reports to AITEO officials on site – through the CLO, Mr. Omungu – to request for an end to the incessant oil spillages, as our main fishing occupation have become endangered due to the despoliation of the marine habitat, and destruction of aquatic life, which is being pushed to near extinction gradually.

    “We have become jobless and idle with no succour or hope. Our young men have also resigned to idleness, drug use and conducts regarded as anti-social tendencies.

    “Yet, AITEO has not responded in any way to any of our peaceful overtures, so far. Rather, crude oil spillages have continued unabated without any preventive initiative from Aiteo to date.

    “As a result, we have come to the sad conclusion that Aiteo has a hidden agenda with an objective of annihilating us and wiping our communities and settlements off the creeks of Nembe Kingdom through a policy of systematic pollution, despoliation and destruction of the entire area.

    “Nevertheless, being law-abiding people of the ancient Nembe Kingdom, we are once again appealing to Aiteo to convene a meeting for us – the people directly affected by the spillages – to sit down and discuss cleanup, provision of relief materials and compensation.

    “Furthermore, in order to avoid unnecessary break down of law and order in the area, we are using this medium to strongly solicit the quick intervention of the authorities and security agencies copied hereunder;

    “It is a known fact that such blatant acts of oppression and injustice form the root causes of some of the intractable crises that are afflicting parts of the country.

    “We must not blame the heinous atrocities of oil scavengers on our hardworking Federal Government and security agencies”.

  • Bayelsa creek communities threaten showdown with oil firm

    Demand govt intervention

     

    Creek communities in Nembe Kingdom, Bayelsa State on Friday voiced their frustration over unresolved crisis between them and an oil firm operating in their area, Aiteo Production and Exploration.

    The communities said they had run out of patience and vowed to disrupt the operations of the oil firm if their demands were not given immediate attention.

    Accusing Aiteo of indifference and nonchalant attitude to their plight, the communities said theI creeks were so polluted by the company that their lives were in danger.

    The communities spoke out in a letter addressed to the company, government authorities, security agencies and other stakeholders and titled, ‘Make your choice: our blood or our oil’.

    The letter was copied to the Amayanabo of Nembe Kingdom, His Eminence, King Dr. E. M. Daukoru, Mingi XII; Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd); Area Commander, Nigeria Police Force, Nembe; Commander, Joint Task Force, Nembe, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, among others.

    Those, who signed the letters, were Amadabo of Nembe Creek Communities, His Highness, Kemmer F. Igbeta; Vice-Chairman, United Nembe Creek Fishermen and Farmers Association (UNCFFA), Chief Nimi Lawson Peters and other executive members of UNCFFA.

    The communities said: “AITEO Production and Exploration took over the Nembe Creek Oilfields from Shell Petroleum Development Company’s divestment.

    “Ever since that divestment, the corporate social relations and responsibilities have deteriorated unprecedentedly. AITEO’s reckless oil operations in terms of environmental pollution and degradation, and spoilage of the ecosystem have become so rampart and free that the entire Nembe Creek territory have been reduced to a no-man’s land.

    “Recall that on 26 July 2016, a major crude oil spillage occurred from Flow Station 2 and crude oil oozed from the pipes for several days and spread to the creeks and the sea by the aid of the ebb and flow of the tide”.

    They said another major spill occurred on September 17, 2016 and March 2018, without efforts by the company to clean and reclaim the environment.

    They said the firm snubbed all their letters requesting for a meeting to discuss an immediate and comprehensive clean-up and remediation of the affected area; provision of relief materials to the affected communities and payment of adequate compensation impacted communities.

    They said: “We have explored several means to have an opportunity for us to sort out these issues with AITEO, yet, the company has appreciated none of these gracious olive branches.

    “We have written letters and made series of verbal reports to AITEO officials on site – through the CLO, Mr. Omungu – to request for an end to the incessant oil spillages, as our main fishing occupation have become endangered due to the despoliation of the marine habitat, and destruction of aquatic life, which is being pushed to near extinction gradually.

    “We have become jobless and idle with no succour or hope. Our young men have also resigned to idleness, drug use and conducts regarded as anti-social tendencies.

    “Yet, AITEO has not responded in any way to any of our peaceful overtures, so far. Rather, crude oil spillages have continued unabated without any preventive initiative from Aiteo to date.

    “As a result, we have come to the sad conclusion that Aiteo has a hidden agenda with an objective of annihilating us and wiping our communities and settlements off the creeks of Nembe Kingdom through a policy of systematic pollution, despoliation and destruction of the entire area.

    “Nevertheless, being law-abiding people of the ancient Nembe Kingdom, we are once again appealing to Aiteo to convene a meeting for us – the people directly affected by the spillages – to sit down and discuss cleanup, provision of relief materials and compensation.

    “Furthermore, in order to avoid unnecessary break down of law and order in the area, we are using this medium to strongly solicit the quick intervention of the authorities and security agencies copied hereunder;

    “It is a known fact that such blatant acts of oppression and injustice form the root causes of some of the intractable crises that are afflicting parts of the country.

    “We must not blame the heinous atrocities of oil scavengers on our hardworking Federal Government and security agencies”.

     

  • Dickson’s successor won’t inherit sick civil service, says Bayelsa govt

    Bayelsa State Government on Thursday told persons opposed to its ongoing public sector reforms that the move was borne out of Governor Seriake Dickson’s desire to hand over a healthy and productive civil service to his successor.

    The government took a swipe on the opposers of the reforms describing them as unpatriotic individuals and groups.

    “The government wants anyone who cares to listen that it has a responsibility to clean up a system that has been bastardized by some greedy individuals who over the years have taken advantage of the loopholes in the public service to perpetrate all forms of fraud”, it said.

    The State’s Deputy Governor Rear Admiral John Jonah ‎(rtd) made the position of the government known in Yenagoa.

    Though he admitted some minor imperfections ‎in the reform process, he said avenues had been provided for anyone addresses all genuine concerns. .

    “We have a responsibility to reform the system within the limits of human imperfection. Like every other process we know this is not perfect but we are working to ensure a fair deal for everyone”, he said.

    Jonah insisted that the restoration government was working hard to leave behind a robust public service by setting a standard for the next government to leverage on upon resumption.

    He said: “We want those opposed to the reforms to know that it is not a witch-hunt but an inevitable exercise to save the public service from near collapse. The government is not selective in the renewed fight against payroll thieves and robbers.

    “The right civil service procedures wil‎l be followed to disengage those who have either compromised the system in one way or the other or have allowed themselves to be beneficiaries of illegality.

    “Contrary to insinuations in some quarters, we are not sacking anybody but those who have been confirmed to have falsified their age, certificates or have promoted themselves arbitrarily will have to go. These are cases that cannot be overlooked.

    “However we are mindful of the effect of the action we are taking. So what we are doing is give those affected some form of soft landing by given them 3 months notice or 1 month notice of payment in lieu of their disengagement.

    “To show our sincerity in the reforms, we are following the normal procedure as laid out in the civil service rule. As a responsible government we have made it possible for those who due to administrative and humans are caught in the web to seek redress before the judicial commission of inquiry headed by a competent judge”.

    ‎While insisting that the ongoing reforms were done with human face, the deputy governor decried the inability of the government to employ fresh hands because of the malfeasance in the system.

    Jonah also announced plans to‎ employ more teachers with requisite skills to cover up the shortfall as part of repositioning the education sector and enhance learning in public schools across the state.

    He  listed some of the ‎support given to the Niger Delta University (NDU) to include monthly subvention, ongoing senate building, among other projects and dismissed reports of neglect of the institution by the government.

  • Cultists kill commercial tricyclist in Bayelsa

    Cultists operating as thugs in the popular Tombia Market, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, have stabbed a commercial driver of a tricyclist, Keke Napep, to death in their failed attempt to rob him.

    The police, Thursday, said the suspects attempted to rob the victim, who hailed from the north, but killed him for resisting them.

    It was gathered that the killing caused tension in the area, forcing traders to close shops and run to different directions for safety.

    Colleagues and kinsmen of the victim were said to have gone berserk and later stabbed a youth they believed was one of the suspects to death.

    Fear of reprisal spread but the Central Zone leadership of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC),     the Bayelsa Volunteers and security agencies immediately intervened to restore order.

    The IYC Chairman, Mr. Tare Porri, immediately led a delegation to meet the kinsmen of the victim and sympathise with them.

    Porri asked them to remain calm and resist the temptation of taking laws into their own hands adding that crimes had no colour and tribe.

    He, however, complained about the nefarious activities of suspected thugs in the market who were fond of extorting money from Keke operators and other innocent people.

    “In this particular case they tried to extort money from the victim. But he told them he had no money because he just came out for business.

    “They got angry and stabbed him to death. If not because of our prompt intervention, it would have led to further bloodshed. We appeal to all the people in the state to remain calm and stop taking laws into their hands whenever there is provocation”, he said.

    Porri appealed to security agencies especially the police to maintain presence in the market to stop harassment of innocent people by thugs.

    The Chairman of the Bayelsa Volunteer Service, Mr. Douye Koroye, condemned the killing of the commercial driver describing it as barbaric.

    Koroye, who is also the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youths urged youths to quit crime and take advantage of various opportunities created by the state government to make decent living.

    He commiserated with the deceased family  and asked security agencies to investigate the incident and bring the suspected cultists to justice.

    He said: “We call on the youths to be law-abiding, patriotic and responsible. Our governor has shown capacity to develop the youths. This is a youth government and we advise the youths to desist from crime and take advantage of the opportunities created for them by the government.

    “We warn that persons, who engage in cultism, are risking their lives. We have a new law in the state that stipulates stringent punishments for them. Cultists should renounce their membership now and embrace peace”.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Asinim Butswat, who confirmed the incident, said some persons had been identified and would soon, be arrested for investigations.

    He asked kinsmen of the victim to maintain the peace adding that persons who committed the heinous crime would face prosecution.

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