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Tag: Bayelsa

  • Dickson, Bayelsa mourn first military administrator Ayeni

    Dickson, Bayelsa mourn first military administrator Ayeni

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson and eminent residents have mourned the state’s first Military Administrator, Navy Capt. Philip Ayeni.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the governor condoled with the family, the government and people of Ekiti State on Ayeni’s death.

    The late Ayeni, who was the pioneer military administrator when Bayelsa was created by the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha in October, 1996, died last Thursday after a protracted illness.

    Dickson described Ayeni’s death as untimely, painful and devastating.

    The governor said it happened when the state was beginning to reap the benefits of the policies he initiated when he was the administrator.

    He said though the tenure of Ayeni was cut short by his health challenges, the governor noted that the late administrator meant well for Bayelsa State and put the state on a sound, progressive and worthy pedestal.

    Dickson said successive administrations built on the plans, policies and programmes of Ayeni to give Bayelsa its pride of place.

    The governor said in appreciation of his pacesetting roles and sacrifices, the state government recently built, furnished and presented a befitting residential apartment for Ayeni at his country home in Ekiti State.

    He said: “To us in Bayelsa State, Retired Navy Captain Philip Ayeni remains one of our heroes, because it takes a lot of courage, sacrifice, commitment and genuine love for a people to be able do the little he did at the time.

    “From the available facts and records, he would have done a lot more but for the health challenges that abruptly ended his tenure. Clearly, his good intentions too for our state were obvious.

    “So, for a such a leader and personality, my government, and indeed the people of Bayelsa State, will stand shoulder to shoulder with his family and the government and the people of Ekiti State.”

    Dickson said the beautiful and wonderful story of Bayelsa State would never be complete without the pioneering legacies and efforts of Ayeni.

    The governor said the government and people of the state would remain grateful to him.

    He assured the government and people of Ekiti State of the continued support of Bayelsa indigenes.

    The governor prayed God to guide, protect and strengthen the deceased family.

  • Gunmen kill journalist in Bayelsa

    About five gunmen suspected to be hired killers, on Sunday shot killed an employee of the Bayelsa State-owned radio station, Glory FM 97.1, Mr. Famous Giobaro.

    Giobaro, who worked as a Desk Editor in the station, was reportedly attacked in his house located in a mini estate at the INEC Road area in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    The gunmen were said to have broken into his apartment at about 5am; shot him many times in the stomach at close range and left without stealing anything.

    It was gathered that the killers gained access to his house by climbing the fence through a ladder after cutting the barb wires.

    The assassins, who seemed to have knowledge of the house, reportedly pulled down the kitchen door and forced their way to the broadcaster’s bedroom through the living room.

    Two unidentified men, who were in the bedroom with the deceased, were said to have tried to resist the gunmen from entering the room.

    But they were said to have hidden in the wardrobe and the toilet when the gunmen started shooting unceasingly at the door.

    A neighbour of the deceased, who spoke in confidence, said the gunmen drilled many bullet holes on the door.

    He said Giobaro, who tied a piece of wrapper round his waist, was first hit by a bullet when he scrambled out of his bed following the sounds of gunshots.

    Narrating the incident, he said: “They went to his house. They cut the barb wire and climbed the fence through a ladder. They went to the kitchen area and cut the protector, passed through the kitchen door and entered his living room.

    “When they got to the room and discovered it was locked. They started marching the door but two other guys there with him tried to resist them. But they started shooting at the door and in the process one of the bullets hit him and he raised the alarm.

    “The two guys, one ran into the wardrobe while the other escaped into the toilet to save their lives. When the gunmen eventually entered and saw him lying on the floor, they shot him again many times at close range and left through the way they came.

    “They didn’t steal anything and they didn’t go to any other flat. It was a case of assassination”.

    The source said the children of the deceased were not at home when the gunmen struck as he sent them to stay temporarily with his separated wife.

    He added: “They were in a mission to kill him. They shot many bullets on the door. They still came to him on the pool of his blood to shoot him many times in the stomach”.

    It was gathered that the police came shortly after the incident and took the corps to the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Yenagoa.

    But sources asked the police to beam their searchlight on an unidentified lady, who was involved in a failed romantic relationship with the deceased.

    The late journalist was said to have received multiple threat messages in connection with the relationship before he was killed.

    The state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) condemned the incident describing it as sacrilegious.

    The Chairman, NUJ, Mr. John Angese said the killing of Giobaro was a big blow to the journalism family in the state.

    He asked the police to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to book.

    But the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Asinim Butswat, said the police were investigating the incident.

  • Fire guts over 12 houses in Bayelsa

    Fire guts over 12 houses in Bayelsa

    Two separate fires in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state capital, that happened between Friday and Saturday, have destroyed properties worth millions of Naira.

    The first incident occurred on Friday night at Amarata, near where NAN and Vanguard newspapers have offices.

    The second occurred early today in Ovom, a suburb of the state capital .

    The houses gutted at Aritalin, Ovom were all wooden structures and the occupants were mainly commercial sex workers.

    Miss Joy Onuh, a resident in the area, explained that the fire started from a locked room.

    “We do not know how the fire started. And we never knew it would spread because we thought that it was just an ordinary smoke. Then, it became serious.

    “We still appreciate the efforts of the state fire fighters in putting out the fire, though they arrived late,” she said.

    Jully Bobby, one of the affected residents, sobbed as she recounted her losses.

    She said all her belongings including money, clothing and mobile phone were lost in the fire.

    At Imgbi Road, Amarata, where the second fire happened, a car and shops were destroyed.

    The fire was believed to have been sparked by adulterated fuel and kerosene loaded in the car.

    “It would have been a disaster if not for the help of the fire service. The car was fully loaded with fuel; I commend the efforts of the state fire fighters,” a female resident said.

    Mr Prince Ogun, Station Driver, Bayelsa Fire Service Command, urged the people to promptly call the fire service when they have an emergency.

    “The one at Imgbi Road was in the night, Friday, about 8pm; we went there with our fire fighting personnel and we were able to put out the fire.

    “In fact, the two incidents were shocking, many houses were burnt but no life lost.

    “I am advising members of the public against the use of candle and to desist from illegal bunkering to avoid fire incidents,” Ogun said. (NAN)

  • Pirates kill two soldiers in Rivers, Bayelsa

    Pirates kill two soldiers in Rivers, Bayelsa

    Pirates operating on the waterways of Rivers and Bayelsa states have killed three soldiers attached to the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS).

    The Nation learnt three soldiers were also injured in a gun battle with the pirates.

    Troops of JTF deployed in Creek 6 Houseboat Cawthorne Channel were said to have confronted the hoodlums around Ijawkiri, near Kalabari in Rivers and Nembe in Bayelsa, while responding to a distress call.

    The incident, which occurred a day after an operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was killed by robbers in Bayelsa, raised concern about rising attacks on security personnel.

    The robbers, who lost their colleague in a gun battle with the NSCDC, attacked a police checkpoint at Kolo, in Ogbia, Bayelsa State and stole AK47 rifles after allegedly disarming policemen.

    The JTF Media Coordinator, Maj. Abubakar Ibrahim, confirmed the killings, saying efforts were on to arrest the killers.

    He said troops on patrol near Iyalama, Adama axis in Rivers State, discovered and destroyed 13 illegal refineries.

    Ibrahim said: “Sadly, our troops deployed in Creek 6 Houseboat Cawthorne Channel, while responding to a distress call, engaged sea robbers in a gun battle.

    “Two gallant soldiers exhibited patriotism by paying the supreme price, while three others sustained gunshot injuries. Efforts are on by the JTF to nab the criminals.”

    It was gathered security formations met to strategise on how to work in synergy to curb crimes.

    Police Commissioner Asuquo Amba reportedly met heads of the Air Force, JTF, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Prison Service (NPS) and Department of State Service (DSS).

    Amba, at the meeting held at the Police Officers’ Mess, advocated collaboration to reduce crimes.

    He urged sister agencies to complement one another, instead of working at cross purposes, saying team work would promote peace, unity and progress.

    Amba attributed reduction in crimes to the collaboration of security agencies and hailed commanders for sustaining peace and unity among personnel.

    He decried rivalries among sister organisations and appealed to security commanders to advise their personnel on the need for collaboration.

    The police boss clarified the attack on a checkpoint where hoodlums reportedly disarmed policemen.

    He said: “On April 12, about 0200hrs, a police patrol team was attacked by gunmen during a routine patrol on Otuasega Road.

    “The policemen engaged the gunmen in a duel, during which a policeman’s rifle was lost to the hoodlums. The gunmen escaped into the bush with gunshot injuries. Other patrol teams were alerted.

    “The gunmen attacked personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on the same road. A civil defence officer and one of the gunmen were killed.

    “One pump action rifle was recovered from the gunmen. Efforts have been intensified to arrest the suspects.”

  • Youth coalition applauds Bayelsa Govt. empowerment scheme

    The Niger Delta Youth Coalition for Peace and Progress (NDYCPP) on Thursday applauded the various youth empowerment schemes of the Bayelsa Government.

    The coalition, in a statement in Bayelsa on Thursday signed by Pastor Olayinka Jude, its Acting National Chairman, said the development would drastically reduce youth restiveness and restored peace in the state.

    Jude listed agricultural training and skill acquisition as some of the empowerment schemes that would meaningfully engage the hitherto restive youths and redirect their minds to productive ventures.

    “We commend Gov. Seriake Dickson for his persistent efforts in spreading the dividends of democracy to the electorate, most especially the youth with empowerment training initiatives and programmes.

    “We urge youths in the state to take advantage of these empowerment programmes that will be of immense benefit to them, than doing things that would put them at the wrong side of the law.

    “We call on youths of the state to join hands with the “Restoration Government’’ to build an egalitarian society,’’ he said.

    He said with the empowerment schemes, “peace and progress shall be the hallmark for defining indices of effective and good governance performance with available resources”.

    Jude also expressed appreciation for Dickson’s transparent management of the scarce financial resources accruing to the state.

    He noted that the monthly transparency briefing since the inception of the present administration in the state had drawn applause from observers within and outside Bayelsa.

    Jude further also said the transparency policy of the state reflected in the Paris club loan refunds.

    He said the transparent manner the refunds were disbursed among eight local government areas in the state showed that the governor was working.

  • Bayelsa education tax

    •It is hard to accept in an oil-bearing state since non-oil states do it without levies

    Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, has announced the introduction of a compulsory education levy in the state to be administered through a newly established Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF).  Justifying the initiative, Dickson said: “It is better for us to put together resources to fund mass education. Yes, in this state we have some educated people but the judgement I have made over time is that we have yet to get that critical mass of highly skilled and qualified personnel and unless we have them, we are in trouble”.

    Giving some insight into how the compulsory education tax will be implemented, the governor said it would cut across board and will involve civil servants, businesses, contractors, parents and other stakeholders making some sacrifice for the cause of education in the state. Throwing further light on the issue, he said: “…it will take little contributions from every Bayelsan; some will pay as little as N400, N500 per month. There are others that will have to pay N1,000 or more depending on their businesses. For those in the public service, they will also contribute”. Apparently desirous to lead by example, Dickson said he would be contributing N100,000 monthly to the fund while the deputy governor would contribute N50,000, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, N30,000 and other political office holders also contributing amounts commensurate with their status.

    The governor undoubtedly means well and deserves some commendation since the fund is meant, among others, to support free feeding and free uniform for school children as well as other items that will most certainly be of significant relief to parents. However, Dickson’s administration will also have to contend with the perception that Bayelsa as an oil-producing state, which enjoys 13% derivation in addition to its monthly allocation from the Federation Account, should be financially viable enough to effectively fund education without additional tax burden on the citizenry. This is particularly so because Bayelsa State has a population of approximately two million people, which is far less than that of some other states that are providing free education for their citizens without enjoying the benefits accruing to oil- producing states.

    Apparently anticipating some degree of resistance to the new tax, particularly at this economic recessionary period, the governor had threatened that anyone who opposed the levy would be considered an enemy of the state. We would rather urge continuous engagement by the administration with stakeholders, with a view to persuading them to see the necessity for the tax and the long-term benefits to the state.

    It is no news that Bayelsa State, like most of the 36 states, has been severely affected by the country’s current fiscal crisis attendant on the sharp drop in the international price of crude oil. Lamenting the sharp drop in its allocation from the Federation Account, last year, Governor Dickson said the state was no more in a position to comfortably meet its wage bill obligation of N4 billion to its workers or even borrow from banks to augment salary payment as was the practice in the past. The parlous finances of the state was reflected not just, for instance, in pensioners protesting alleged non-payment of five months pension arrears last year but also by the more significant fact that in 2016, the state’s budget was N150 billion as against N250 billion in 2015, with a negligible sum of N25 billion allocated for capital projects.

    The underlying lesson of Bayelsa’s financial crisis, which mirrors the situation in most other states, is the imperative, both to manage available resources more prudently at that level of governance and also for states to creatively tap their potentials to achieve better economic viability and self sustainability, as well as reduce their dependence on allocations from the centre.

  • X-raying Dickson’s education tax in Bayelsa

    It is now compulsory for every taxable citizen residing in Bayelsa State to pay education tax. The new tax regime came into force following the signing of the Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (BEDTF) bill 2017 into law by the state Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson.

    It was not only the EDTF that was signed by the governor. The Bayelsa State Higher Education Student Loan (BSHESL) bill 2017 also received the assent of the governor the same day. But the EDTF generated widespread concerns in the state.

    The concerns were mainly predicated on the funding provisions of the EDTF. While the law provides that the government should solely provide the funds for the BSHESL, it makes the EDTF the collective responsibility of all taxable citizens residing or doing business in the state.

    Dickson expatiated on the provisions of the new law. The tax is compulsory for everybody. No one is exempted. But the monthly deductions are based on the incomes and categories of workers in the state. The higher the income the higher the contributions. In fact, the burden of education levy is borne more by elected office holders and appointees of the governor.

    For instance, the governor is the highest contributor. He pays N100,000 into the fund monthly. His deputy is to cough up N50,000 monthly.  The Speaker of the state House of Assembly, N30,000; appointees of the governor, judges and the Chief judge will commit N25,000 monthly to the fund. The governor has also directed that five per cent of the monthly Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR) should be deducted and paid into the trust fund. Also contractors and corporate organisations are mandated to pay certain percentage of their contractual sums and profits into the fund.

    But the governor said it would take little contributions from other Bayelsans, some as little as between N400 and N500 amounting to N6000 or less annually, adding that others would pay N1000 depending on their grades in the public service.

    Dickson said: “Every adult taxable person in Bayelsa is liable to pay the education development levy beginning with me the governor down the line to the least positioned public officer. We are starting from the public service to the private sector.

    “Anybody who has a shop in Bayelsa or is running a taxi, must pay this levy; nobody is exempted. If you are selling in a shop in the market, you must pay. It may be as low as N100 monthly but you must pay it so that everybody will have a sense of ownership”.

    The law also provides penalties for noncompliance. It is a criminal offense to evade the education tax as it attracts a jail term of about six months and five-time deductions from the offender’s salary.

    Such offender will also be deprived of some social and economic benefits like free medical service. For effective compliance, the state may demand receipts of the education tax before allowing an individual some economic and social benefits.

    The governor captured it in his explanation: “Very soon for  every public service, for you to access the hospitals we are building, for your children to have enrolment in schools,  we will ask for your receipt.

    “The only receipt we will ask for in this state for every official thing is education trust fund receipt because now we are in the period of emergency.  I believe it will be so for a number of years until we get out of it. Whoever the next governor will be will decide the next line of action.  I have made a determination that this is the right way to go”.

    Why the education trust fund?

    Investigations revealed that since the creation of Bayelsa, no government has made deliberate efforts and commitments to develop the educational sector especially at the secondary education level more than the present administration of Dickson.

    For over five years, Dickson has built new schools, rehabilitated many dilapidated school infrastructures and introduced some innovative policies to encourage and improve learning. The Ijaw National Academy (INA), a special school with compulsory boarding provisions will soon begin operation.

    A British and Cambridge-trained principal has been appointed for the school. Already, 1000 pioneer students selected from within Bayelsa with 100 from other Ijaw-speaking states have been given tuition-free admissions. The state will cater for them; their feeding, uniforms, sandals and other personal effects.

    The governor spoke glowingly of his investments in education. He said: “Government has spent over N50b building educational infrastructures. This does not include other recurrent investments in education. This is only the money spent in building infrastructure in all local government areas.

    “The level of investment we are making in education is next to none. Indeed I doubt if there is any state in Nigeria making this kind of investment in education. We are doing all of this in a time of recession.”

    Dickson regretted that his predecessors laid no solid foundation for education. He said on resumption of office, he discovered that the entire state had no single boarding school. He rationalized that it was the reason why most of the youths diverted their energy to criminality.

    “For me, that was criminal neglect and that explains why some local governments and across the state we have kidnappers and militants, criminals and cultists because the young people have not been given the opportunities to discover their potential and to contribute meaningfully to the society.

    “Now we have to break that cycle of criminality and unemployability, poverty and disease and ignorance  where people have lost the capacity to even analyze what they hear. It is so bad that you are building a road to someone’s community and they will say ‘Na road we go chop?’ The only weapon to fight this is investment in education”.

    Consequently, the governor believes that the EDTF would guarantee a sustainable platform to maintain his investments in education. Dickson does not want foreseeable disruptions of free academic activities, which could be caused by lack of funds, in any of the boarding schools.

    Collective funding of education will guarantee sustainability and excellence in the sector. Such system will also give every child irrespective of their financial backgrounds equal opportunity and access to qualitative education.

    Dickson explained further: “My parents were poor people. I did not go to top schools in Lagos or  Abuja or  Port Harcourt. I schooled in my village, in my local government and so I want the poor people who have the same background like my parents and their children who have the same background like me to have access to good education.

    “With what I have done, I am giving them the opportunities that children of elites have. Quality education is the best thing we can leave for children not these  big houses people steal money to build or the big cars and hotels civil servants will be stealing money to build”.

     

    How will the contributions be managed?

    Most people are afraid that revenue realized from the education tax can be mismanaged, diverted to private pockets or used for other purposes other than education. But their fears had been allayed by the law and the governor.

    The law provides that a board be established to manage the funds. The board is to be headed by a chairman. Already, Dickson has appointed Prof. Turner Isoun as the pioneer chairman of the board. Isoun was a minister of Science and Technology known for his giant strides in the field of science and technology. People are also watching to see the kind of persons Dickson will appoint to fill other vacant positions in the board.

    Speaking about Isoun’s personality, the governor said: “I have already appointed a very seasoned educationist, someone that is up there among the first 20 names you call in education in Nigeria and beyond the shores of Nigeria.

    “I have spoken with Prof. T.T Isoun, and he has graciously offered to serve once again even at his age. I thank him and express gratitude on behalf of the government and good people of the state. He has the knowledge, experience, passion, dedication, understands the issues and the role education can play as a tool for turning around the  Ijaw Nation.

    “With his experience and background, and integrity, and above all else it has been my honour to appoint him. I have since sent his name to the House of Assembly to chair  the education trust fund.”

     

    Labour kicks

    Organised labour in the state has yet to come to terms with the new tax policy on education. The state chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and a non-governmental organisation, the Patriotic Citizens of Nigeria (PACON), have not bought the idea.

    PACON urged the state government to suspend the implementation of the policy, describing the education tax law as enslaving and anti-people.

    In a statement signed by its Arch-Convener, Ebikebuna Aluzu, PACON said, “We believe that the design of this law is against the people whose welfare, the government is supposed to make paramount.

    ”We also condemn the state House of Asembly for passing such sensitive bill without conducting public hearing to get the views of stakeholders.”

    The NLC Chairman, Mr. John Ndiomu, said that while the workers were in support of the education development of the state, they believed that the government had the capacity to finance it without resorting to imposing further taxes on them.

    Ndiomu appealed to the government to review the levy because workers were still grappling with how to survive the current recession. On his part, the TUC chairman in the state, Mr. Tari Dounana, described the levy as “an anti-people’s policy” by the executive and the legislature without any inputs from the stakeholders.

    Dounana said: “It is unfortunate that such a law that requires civil servants to make contributions about their salaries was passed and assented to without a public hearing for the stakeholders to make their views known

    “We have already agreed to support the proposed Health Insurance Policy into which workers will also make contributions. This is one deduction too many. We are opposed to it.”

     

    Youths back Dickson; Commissioner offers more explanations

    Youths in the state have thrown their weight behind the governor and his educational policies. The youngsters under the auspices of the Niger Delta Youths Coalition for Peace and Progress (NDYCPP) said they were ready to collaborate with the governor.

    NDYPP in a statement by Pastor Olayinka Tiedor and Chief Henry Nabena, said they would sensitise the people on the need to contribute to the trust fund. They insisted that the educational programmes of the Dickson’s  administration were panacea for reversing the state’s backwardness.

    IYC Secretary Parkins Ogede said Dickson had taken the bull by the horns in tackling the educational disadvantage of the region by initiating the Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF). The organisation enjoined  other governors to emulate Dickson by paying attention to education.

    Offering further explanation to the education tax, The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Jonathan Obuebite, said that the levy had noble intentions insisting that the state needed it to move its education forward.

    He said: ”We have built infrastructure and built boarding schools for which 16 of them will commence soon. We need to put up a system that can sustain them.’

  • Bayelsa Commissioner advises corps members on hard work

    Mr Blessing Izagara , the Commissioner for Science and Technology in Bayelsa, has advised outgoing corps members to be committed to hard work as they enter the labour market.

    Izagara gave the advice on Wednesday in Yenagoa while addressing NYSC members who served in the state Ministry of Science and Technology and Manpower Development.

    He advised them to imbibe the culture of endurance and respect for elders as virtues that would propel them in the competitive labour market.

    The commissioner commended them for their loyalty, punctuality and hard work in the course of their service in the ministry, adding that they should always trust God to succeed in life.

    Chief Buomonyo Amakiri, the Permanent Secretary, speaking on behalf of the directors, commended the commissioner for approving the corps members’ transport support and wished them well in their future endeavour.

    Mr Clever Lawrence, the Special Adviser to Governor on ICT, also advised them to always place positive values above certificates and as youths, they should learn new things daily.

    Responding on behalf of the corps members, Miss Rose Essien, expressed gratitude to the commissioner and the entire staff of the ministry for the love, care and support extended to them during the service year.

    Essien said that the experience they got while serving would be of great help to them in the future.

     

  • Bayelsa targets N250m monthly for education fund

    Bayelsa targets N250m monthly for education fund

    •Begins enforcement of new tax

    Bayelsa State government has set a target of about N250million monthly education revenue, following the introduction of a compulsory education development tax.
    Governor Seriake Dickson has signed the Higher Education Student Loan bill 2017 and Education Development Trust Fund bill 2017 passed by the House of Assembly.
    The Education Development Trust Fund Law makes it compulsory for workers, including contractors and civil servants, to pay education levies.
    It was learnt yesterday that the government had set modalities in motion to begin enforcement of the new tax at the end of this month.
    Dickson said the fund would receive between N100million and N250million from contributors at the end of each month.
    He said every taxable citizen must contribute to the fund, adding that receipts of payment would be used as a yardstick to access other social amenities and health care facilities.
    The governor said: “By our calculation, the education fund will receive between N100million and N250million every month. This is just the beginning. With time, every private citizen, all taxable citizens, must pay, even if it is N100 or N200.
    “Very soon for every public service, for you to access the hospitals we are building, for your children to enrol in schools, we will ask for your receipt. The only receipt we will ask for, for every official thing, is education trust fund receipt because we are in a period of emergency.
    “I believe it will be so for a number of years until we get out of it. Whoever the next governor will be, will decide the next line of action. I’m determined that this is the right way to go.”
    He said to ensure management of the fund, his administration appointed a seasoned educationist, Prof. T.T. Isoun.
    Dickson demanded people’s understanding and assured them that the money raised would be used to provide qualitative education and sustain investments.
    He said: “Education is the only way through which you can change a society in a positive manner. The country has moved on for years and left our people behind. Bayelsa indigenes are victims of neglect by the Federal Government.
    “I’ve already appointed a seasoned educationist, Prof. Isoun. He has agreed to serve once again, even at his age.
    “I thank him and express gratitude on behalf of the government and people of the state. He has the knowledge, experience and passion. He is dedicated. He understands the issues and the role education can play as a tool for turning around the Ijaw nation.
    I have sent his name to the House of Assembly to chair the fund.
    “I’m consulting, before the end of next week I will make other appointments in that very important board because they are going to be managing a lot of money.”
    The governor added: “Every adult, every taxable person, is liable to pay the levy, beginning with me, the governor, to the least public officer. We are starting from the public service to the private sector.
    “Anybody who has a shop in Bayelsa or is running a taxi must pay this levy; nobody is exempted. If you are selling in a shop in the market, you must pay. It may be as low as N100 monthly, but you must pay it so that everybody will have a sense of ownership.
    “This levy is not to build schools, we have already made investments. It will be used to sustain this revolutionary intervention in education, which is free and compulsory boarding system.
    “We are selecting best boys and girls from primary schools to start secondary schools. We are also selecting best boys and girls from secondary schools.”

    Labour, NGO oppose levy

    Stakeholders have reacted to the introduction of education levy by the Bayelsa State government.

    The initiative is aimed at raising N100 million monthly.

    It seeks to collect N500 to N100,000, depending on the grade level of the civil servants, workers of corporate bodies and taxable adults.

    The Patriotic Citizens of Nigeria (PACON), a non-government organisation (NGO), yesterday urged the government to suspend the implementation of the policy.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund Law 2017, which the governor assented to on March 29, seeks to compel civil servants and other stakeholders to pay education levy.

    PACON in a statement by its Chairman and Secretary, Messrs Aluzu Ebikebuna and Debekeme Powedei, described the tax law as enslaving.

    “It may interest the public to note that the Governor Seriake Dickson administration, since 2012, has refused the statutory promotions of the vast majority of civil servants alongside the monetary benefits that accompany such promotions.

    “We believe the design of this law is against the people, whose welfare the government is supposed to prioritise,” the group said.

    PACON slammed the House of Assembly for passing such a sensitive bill without conducting public hearing to get stakeholders’ views.

    It said the government ought not to introduce policies that would further impoverish workers, who were owed.

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) also opposed the education levy “because civil servants are owed.”

    NLC Chairman Mr. John Ndiomu said although workers supported educational development, the government could not finance it without resorting to further taxation of its workforce.

    He urged the government to review the levy, as workers were grappling with how to survive the recession.

    Mr. Tari Dounana, TUC chairman, described the levy as “an anti-people’s policy’’ by the executive and the legislature, without input from stakeholders.

    “It is unfortunate that such a law that requires civil servants to make contributions from their salaries was passed and assented to without a public hearing.

    “We have agreed to support the proposed Health Insurance Policy into which workers will make contributions. This is one deduction too many.

    “For the government to formulate the education development fund without inputs from the labour, leaves much to be desired. We are opposed to it,’’ he said.

    Information Commissioner Jonathan Obuebite, reacting to claims by the labour leaders that the policy was foisted on stakeholders, said its intent was noble.

    He said: “Although the lawmakers did not conduct public hearings before passing the bill, as a former legislator, I know it is not compulsory to conduct public hearing before a bill is passed.

    “There are other forms of getting input from their constituents by consultations.

    “I’m sure it was done. As for labour, we engaged them and we didn’t agree, so they cannot say there was no consultation.

    “We shall continue to sensitise the people to buy into this idea to uplift education, so that we can catch up and overtake our peers.”

     

  • Bayelsa youths support Dickson’s education levy

    Bayelsa youths support Dickson’s education levy

    The Niger Delta Youths Coalition for Peace and Progress (NDYCPP) has hailed the educational policies of Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the governor last Friday announced that he had signed the Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund and Bayelsa Higher Education Trust Fund.

    The laws make it mandatory for every taxable adult, civil servants and corporate bodies to contribute on a monthly basis to the trust funds.

    The fund will be used to run secondary educational institutions and provide revolving loans to indigent students in tertiary institutions.

    NDYPP in a statement by Pastor Olayinka Tiedor and Chief Henry Nabena, acting national chairman and acting state chairman in Bayelsa,  pledged to collaborate with the government to sensitise the public to contribute to the trust funds.

    It noted that the educational programmes of the Dickson  administration were panacea for reversing the state’s backwardness.

    The group said the establishment of Ijaw National Academy, a model boarding secondary school providing scholarship for 1, 000 pupils  from the Niger Delta, was an ambitious effort worthy of support.

    “We support in totality, the educational development levy because of its importance in sustaining quality education at all levels.

    “This will also check youth restiveness by providing opportunity for youths to ensure self development.

    “This wake-up call to give education the priority it deserves is key to the speedy transformation of Bayelsa and indeed the Ijaw nation.

    “Therefore, all hands must be on deck to bring it to fruition irrespective of political party affiliation or tribe.

    “The NDYCPP, a coalition of youth groups across the Niger Delta, with structures in all the states and local governments of the region, remains a viable youth advocacy platform.”

    NDYCPP said it is committed to empowerment of 5, 000 youths in Bayelsa within the next one year.

    It said in collaboration with the Bayelsa Ministry of Agriculture, it had facilitated the participation of 200 youths in the CBN Anchor Borrowers Scheme for Fish/Cassava farmers.

    The body said the target of empowering 5,000 youths was feasible, considering its efforts in agriculture, entrepreneurship development, wealth creation and existing partnership with the three tiers of government and private sector

    It praised the plans of the  government to float Bayelsa Young Entrepreneurship Programme to provide soft loan for youths with viable business ideas capable of creating jobs to decongest the labour market.

    The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) has urged governors in the Niger Delta to prioritise education and step up investment in education.

    The group was reacting to the foundation laying for Senate building of Niger Delta University by Governor  Dickson in Amassoma, Southern Ijaw Local Government.

    IYC Secretary Mr Parkins Ogede said the governor has taken the bull by the horns in tackling the educational disadvantage of the region by initiating the Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF).

    The organisation enjoined  other governors to emulate Dickson by paying attention to education.

    Ogede said IYC will not hesitate to call out under-performing governments in the region and in extension the Ijaw nation, to take steps to meet the expectations of the people to provide education to uplift the living standards of the people.