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Tag: Bayelsa

  • Financial inclusion: Pension assets hit N9.33tr

    The Micro Pension Plan (MPP) driven by the National Pension Commission (PenCom) has grown pension assets and boosted the Central Bank of Nigeria’s plan to take financial services to the grassroots. Pension assets rose from N9.12 trillion in April to N9.33 trillion in June, indicating a N21 billion increase. The CBN’s financial inclusion plan is receiving a boost from the pension industry where contributors have to open bank accounts to be enrolled into the scheme. The ongoing public enlightenment on the MPP benefits to contributors and the economy is building confidence in the financial system and securing contributors’ future, writes COLLINS NWEZE.

    Adult population that has embraced financial services is expected to hit 80 per cent by 2020, from about 65 per cent, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) statistics has shown. But achieving this mandate requires the collaboration of key stakeholders.

    The Micro Pension Plan (MPP) driven by the National Pension Commission (PenCom) is one avenue of bringing more people into the financial system.

    PenCom has taken up the challenge of providing financial products and services to the low-income population, which represents a large business opportunity for the private sector with the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

    The scheme uses MPP to reach farmers, teachers, hair dressing saloon owners, petty traders, musician, actors/actresses, shoe shiners, bricklayers, among others.

    This is because for many people, the future remains uncertain. But for those who have planned for it through the right investment and savings, it is bright.

    And securing one’s future requires taking advantage of the opportunities that abound in the pension industry, which many people have seen as the last hope for retirees.

    The pension industry, tipped as one of the largest investment sectors, is gaining the attention the self-employed.

    At the end of last year, the global pension industry reportedly had an estimated asset under management (AuM) of $41.4 trillion, which represents 53.9 per cent of global assets under management. This significant asset size reflects the growing institutionalisation of retirement planning across the world. For Nigeria, the pension industry has in the past few years been dominated by high- investment returns, a departure from previous trends where net inflows accounted for the majority of the industry’s growth.

    PenCom exists for the effective regulation and supervision of the pension industry to ensure that retirement benefits are paid promptly.

    How much have pension assets grown?

    In the first quarter of the year, the growth of Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs) holders under the CPS led to a N29 billion increase in pension assets. This has been attributed to salient policies being implemented by the Acting Director-General of PenCom, Mrs. Aisha Dahir-Umar. For instance, data obtained from the Commission shows that AuM in the second quarter of the year increased by N21 billion.

    According to the monthly report on summary of pension fund assets and RSA registration published on its website, pension fund assets rose from N9.12 trillion in April, this year to N9.33 trillion in June, indicating a N21 billion inflow. A breakdown showed a rise of N18 billion in total RSA fund as it moved from N6.94 in April to N7.12 in June, while investment in Federal Government securities fell by N6 billion, from N6.55 trillion in April to N6.49 in June while RSA Fund 11, which has continued to attract more investments moved from N4.02 trillion to N4.10 trillion, an increase of N8 billion.

    PenCom regulates and supervises the licensed pension fund operators and Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) manage and invest the fund for contributors and retirees under the CPS. Thus, the fund had grown to N8.74 trillion in January; N8.91 trillion in February; N9.03 trillion in March; N9.12 trillion in April, N9.22 trillion in May and N9.33 trillion in June, which translates to N686 billion growth in six months.The report further showed that a major chunk of N7.21 trillion out of the N9.33 trillion recorded in June is from RSA holders.

    A further breakdown of the June report under review showed that out of the RSAs’ fund of N7.21 trillion, retirees fund, categorised under Fund IV is N751.73 billion while contributors, categorised under Fund I, Fund II and Fund III, own N6.51 trillion.

    Other contributions to the fund include N958.2 billion from schemes and N1.24 trillion from Closed Pension Fund Administrators (CPFAs).

    The PFAs, the report added, invested a major chunk of the fund, totalling N6.48 trillion into Federal Government Securities out of the N9.33 trillion in the period under review. Of the N6.48 trillion invested by the PFAs, N4.43 trillion was invested in Federal Government Bonds; N1.93 trillion in Treasury Bills; N11 billion in Agency Bonds (NMRC and FMBN); N86 billion in Sukuk Bonds; N12 billion in Green Bonds and N129 billion in state government Securities.

    The PFAs, however, invested N505.82 billion in corporate debt; N1.04 trillion was invested in local money market securities and N23 billion in mutual funds.

    Mrs. Dahir-Umar attributed the accumulation successes achieved since the inception of implementation of the CPS to the Commission’s esteemed contributors. “The achievements recorded by the Commission in the last 15 years would not have been possible without the support and understanding of all stakeholders, especially you, our esteemed contributors, who are about to retiree. I, therefore, urge you to contribute positively towards the success of the Pension Reform Programme,” she said.

    Financial analysts expect the industry’s growth to exceed 14 per cent in the year supported by an improved macroeconomic environment that would drive increased contribution. Also, investment returns are likely to improve in the year, largely driven by higher interest rates, which we expect to spike in the second half of the year.

    Analysts also view positively the commencement of the MPS, expected to increase the industry coverage ratio and help ramp up AuM.

    PenCom sustains campaigns

    PenCom is carrying out massive campaigns to enlighten the people, even at the grassroots, to embrace CPS at all stages of their business growth. The campaigns are going on televisions, radio, social media, online publications and other media platforms to get more people into the pension scheme and bring them to the financial services net.

    The campaigns are ongoing in the markets, shopping malls, private and public sectors, motor parks to ensure that all Nigerians within pensionable age embrace the CPS and secure their future, financially.

    PenCom said once a person reaches 18, such person qualifies and can contribute based on his income. The contributions can be daily, weekly, monthly, and contributions can be made through the mobile phones. Besides, should anything happen to a contributor’s business, such a person can get 40 per cent of the total contributions back to begin a new life.

    Also, in case of death, the contributor’s next-of-kin will be paid the balance in the account of the contributor. The Commission also said Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) are registering people that want to join the scheme at zero cost.

    CPS gains private-public sectors’ acceptance

    PenCom says it has enrolled more than 8.5 million people into the CPS since its inception 15 years ago. Head of Communication Department of PenCom, Peter Aghahowa, said the scheme introduced in 2004 by the Federal Government was a process where certain percentage of enrollees’ salaries was saved monthly in a pool with the employers also contributing.

    The scheme had PenCom as the regulatory body, with PFAs working at its behest. Aghahowa said the scheme had made the life of retirees much easier, unlike the defined benefits scheme, which it replaced. He said the commission will continue to protect contributors’ funds and drive compliance by private sector employers through public awareness campaigns and engagement.

    This initiative, he added, is aimed at educating employees/employers and expanding the coverage of the CPS. According to him, the commission also monitors compliance through onsite inspections to ensure that employees of private sector organisations open RSAs and pension contributions are remitted promptly.

     Drivers of pension assets growth

    PenCom led by Mrs. Dahir-Umar  has achieved  milestones in pension contribu-tions, which is projected to hit N10 trillion by year-end and N15.1 trillion by 2023.

    PenCom introduced an Enhanced Contributor Registration System (ECRS) to tackle the challenges faced with the Contributor Registration System (CRS).

    Aside helping to lift contributors confidence and bring in more people into the financial system, the enhanced application is expected to open up transfer window for RSA holders to switch PFAs.

    ”Electronic submission of employer code requests by Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) on employers and the full automation of the process of issuing employer codes. Updates and edits of contributors’ information on the National Databank maintained by the National Pension Commission by the PFAs. The deployment of the ECRS is a major step towards the introduction of the transfer widow, which will enable contributors change to the PFAs of their choice, in line with Section 13 of the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014,” it said.

    Aside the ECRS, PenCom under Mrs. Dahir-Umar unveiled the Micro Pension Plan (MPP) that allows the informal sector contributors under the CPS to withdraw at least 40 per cent of the contributions in their RSA. The extension of the CPS to the informal sector and the flexibility of its operation is one of the incentives expected to encourage participation and growth of the   pension industry.

    According to her, Section 2(3) of the Pension Reform Act, 2014 (PRA 2014) provides that employees of organisations with less than three employees as well as the self-employed persons shall be entitled to participate in the CPS in accordance with guidelines issued by the Commission. Majority of these categories of persons are found in the informal sector and have generally low and irregular incomes. The MPP has enabled artisans, such as photographers, caterers, hairdressers, motorcycle service operators, tailors, fashion designers, carpenters, and painters to embrace CPS and protect their future and businesses.

    ”As you are aware, the informal sector workers constitute the larger percentage of the working population in the country, there is, therefore, no doubt that robust participation would result to exponential growth of the pension funds which would consequently, provide funding for allowable and relevant investments that would impact positively on the economy. The MPP would contribute immensely to achieving the Pension Industry’s strategic objective of covering 30 per cent of the working population in Nigeria under the CPS by the end of 2024,” the PenCom chief said.

  • ‘PDP should field popular candidate to retain Bayelsa’

    Former Bayelsa State House of Assembly Speaker Dr Kombowei Benson is a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He spoke with Correspondent MIKE ODIEGWU in Yenogoa, the state capital, on the issues that will shape the primary and the November 16 poll.

    PDP has 22 governorship aspirants. why do you think the party’s ticket should be given to you?

    The party flag should be given to me because my party knows I have come of age in politics and politicking in this state. I have served the people of Bayelsa state in various capacities, not just as an elected officer; I have also worked with almost all the governors and have known the various ends that have led us to victory all the time. So, in government and out of government, I have done quite a lot in Bayelsa State and I know very well that it is no longer a new thing to me to satisfy the needs and aspirations of my people. As one that has been within the area of the state, I know the environment more than any other person. I know the challenges as they are. I want to sincerely appreciate the governor, who has done so much in providing the infrastructure, particularly in the educational sector and also the critical ends of providing the needed road network to serve the yearnings of our people.

    I believe as one that has been in the frontiers in this government, I am in a better position to continue from where he will stop. I also know again that the people of Bayelsa State are looking out for someone they can trust with the resources of this state and also one that will be dependable. They will always have the confidence that, with Kombowei Benson in the saddle, we will deliver the dividends of democracy. In driving the course of this government, both at the legislature and the collaborative end of the executive, we have been able to attract several projects to our constutencies.

    The governor has said that his support is for any of the aspirants from his Restoration Caucus of the PDP. Are you a member of that caucus?

    Everybody knows that I have been a very dear brother and friend, compatriot to the governor, and one that he has given so much encomiums, both in the public and private. so, I have no doubt in my mind that the governor has me in his heart. So, one need not to question how much of caucus membership I am. I’m not only a caucus member. He is a brother, a friend and so I know very well that, if anybody should be most preferred, I should be the one. I don’t want to overprice myself. The governor and the Almighty God know who has served him with the whole of their hearts. I fall into that category and I’m confident about that.

    What kind of candidate do you think the PDP needs right now to win the election?

    The kind of candidate that PDP needs is the kind of candidate that is sellable to the people; a candidate that the people already has his dossier; a candidate that the people will continue to rely upon; a candidate that is not deceitful in his words and dealings and if PDP has a candidate that is transparent in his activities, the people of Bayelsa State will stand by him. The people of Bayelsa stand for truth and because the real meaning of Ijaw is truth, once an ijaw man sees you to be a truthful person you stand out among the others and that is the kind person an ijaw man is looking for. But, if they see you to be double-tongued and marring too many things at the same time, mixing too many stories and trying to embellish what you are not, the people of Bayelsa State will not go with you. That is the type of person that the PDP will not want to associate with. But, the PDP already knows that both small and big, men and women are looking for the original change not just change.

    We have such real change in the educational sector. You can see the Ijaw National Academy (INA). You know the type of investments going on in the health sector; things we have not seen before. those are original changes. they are looking for somebody who has originality in anything that he wishes to do, not just an imitative kind of representation. You don’t come and tell the people skyscrapers stories. A professor once advised me when I was in the local government, he said I shouldn’t promise the people big things. But, that I should go for those ones that I could do. Our people are not looking at those big stories, they’re looking at the people that will provide the things that they need; the water that we will continue to demand; the road that we will continue to look out for; the health that we continue to improve upon; the light that we do not have and the security that we need.

    So, I would not want to promise people what I cannot do. I listened to Falana recently and he said in Ghana the President is struggling to provide industries in all the wards, but that Nigerians are not demanding industries per ward. why not provide one industry or one factory per local government?

    One of the major concerns of the government is continuty. Can the governor and delegates with like minds place their trust in you on continuity ?

    This is one of the best question that makes me fit into the coming government. I’m part and parcel of the government, one that has been in the arm of government in charge of appropriation for the execution of these projects and I wouldn’t want a situation where the policies and programmes, which we also, as a body, as an arm of government cherished and were part of the planning and execution, just to lie fallow without been completed.  If there are areas that need to be improved upon, we will do that and go ahead to complete those projects for the use of Bayelsans. Those programmes the governor may not be able to finish are for the use of Bayelsans, not for Dickson’s personal use alone. They are not Dickson projects; they are projects in Bayelsa to be used by the people in Bayelsa state and so, I don’t see any reason why any governor, even if it’s not myself, should abandon such projects.

    Some people made some effort to stop the just-concluded local government election. did you support such move?

    Well, in politics, everything is possible. Maybe, somebody thought that stopping the process was the best for him. But, having fought and lost, it would have given him some sense of  understanding and wisdom so that next time he may not try it again. I think it is a welcome development that the party and the governor mustered courage to overcome the challenge.

    You were the Speaker for about eight years and before then, you also occupied some public offices. How have your ventures benefited the people of the state? 

    A single person would not have built a society and all of us are part of a system and so, when the system has delivered, you have also delivered. if the system fails you, have nothing to complain and that is why if Dickson fails in administering or delivering the dividends of democracy, I have also failed. So, whichever success is recorded for the administration of Dickson applies to me equally. I wouldn’t want to take some special credit  because the resources that were provided for any kind of projects executed in my region was a collective effort.

    I will say that I did my best in attracting because as a representative government, you have to be proactive to draw the attention of government to remember your people. That I did in my constutency very well. A number of projects, even as we speak, few of them have been completed  and some are nearing completion. I believe that we have attracted so much to our people and that’s why everyday I have the confidence that if I get back to my people to ask for their votes,  they will give me their votes. During the last election, the present senator went with me to my constutency because he was a senatorial candidate and I was a candidate for the House of Representatives and he marveled at what he saw.

    But people are wondering why you lost your the House of Representatives election…

    I didn’t lose. What happened is known to everybody. It was a security breach and it was not during the election or at the time of voting.  that anything happened or that my people rejected me. Voting had ended and it was the prerogative of INEC to secure materials back to the collation Centre. It was not even my responsibility. I was not supposed to be anything near any community, not even another unit and if the INEC officials were coming back with results and they were intercepted by the military and materials taken to my opponent’s community and results changed from their original state to another state I think it was not my doing. The people voted and  after winning 13 wards out of the 17, what could three wards have done, if not that they cornered them to go and change result and write the total figures that were changed and therefore over voted and we still challenge them in court. there are struggling to defend and they can’t defend it. they lost and they where struggling to recover and they went to intercept the results on the way, using the military so that was what happened.

    Do you think any aspirant can win the ticket of the party without the support of the governor?

    Well, you know some look at it differently. In politics, you need the support of everybody. Even the people who are not in the restoration government needs the support of the governor. There is nobody that is not seeking the support of the governor. Everybody wants the love of the national chairman, national officers, state officers, former President, the governor down to the common man in the wards. Every official is important as the governor is important. the ward executives are important and we need their support. We need everybody’s support to win this election.

    The governor recently spoke about some qualities that anybody who wants to succeed him has to possess. do you think you possess those qualities?

    What you think you have, others may look at you and say you don’t have it and a man cannot be a judge in his own case. It is others that judge you. I have played out my cards. the people of Bayelsa state know who Kombowei Benson is and so I believe that what I possess is known to them. I have brought my credentials open to the people to judge me and give me the ticket. I believe I have the credentials and that’s why I have presented them.

    So, you don’t want a peaceful, credible and fair primary?

    They have been conducting peaceful, credible and fair election. I don’t need to describe it for them. It is enshrined in our constitution and it is their responsibility to provide that avenue and I don’t need to tell them to provide an atmosphere for me. They know it and I can’t teach them what they know and what they are supposed do. I don’t have those fears. I don’t have those fears that the party will not give us an enabling environment.

    Do you foresee any crisis that could lead to the implosion of PDP after the primary?

    The kind of aspirants we have, I don’t foresee any problem. We don’t have the type of characters that will constitute problem. We will be able to go through and work within the ambits of the law. I know myself and I will not cause a nuisance and I expect that every other person will behave that way so I’m not seeing any implosion.

    Do you think that the party should respect zoning?

    To some extent yes and to another dimension no. Why I say so is because at the time we were supposed to have discussed zoning properly for the party to understand that there’s a zoning system, we didn’t. Our zoning has been very informal  and we do according to the dictate of the time or the wisdom of the carry-along syndrome. When we have a governor from one senatorial district, presumably, we think that it should go to another senatorial district. Although it’s unwritten, we try to manage that within ourselves and if we want to fomerlise it, we should sit down to do that.

    I think so many persons have bought forms and how do you go about discussing such issues with them. If you make it too loud and too elaborate, you will injure the feelings of other persons. There’s an internal mechanism which the party has always been using to arrive at a candidate and I think those methods are still available.

  • Bayelsa/Kogi poll: INEC to deploy materials tomorrow

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said non-sensitive materials for the November 16 governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi States will be identified and deployed tomorrow to the states.

    The commission added that sensitive materials, ballot papers and results sheet will be delivered to the Central Bank a month before the election.

    The National Commissioner and Chair, Legal Services, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, said the commission would be administering oath of neutrality on workers as part of measures to ensure loyalty and neutrality. Agbamuche-Mbu added that electoral official indicted in the last elections will be blacklisted.

    She spoke on Tuesday in Abuja at the stakeholders’ round table on preparedness towards the Kogi and Bayelsa States governorship election.

    Read Also: INEC assures Nigerians of free, fair, credible elections at all times

    She said: “In view of the commission’s commitment to conducting credible elections in Nigeria, we have since begun preparations for the coming elections in Bayelsa and Kogi States. All the non-sensitive materials needed for the elections have been identified and will be delivered tomorrow to the respective states.

    “After the party primaries, sensitive materials, ballot papers and results sheet will be produced and customised by their Local Government Areas (LGAs) and subsequently delivered to the Central Bank a month before the election.”

    Agbamuche-Mbu explained that the materials will be retrieved from the CBN the week preceding the election and distributed to the councils.

    She added that the commission will employ ad hoc workers and deploy its original workers in where there is shortage.

  • Bayelsa PDP primary: New moves to reconcile Jonathan, Dickson’s loyalists

    As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State prepares for its governorship primaries, Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, reports that the party’s leaders, including members of the Elders Advisory Council, are desperate to resolve internal squabbles, including the disagreement between former President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Seriake Dickson’s loyalists

    ALTHOUGH the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is the ruling party in Bayelsa State, it has been observed that most of its members and supporters are worried that internal disagreements may endanger its chances of winning the November 16, 2019 Governorship Election. Their concern stems from the fear that the prolonged cold war between loyalists of former President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Seriake Dickson may not be truly resolved before the party primaries.

    The differences between supporters of the two PDP leaders have become more pronounced since the party began preparations for this year’s governorship election as members worry over who, between Jonathan and Dickson, should wield more influence in determining the choice of Dickson’s successor.

    While aides and associates of the two leaders reel out reasons each of them should determine the party’s standard bearer, party elders and supporters express concern that except this matter is resolved before the party primaries, the party may participate in the governorship election as a divided house; a development they said may give the major opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC), an advantage.

    Although Bayelsa, since 1999, has remained a firm PDP state, members and supporters of the party are worried because of the increasing influence of APC in the state. Before the last general election, some PDP supporters in the state described it as an Ijaw party, but the last election raised concern amongst them as APC won Goodluck Jonathan’s Bayelsa East Senatorial District and two seats in the House of Representatives. Although PDP refused to accept that result, everyone seems to blame the outcome on the alleged face-off between Jonathan and Dickson and agrees that it is a pointer to the fact that if the party fails to resolve the internal squabbles, it may pay for it during the governorship election.

    THE BEGINNING OF THE FACE-OFF

    While Dickson emerged governor of the state in 2012 with clear support of the then President Jonathan, the relationship between the two went sour shortly after Dickson’s emergence, when it was alleged that Jonathan allowed forces from his office, backed by his wife, Dame Patience, to persecute the governor.

    The quarrel, which started as a mere rumour, degenerated when Dickson battled impeachment plot that would have stopped him from completing his first term. His associates had blamed the then President Jonathan for the plot. So, even after Dickson survived the impeachment plot, his supporters alleged that if Jonathan had succeeded in securing a second term, the governor may not have completed his first term.

    This allegation, according to Engr. Joshua … has served as the fuel that powers the fire threatening the relationship between the former political associates. It has also influenced the rather cold relationship between Dickson and Jonathan since the former president lost the 2015 Presidential Election.

    We gathered that as soon as Jonathan lost the election and returned to the state, Dickson quickly took full control of the state’s PDP structures. What followed was a period of cold war that recently degenerated to allegations and counter allegations.

    The situation became so glaring when an online report claimed that Jonathan has left PDP and has retired from active politics. The former President had to deny the report in a statement by his aide, Ikechukwu Eze. In the statement, Jonathan said he has no reason to quit the PDP or retire from politics for now.

    Describing the news as fake, Eze said the report was a “calculated attempt to rubbish the elder statesman”.

    “The PDP gave Jonathan the platform to serve as Deputy Governor, Governor, Vice President and eventually President of Nigeria. Jonathan has no reason at this time to resign his membership of the platform.

    “Those who derive pleasure in spreading fake information had better occupy themselves with more productive endeavours that are obviously more relevant to nation building.

    “Obviously, this is a fabrication borne out of mischief as the publishers of the fake story claimed that the former President made the statement while being interviewed by News Agency of Nigeria.

    “There is absolutely no way the former President could have spoken to a non-existent news agency, as none in the country goes by that name,” the statement stated.

    Even with that denial, some PDP insiders said Dickson is in full control of the party and is determined to choose his successor in November.

    The outcome of the last general elections in the state seems to lend credence to this belief as it is generally said that all the PDP candidates that emerged victorious in the National Assembly and House of Assembly elections are the governor’s loyalists.

    For example, it is said that out of the 24 seats in the House of Assembly, 20 PDP lawmakers are Dickson’s loyalists. So, observers believe the governor will use his control of both the party structure and elected officials to dictate who would fly the party’s governorship flag.

    But reacting to that allegation, Dickson has said he won’t impose any candidate on the party during the primary election. He gave the promise during a solidarity visit to the Chairman of Daar Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, over the recent suspension of his company’s licence by the National Broadcasting Commission.

    The governor was responding to a question over the internal wrangling in the Bayelsa State chapter of his party and if it was true he had perfected plans to impose the PDP governorship candidate for the November Governorship Election.

    He said: “The people talking about manipulation are anticipating that they should be imposed. I’m not going to impose any of them. Any of them who feel they have experience and capacity should go and make their case to the people of Bayelsa State.”

    He added, “I hope the right person with competence and capacity emerges to build on the foundation which we have laid over the last seven years. I have no doubt that the right person will emerge with my support.”

    Expressing confidence that his party will retain power in Bayelsa, he said: “The PDP is the most prepared party. I have in the last years built a solid, formidable and an all-inclusive party, such that even those who left found it as the most attractive platform to return to.

    “The party leaders will play their roles, and the delegates ultimately will decide who the candidate shall be.”

    Although some reports said Jonathan may have lost control of the party machinery to Dickson and as a result may not have a say on the likely candidate of the party in the forthcoming governorship election, sources said the former President’s loyalists, who still see him as the leader of PDP in the state, believe the national leadership of the party may prefer to work with Jonathan in its search for the right candidate.

    But Dickson’s loyalists have threatened that such a decision would be counterproductive.

    WILL ZONING INFLUENCE PDP?

    Aside possible influence of the two political leaders, it is being speculated that zoning may play a major role in determining who PDP will eventually give its governorship ticket. So far, Bayelsa Central Senatorial District seems to be making the loudest demand. Even then, some agitators want the ticket to go to Yenagoa while others are agitating for Southern Ijaw. There are even some who suggest that the ticket can be given to someone from Ogbia Local Government Area, Goodluck Jonathan’s local government area, saying such gesture would offer opportunity of de-freezing the icy relationship between Jonathan and Dickson and thus foster the needed unity the party needs to face the governorship election.  There is also the so-called Kolokuma-Opokuma agenda, thus further complicating the race.

    ELDERS TO THE RESCUE

    More than the issues of zoning or the candidate to fly the flag, The Nation gathered that the elders of PDP and other close stakeholders are concerned over the need to fully reconcile Jonathan and Dickson’s supporters so as to ensure that the party participates in the governorship election as a united political family. One of the major forces in this assignment is the recently inaugurated Peoples Democratic Party Elders Advisory Council.

    Since the inauguration, both Jonathan and Dickson have publicly spoken well of each other, thereby giving impression that they may have resolved work as a family.

    Jonathan started it when he commended Dickson, saying the state has taken shape under his administration since 2012.

    A statement by the Special Adviser on Media Relations to the governor, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, said the former President praised Dickson for building a befitting edifice as office complex and official residence for the governor and deputy.

    He quoted Jonathan as saying, “Let me use this opportunity to appreciate the governor for this office. I am saying this because this is the first time I’m entering the office and luckily all of us here are part of this story from 1996 and then of course as politicians when we took over May, 1999.

    “I knew that we started by using a bungalow, the party secretariat as the government house office and so on; the governor started from living in a bungalow, the deputy also in a bungalow that was how we started and now the state has taken shape.

    “We are now in a standard office; the governor is also residing in a standard house; so Bayelsa State is progressing. So, I thank the governor very sincerely. I always say that if you have the opportunity to be a head somewhere, president or governor, chairman of council or any other position, you should be able to add value to the environment.”

    On his part, Dickson said the PDP was poised to retain its control of the state even as he called for stronger cohesion within the party. He advised members and aspirants to avoid pursuing their ambitions at the expense of the party.

    “The ambitions are legitimate but we must note that what is important is our unity and cohesion within the party,” he said.

    The second evidence that the reconciliation efforts may have started to yield fruit is the recent appointment of Jonathan by Dickson as his Honorary Special Adviser on the Bayelsa Education Trust Fund Board. Dickson had said that his action was in recognition of Jonathan’s educational strides when he laid a solid foundation for the state’s education system as governor.

    Besides, he openly described the former president as “our leader,” a description that, according Joshua, has gone a long way in reducing the tension.

    Perhaps, more than Dickson’s gesture to the former president, observers said Jonathan’s acceptance of the offer not only shows rare simplicity and humility, but also confirms that the PDP leaders may have indeed resolved to enter the race as a united family.

    It remains to be seen how far they would go in choosing an acceptable candidate for the November election.

  • Why I want to govern Bayelsa, by Alaibe

    Former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Mr. Timi Alaibe yesterday unfolded his governorship ambition in Bayelsa State. He promised to place the state on the path of economic prosperity.

    He also said he is desirous of using his expertise in the private and private sectors for sustainable development in the state.

    Alaibe said he will run a Blue Ocean Economy and invite private sector capital for a sustainable development in the state.

    He said he has consulted ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and other stakeholders in the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in the state.

    Alaibe, who unveiled his ambition in Abuja after collecting expression of interest and nomination forms at the PDP National Secretariat, said he will consolidate on the achievements of the outgoing governor, Hon. Henry Seriake-Dickson.

    He said: “ I have had many consultations before declaring my interest. The consultations are still ongoing. “Essentially, my  vision for Bayelsa is that of a  shared economic prosperity for the people of the state. The vision is about the government as a social investor and the government as an enabler to invite private sector capital.

    “I will invest on security, schools, hospitals and environment. More importantly,  I  will manage a government as an enabler to invite private sector capital and promote strategy for the implementation of critical infrastructure development activities for accelerated economic development.

    “I will promote Small and Medium Scale industries,  tourism and culture. I have Action Plans that will also involve peace, security and social harmony, institutional strengthening,  governance and effective service delivery.

    “I will build on the great works that the current governor has done. He has done marvelously well on infrastructure.  He needs a leader with that level of appreciation project management to consolidate on his works. I have the characteristics to consolidate on his achievements

    “I am a peace advocate,  a bridge builder and I have the network both in the private and public sectors. I have the goodwill, the reputation and the connection. These are the qualities I want to bring to the table to help my state.

    “I am trying the governorship race again. Some people might want to ask: Why does he want to try again? There is nothing wrong with it. I love my state, I want to serve the state. I managed 145 Local Government Areas as the Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and I am ready to manage Bayelsa State with eight Local Government Areas.”

    He said he has consulted ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and other PDP stakeholders in the state.

    “I did extensive consultations with critical stakeholders.  I am thrilled by their overwhelming support. The consultations are still going on.”

    Asked to be specific on his Blue Ocean Economy, Alaibe said: “Bayelsa State has the largest coastline in the country. I will take advantage of the coastline and turn it into economic prosperity.

    “There is no need for the gridlock in Apapa Ports if we have a seaport in Bayelsa State. So, Blue Ocean Economy means creation of wealth from the ocean.

    “We will access the wealth in the ocean. You cannot have natural resources without utilizing them. But in trying to create wealth from the ocean, you do not destroy the eco system.”

     

  • Truck driver commits suicide in Bayelsa

    45 Year-old-man, described as a truck driver, has hanged himself inside his room at Etegwe community the Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the man, identified as Oliver Osieme from Anambra State took his life late on Monday.

    He was said to have committed suicide when his wife, a trader and other close relations left home for their business.

    The entire community was in mourning when the NAN Correspondent visited the place.

    Sympathisers were seen trooping into the apartment of the deceased to condole with the wife and other family members.

    A relative, who preferred anonymity, told NAN that nobody was in the house when the incident happened.

    The relation said every family member was surprised to come home and see the deceased hanging inside his home.

    “Everybody, including his wife, went out but the wife’s younger sister came back from school and noticed the door to his room was locked.

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    “Knowing that he is always at home since he lost his job as a truck driver because the truck was faulty, she kept knocking but there was no response.

    “She then went to the window to see if she could gaze from the back and that was how she saw him hanging in his room.

    “It is a sad experience. Nobody would have thought such a thing would have been planned by him.

    “The police have just taken his corpse away. If you had come earlier, you would have seen it. He was a young man full of life,” the relation said.

    Bayelsa State Police Command Public Relations Officer Asinim Butswat, a Superintendent (SP) said the command was currently investigating the incident leading to the man’s death.

  • Shell inspires, supports 6,659 youths in Bayelsa, Delta

    The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has produced 6,659 entrepreneurs in Bayelsa and Delta states through its enterprise development programme launched in 2003. SPDC’s General Manager, External Relations, Mr. Igo Weli, who spoke in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital during a graduation and award ceremony of a new set of beneficiaries said the programme was part of the company’s efforts to solve the problem of youth restiveness in the Niger Delta.

    Weli, who was represented at the colourful event by the SPDC’s External Relations Manager, Swamp West and EA Fields, Evans Krukrubo, said the scheme was instituted to provide alternative incomes to youths.

    He said: “The graduation and award ceremony of the southern swamp associated gas solution enterprise development programme is an initiative targeted at the 23 impacted communities of the Southern Swamp Associated Gas Solution (SSAGS) project in Bayelsa and Delta states.

    “The programme was aimed at inspiring and supporting youths to start their own businesses or expand existing ones. We do this by providing the beneficiaries the requisite training and start-up finance in the belief that legitimate alternative livelihood will enable young men and women to refuse the lure of vices.

    “This enterprise development programme is the flagship of our youth enterprise development programmes and was launched in Nigeria in 2003. The Shell Enterprise Development Programme has now produced 6,580 Niger Delta entrepreneurs, most of whom are employers of labour.

    Read Also: Shell spends N150m on Bonny youths’ capacity devt

    “Some of the beneficiaries are also given the opportunity to play in SPDCs supply chain as vendors and are provided with access to growth capital. With these new graduates, I am happy to announce that the number of Shell enterprise development programme beneficiaries has gone up by 79.

    “These beneficiaries from the SSAGS programme went through the entrepreneurship training, wrote business plans; pitched their business ideas and finally the 49 best performing beneficiaries have been selected”.

    Well said the SPDC injected N2.2 billion into the SSAGS area for community development as top-up funds for the Community Cluster Development Boards in Bayelsa and Delta states.

    He added: “This programme is one of the proof points of the foresight in setting up the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) model for project delivery to our host communities.

    “This model has proved quite successful as a vehicle for meeting the needs of the people as it engenders co-operations of benefiting communities to deliver the overarching goals of these projects, promoting sustainability, infrastructure and human capital development.

    “From 2013 to this year, SPDC paid the total of N2.2 billion as top-up funds to the eight impacted southern swamp associated gas solution GMoU cluster boards in Bayelsa and Delta states.

    “By this programme, youths of Bayelsa and Delta states are offered a bigger door of opportunities. This is the beginning of a journey that has the potential of launching any of the beneficiaries into international recognition and success. This has happened in other host communities. It can happen here”.

    Well further told the beneficiaries that they had taken first step to a fulfilling career in self-development and skills optimisation.

    “There are huge opportunities ahead of you. The road to becoming a successful entrepreneur is seldom smooth but if the journey is undertaken with the commitment and zeal it deserves, it can be very rewarding”, he said.

    At the ceremony, the 49 youths, who completed the enterprise development programme received start-up grants of N19. 60 million. The beneficiaries were also assisted by the company to register their businesses and to be given certificates of registration from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

    In his remarks, the Chairman of Iduwini Cluster Development Board, Macpherson Gold, appealed to the beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity offered them to become successful people.

    He said: “I commend SPDC for giving our youths the opportunity to contribute to the growth of our communities. Being self-employed and having source of income is very essential to making positive contributions to one’s community.”

    Also, the Executive Director, Centre for Information and Development, Mrs. Belema Obigwe explained that the beneficiaries received intensive training on business management and assigned to established entrepreneurs for mentorship. .

    She said 130 youths nominated for the scheme by their communities were shortlisted in April last year, adding that out of the number, 79 successfully completed the training while 49  of them passed the assessment tests conducted at the end of the scheme.

    Addressing the beneficiaries, she said: “This journey began in April last year. We went through the applications and the applicants were screened through various stages. We expect that the way you worked with us, the way you gave us your attention, we believe that what we have planted will germinate.

    “This is the beginning of the next phase. Please, continue in the same measure. As a result of your hard work, you are going to have some benefits. Just as the training was not easy, the journey is not easy as well.

    “By being here today, you have entered a contract with Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria. Shell is the sponsor and the initiator of the programme. Your clusters have nominated you to be here. You have entered into an agreement that you will do your best to give us the result for investing in you all”.

    Some of the beneficiaries praised the initiative and commended Shell for establishing the scheme.

    One of the beneficiaries, Robinson Erebi said the training was practical and beneficial.

    “We are grateful for this opportunity. I have tried and failed in businesses twice but in the course of this training, I discovered why I failed and now I am ready to get it done the right way.

    “We were trained in order to support our business ideas and Shell is also supporting us with a start-up capital. So, we are now out of the labour market and they have encouraged us to expand our businesses and to create more jobs,” Erebi said.

  • No rift with Jonathan, says Dickson

    Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has said there is no dispute between him and former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Dickson, in a live media chat in Government House Yenagoa, also criticised chieftains aspiring for ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the November governorship election saying they lacked courage.

    On the relationship between him and Jonathan, the governor said they were in good terms, insisting that their cordial relationship was displayed during the last state function on the Bayelsa Education Development Fund (BEDF).

    Explaining the appointment he gave to Jonathan during the launch of the BEDF, he said he only pleaded with the former President to use his massive goodwill to attract support to the state.

    He said: “I know his passion when it comes to education. In my speech I talked about his plans for our state and I was part of that government.

    “He started the scholarship programme and I came and redoubled it. It was in compliment to him and in recognition of the roles he played in supporting what is good in our state, I told him that the state will like him to use his massive goodwill to attract support to us.

    “That event should have shown to most people that there is no problem between us.

    “He is my elder brother and leader and he will continue to receive his respect. Even in this transition. That event shows that we are united when it comes to what we do for our people.

    Read Also: Obasanjo, Jonathan absent at Buhari’s inauguration

    “There is no relationship that had lasted longer than our relationship. There is no issue.

    “But aides and people around make careless statements and they manipulate stories and take advantage of the proximity they have with the former President”.

    Dickson said Jonathan would be the first leader he would consult during the process to decide his successor and standard bearer of the PDP in the coming election.

    “I will sit down with former President Jonathan. When I am ready I will visit him and we will compare notes. I have his support. The bottom line remains that I am in charge of governance. There are many people I will sit down and rub minds with,” he said.

  • Jonathan gets fresh appointment in Bayelsa

    Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson Friday appointed former President Goodluck Jonathan as honorary Special Adviser on the Bayelsa Education Trust Fund Board.

    Speaking at the formal launching of the trust fund in Yenagoa, Dickson appealed to Jonathan to use his influence to attract donations to the fund.

    He said: “Let me commend our leader, the former president for his educational strides during his time as the governor of this state, he laid the solid foundation for our educational system that is why I have the honour to appoint him as the honorary special adviser to oversee the collection of donations for the education trust fund.

    Read Also: Patience Jonathan’s N200m suit against EFCC for hearing Oct. 16

    ‘With this appointment, he will sit on the board of Bayelsa state education development trust fund, as a former teacher, an educationist; he has enough experience to drive the board to success.

    “The restoration government under my leadership has invested over N80 billion in building and upgrading infrastructures in schools to help mold the future of our children. “

    Accepting the appointment, Jonathan commended the state government’s efforts in education and promised to do his best to persuade all stakeholders to support the education trust fund.

  • Tension in Bayelsa INEC over alleged arrest of REC, others

    There was palpable fear at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, following reports the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Monday Tom Udoh and two other officials were arrested for electoral fraud by a special police squad.

    Fact-finding by the Nation showed that the commission’s complex located along Swali Market Road was unusually quiet with employees wearing long faces and undertaking skeletal assignments.

    Though the official vehicle of the REC was not parked at its usual place, it was gathered that Udoh was in his office.

    All efforts to gain entrance to his office to get his side of the report proved abortive as the personal secretary of the REC and his police orderly blocked all access to Udoh, adopting various delay tactics.

    All explanations it was necessary for the REC to speak and address reports of his arrest fell on the deaf ears of Udoh’s personal secretary and the police orderly, who remained adamant refusing to grant access to their principal.

    But Heads of Departments (HoDs) were seen moving into the office of the REC, who ordered his orderly not to allow anybody access to his office.

    An INEC official, who spoke in confidence, said the REC summoned the HoDs for an emergency meeting adding that Udoh was not in the mood to speak to journalists.

    “He is just coming from Abuja. We have read all the reports. But he is not in a good mood and will not speak to any journalist,” she said.

    Udoh and two other officials were reportedly arrested by the police over alleged criminal violation of the electoral laws during the conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Others said to have been arrested by the police were the Electoral Officer (EO), Mr Jude T. Nabie and Assistant Electoral Officer (AEO), Mrs Doris Asiayei, in charge of Nembe Local Government Area of the State.

    Read Also: Contempt of court: Sen. Izunaso narrowly escapes prison

    The special squad of the arrived Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital last Thursday to effect the arrest of the Resident Electoral Officer and two others.

    Udoh was reportedly taken to the Bayelsa State Police command and later released on bail after making statement but was asked to report to Abuja.

    The EO and AEO were said to have been apprehended in Abuja for allegations bordering on conspiracy and violation of the electoral Act.

    The REC was also accused of intimidating and harassing some employees of INEC, who reportedly vowed to speak the truth at the elections tribunal.