The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bayelsa

  • Bayelsa seeks review of revenue sharing formula

    Bayelsa State has restated the need for a review of the extant revenue sharing formula to enable state governments pay appropriate wages to workers.

    Governor Seriake Dickson made the call while responding to a number of issues raised by workers during this year’s workers’ day celebration, in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    It has the theme: “Labour movement in national development: Dare to struggle, dare to win”.

    A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Francis Ottah Agbo, said the governor, who was represented by his deputy, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (retd), noted that labour has contributed immensely to nation-building over the years.

    Dickson, who described workers as the livewire of any nation, justified their demand for a living wage.

    He, however, emphasised that state governments should be involved in making inputs in the ongoing negotiations for a new national minimum wage to ensure uniformity and effective implementation of any agreement that would be reached on the issue.His words: “The minimum wage is a very serious issue in the country, but we must also be cautious how we go about it. The states must have inputs because we should not make promises that we cannot fulfill.

    “As we speak, some states can’t pay the 18 per cent minimum wage because of the existing revenue sharing formula between the federal and other tiers of government.”

    On the salary arrears owed workers, the governor explained that government had initially promised to offset the arrears based on expected Paris Club refund before March, but attributed the failure “to circumstances beyond its control”.

    Hailing the state’s organised labour for their understanding and support for his administration’s reforms, the governor stressed that the restructuring of the public service was for the state’s overall interest.

    On media workers’ weigh-in allowance, Dickson explained that appropriate organs of government had been directed to study the issues and report back to government for necessary action.

    Reacting to labour’s demand for modern sporting facilities in the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, he called on the contractor to expedite action on the completion of the renovation work as government had fulfilled its contractual obligation.

    Presenting a joint address of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, the state NLC Chairman, Comrade John Ndiomu, hailed the government for offsetting part of the salary arrears owed workers.

    He, however, called on the state government to make concerted efforts in clearing the remaining arrears to categories of workers.

    Ndiomu, who also stressed the need for government to defray promotion arrears and pensioners entitlements, said the call has become imperative in view of the significant improvement of monthly allocations from the federation accounts.

    Other demands of labour include training of civil servants, accreditation of programmes in state-owned tertiary institutions and an appeal to the governor to direct local government councils to re-absorb and pay teachers, who have been cleared by the Judicial Panel of Inquiry.

     

     

  • Gunmen kill Dickson’s aide in Bayelsa

    An aide to Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has been killed by gunmen believed to be assassins.

    Ebikimi Okoringa, who was recently inaugurated a Special Adviser to Dickson was shot dead at his hometown in Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area of the state.

    The victim, a two-time councillor and former local government Acting Chairman was attacked and killed at about 10pm on Monday.

    A community source, who spoke in confidence, said the suspected assassins laid an ambush close to his house and shot him immediately he alighted from his car.

    “They waited for him in the cover of darkness. Immediately he alighted from his car and walked towards his door, they released the first bullet.

    “The bullet tore his hand but he started running to escape from the scene. The assailants chased him to a point where he fell down. At a close range to pump many bullets into his body”, he said.

    The source said the killers ensured their victim was dead before they left him and fled the area.

    Though the motive behind the dastardly act could not be ascertained, it was gathered that the incident jolted other cabinet members of the governor.

    Police spokesman Asinim Butswat could not be reached for his comments.

     

  • Dickson’s cup: Commissioner urges Bayelsa youths to be law abiding

    Mr Buruboyefe Perekiye, the Bayelsa Commissioner for Sports, has called on youths in the state to be law abiding, during on-going second edition of the Gov. Seriake Dickson’s Football Tourney.

    Perekiye gave the advice in a statement issued to newsmen on Saturday in Yenagoa, by Mr Daniel Alabrah, Media Director of the Tournament.

    The newsmen reports that the 2018 of the tournament tagged: “Restoration Cup” commenced on Friday at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, Yenagoa.

    The Commissioner called on all participating clubs to remain peaceful throughout the period of the competition to ensure its success.

    He also used the platform to enjoin them to remain law abiding, and take advantage of the numerous policies and programs of Dickson-led government.

    Mr Mablas Macaulay, a retired broadcaster from the state-owned radio FM, 97.1, told the newsmen that the competition was a good move to engage the Bayelsa youths meaningfully.

    “This is a way to catch them young for better use and for the betterment of the society. “It is a big game, at least N5 million for the winner is not a small money,’’ Macaulay said.

    The newsmen reports that in the kick-off game played on Friday, Agudama FC defeated Onopa Community FC 3-0.

    Junior Christopher, a striker of Agudama FC, scored the hat-trick, to secure a three nil victory for his team against the Onopa FC.

    Read Also: As Dickson tackles Bayelsa’s education challenges with new innovation

    He commended the governor on the competition, and urged the youths to remain focused.

    “I thank the governor for making the tournament come on board; I urge my fellow youths to remain focus for a better society,’’ he said.

    The newsmen also reports that the tournament has entries from 135 club sides across towns and communities of Bayelsa.

    Mr Ono Akpe, Director General of the competition, said that the winning team would get N5 million, N3 million for the second position, and N2 million for the third place position respectively.

    “Consolation prizes include, N500,000 for the fourth best team, N200,000 for the best behaved team, N100,000 each for the best goalkeeper, highest goal scorer, and of course, the most valuable player,” he added.

    NAN

  • Bayelsa to build gym in Yenagoa

    As part of its plans to institutionalise wrestling, the Bayelsa state government has concluded plans to build an ultra-modern wrestling gym in the state capital, Yenagoa.

    This was disclosed by the state governor Henry Seriake Dickson during a reception in Yenagoa in honour of Team Nigeria wrestlers to the recently-concluded 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, on Tuesday.

    “I have told Daniel Igali (President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation) that before the end of this year, we would have finished the construction of a modern wrestling gym in Yenagoa,” Governor Dickson promised.

    “We have already awarded the contract. Let me direct the finance team by next week, to release 50% of the cost to the contractor. I believe before the end of this year, a number of you will be invited so that we can commission it, and put that to use.”

    According to Dickson, embarking on such project is a statement of the fact that the state is a hub for wrestling in Africa.

    “All that is to underscore the fact that this State (Bayelsa) is the headquarters of wrestling in our continent,” he stated.

    When completed, the wrestling gym will be used for the preparation of athletes for major competitions, as well as hosting of championships.

  • INEC to redistribute 1.4m unclaimed PVCs in Lagos

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State on Friday said that it was making plans to redistribute the unclaimed 1.4 million Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in the state.

    Mr Sam Olumekun, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, disclosed this in a telephone interview with our reporter in Lagos.

    “We are actually working out a new strategy,” the INEC boss told NAN, as he explained the commission’s plan to redistribute the permanent voter cards.

    Olumekun, who expressed concerned over the number of uncollected PVCs in Lagos state, urged the owners to go to INEC offices in their local government areas for collection.

    NAN reports that Lagos state has the highest number of unclaimed PVCs in the country.

    INEC had said that it was still in possession of 7,920,129 permanent voter cards yet to be collected from its offices across the nation.

    A breakdown of the uncollected PVCs as at March revealed that Lagos had the highest number of 1,401,390 followed by Oyo with 647,586 and Edo which had 449,001 while Kano had 195,941.

    The figure also showed Bauchi State as having the least number of uncollected PVCs, 15,542, followed by Bayelsa and Plateau which had 28,533 and 25,300 cards respectively.

    NAN

  • Student’s death sparks protest in Bayelsa

    Students tackle management over lack of water

     

    Drowning of a student of Public Administration identified simply as Ade has caused crisis at the Federal Polytechnic Ekowe, Bayelsa State.

    Ade was said to have drowned in a river bordering the university when he tried to fetch water  for domestic use following lack of water on campus.

    It was gathered that lack of potable water on campus forced students to rely on the river and other unconventional means for water following management’s insensitivity to their plight.

    Tragedy was said to have struck on Sunday evening when Ade and his friend went to the river to fetch water.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said Ade fell into the river and drowned because he lacked swimming skills.

    “Two of them could not swim so when Ade fell into the river, his friends raised the alarm . But before people could get to him, he had already breathed his last”, he said.

    Angered by the incident, the students were said to have taken over the campus in protest.

    It was also learnt that the situation was worsened by lack of presence of the school management on campus located in Ekowe, Southern Ijaw, as the Rector, Timi Seiyaboh and his staff preferred operating from the liaison office in Yenagoa.

    The students alleged that all their attempts to call the attention of Seiyaboh proved abortive adding that there was no management official of the school to calm their frayed nerves.

    It was gathered that a detachment of police operatives was sent to the troubled school to avert breakdown of law and order.

    A human rights activist, Alagoa Morris, faulted the school management on its handling of the matter and advised officials of the school to live up to expectations.

    He said: “It is interesting to hear that he police arrived the campus which is situated along the River Nun, but very unfortunate to also hear that the authorities of the institution are remaining in Yenagoa inviting students to come out.

    “Whether the transport fares of the students will be shouldered by the school authorities, it’s unacceptable. The school a not be managed from Yenagoa.

    “The rector and other management staff have to go down to Ekowe and justify their pay and engagement by the Federal Government”.

    When contacted, Seiyaboh said he was on ground to handle he issues on campus and denied allegations that was managing the school from Yenagoa.

    “I’m always on ground and I have been here to handle the problem. There was no time I asked the students to come and meet me in Yenagoa”, he said.

  • Bayelsa vows to sue FG over $1bn ECA funds

    Bayelsa State government yesterday vowed to sue the federal government if it refuses to deduct the 13 percent derivation component of the $1bn Excess Crude Account Funds (ECA) it plans to withdraw to tackle insecurity in the country.

    Governor Seriake Dickson had demanded 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 Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who is also the Chairman of the National Economic Council.

    Commissioner for Information, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, in a statement, maintained the government remains adamant on its request.

    Iworiso-Markson quoted Dickson, as explaining 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.

    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.

    “The governor had stressed that while Bayelsa was not opposed to the withdrawal of the funds to enhance national security, the utilisation 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.

    “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.

    The commissioner went on: “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.

    “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.

    “He said that Bayelsa like all other states of the federation would like to know what component of these security procurements would directly benefit the security architecture in the 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 orders boards, councils to resolve labour disputes

    Bayelsa State government yesterday appealed to governing boards and councils of state-owned tertiary institutions to address concerns raised by labour unions in the implementation of the public sector reforms.

    Commissioner for Information and Orientation Daniel Iworiso-Markson, in a statement, said most requests directed at the government were within the jurisdiction of the governing boards.

    He said it was imperative that governing boards ensure a holistic implementation of the reforms in their schools.

    Iworiso-Markson recalled that the Miyebo-led Committee met with the boards and councils where agreements were reached on issues, including a decision on workforce.

    He said the outcome compelled the government to commit N630 million as subvention to the six institutions.

    “In  those meetings, a decision was reached with a policy of placing the institutions on subvention as is the norm, especially as it relates to government funding of institutions.

    “The government spends  N630 million on them, as follows: NDU N350 million; Isaac Jasper Boro College of Education N100 million; College of Health Technology, Otougidi N40 million; The Polytechnic, Aleibiri N50 million; University of Africa N75 million; and International Tourism Institute N15 million.”

    Iworiso-Markson advised union leaders to be wary of disgruntled politicians on a mission to destabilise the polity.

    He called their attention  to mischief-makers, who plan to incite the public against government through labour leaders.

    The commissioner enjoined union members to adhere to rules guiding operations of the public service by “exploring proper channels to seek redress rather than resort to media interviews  with the intent to blackmail and incite the public against government.’’

  • Bayelsa saves N3.2b monthly through public service reform

    Bayelsa State Government is saving about N3.2billion monthly as a result of the reform of its public service, Secretary to the State Government (SSG)  Kemela Okara, sais yesterday.

    He told reporters in Lagos that the reforms which began last September had slashed the wage bill from N6.7billion to N2.9billion.

    The figure rises to N3.5billion when the N600 million subventions given to the Niger Delta University (NDU) is included.

    Okara said Governor Seriake Dickson was determined to flush out the culprits of payroll fraud, truancy, multiple employment and related vices from the state’s civil service.

    He assured Bayelsans that the reforms were not a witch-hunt and sued for the understanding and cooperation of those who would be affected in the process of building a virile public service.

    He said Dickson, who is in the second year of his second term in office, set up a Public Sector Reform Committee that would streamline the service for prudent and optimal performance.

    According to him, the committee made several startling discoveries, through biometrics and other measures adopted in the fight against payroll fraud and other fraudulent practices.

    Okara said the committee’s suspicion was aroused when it discovered that attendance rate among public servants “was less than 50 per cent. So, where are the other workers?”

    This, he noted, indicated that they were ghost workers on the payroll put there by “entrenched interests.”

    He said other fraudulent practices included securing of employment with forged certificates, collection of salaries from multiple agencies of government, indefensible promotions in contradiction to civil service rules; pension fraud, age falsification, among others.

    He cited the example of the state-owned Niger Delta University (NDU) as a classic case where the number of non-academic staff was far higher than their academic counterparts.

    “The ratio of academic staff to non-academic staff was about one teacher to three non-academic staff.”

    Nevertheless, Okara said Dickson had assured that there would not be a mass retrenchment but some employees in bloated agencies would be redeployed to other areas of the civil service.

    He said the rumour that Dickson was on a mission to stop funding the Niger Delta University was untrue.

    According to him, the NDU was still the most funded institution in the state with a subvention òf N350 million monthly.

    Okara also gave the example of a Bayelsa Transport Company with a staff strength of 300 but with no vehicles.

    “The objective is not to kick people out of jobs,” Okara noted.

    He added: “The reforms should take about six months, but these entrenched interests keep fighting back.”

    Okara said Dickson had appointed a special prosecutor to identify and prosecute the perpetrators of the scam.

    He said prosecutions would begin as soon as fail-proof evidence was gathered.

  • 500 youths renounce cultism in Bayelsa, join volunteer service

    Over 500 youths yesterday gathered in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital and denounced their membership of various secret cult groups.

    The youths, who hailed from different local government areas in the state, said they were moved to take the action following various opportunities created by the State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, for youth empowerment.

    Lamenting the evil of cultism, the youths said they were deceived to join secret associations by some of their leaders, but thanked the governor for bringing them out of darkness.

    They also vowed to assist security agencies and the State Government to fight crimes in the state.

    The youths took their stand against cultism at a brief ceremony organised by the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Volunteers (BSV), Prince Douye Koroye, at the BSV’s office in Yenagoa.

    They were received by Koroye, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Boma Sparo-Jack; Majority Leader, State House of Assembly, Dr. Peter Akpe; the Central Zone Chairman, Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Tare Porri and other Dickson’s aides such as Jeremaiah Owoupele and Bonny Aya.

    Koroye declared that the youths, who took anti-cultism oaths administered by Sparo-Jack and signed denunciation forms, would be enlisted into the special squad of the state volunteer service.

    He said Dickson desired the youths to steer clear of crimes to enable them achieve their potential and contribute positively to the development of the state.

    He said the amended anti-cultism law passed recently by the House of Assembly was a demonstration of Dickson’s commitment to end cultism as it strengthened punishments for convicted cultists.

    He said persons, who voluntarily renounce cultism with a sincerity of purpose, would not be penalised, adding that the state required peace for development.

    Akpe in his keynote address urged the youths to rise above cultism to take advance of various opportunities in the oil and gas sector.

    He said Dickson was doing everything possible to destroy “the cancer called cultism”, adding that cultism is demonic since its activities take place mostly at night.

    Addressing the youths, he said: “Cultism will take you nowhere and that is why your decision to renounce it is in the right direction. It is a killer of destiny. It is a destroyer of lives. Nobody in his true senses will decide to stab and shoot people. It tells you that there is an evil force behind you.”

    Also advising the youths, Sparo-Jack went down memory lane on how he worked hard to rise from grass to grace through manual labour, trading and schooling.

    He told the youths that by dint of hard work, he rose to become the first Bayelsa State Director, Department of State Service (DSS).

    He appealed to the youths to develop their talents by taking advantages of various opportunities created by Dickson in education and other sectors.

    Porri in his part commended the youths for their bold steps and warned them against going back to cult-related activities after their denunciation.