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Tag: Dickson

  • Be proud of Christianity, Dickson tells Christians

    Be proud of Christianity, Dickson tells Christians

    Governor Seriake Dickson has advised Christians in Bayelsa State to be proud of Christianity as they celebrate this year’s Christmas.

    He said Christianity is a religion that ensures salvation.

    Governor Dickson, who spoke at the Christmas Carol Service organised by the government at the Glory Land Cultural Centre, Yenagoa, urged Christians to reflect on the significance of the Yuletide and rededicate themselves to the service of humanity and God.

    He underscored the importance of the season, pointing out that the element of salvation associated with the birth of Jesus Christ distinguishes Christianity as a unique religion.

    While urging them to show confidence in the infinite possibilities of God and apply their fundamental beliefs in all they do, Governor Dickson said: “Our Lord came, born of a virgin, laid His life as a sacrifice for our salvation and by His death we are safe. This is the unique Christian message.”

    He read the third lesson at the carol service and cautioned people in leadership positions to endeavour to live the ways of God, saying: “There is a period of rendering account either here on earth or in the hereafter.

    “If you are put in authority over your fellow human beings, you’ve got to be careful about your decisions, thoughts and actions because our religion tells us that all of us, both great and small, are made in the image and likeness of God the Father. So, it is important that we bear this in mind and serve God by serving man.”

    According to the Governor, though the state witnessed tragedies this year, his administration deemed it necessary to express gratitude to God through the carol service.

    In his exhortation, Reverend (Dr.) Umah Ukpai noted that Jesus Christ came to the world to enable His believers not only to make heaven but also live a life of distinction on earth.

    The first and second lessons were read by Speaker of the House of Assembly Kombowei Benson and Governor’s wife Dr. (Mrs.) Rachael Dickson.

     

  • Dickson presents N285.930b budget

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has presented a N285.930 billion budget to the House of Assembly.

    Capital Expenditure has N152.695 billion or 53.40 per cent; Recurrent Expenditure has N133.25 billion or 46.0 per cent.

    Christening it Budget of Consolidation of Our Restoration, Dickson said the administration must work hard to reduce recurrent expenditure.

    He said the projected revenue would come from statutory allocation N27.268 billion, N9.955bilion is expected from VAT, N160.70 billion is expected from 13 per cent derivation and from Internally Generated Revenue N4.470 billion.

    The governor said budget discipline would be the watchword, stressing that efforts would also be geared towards reducing recurrent expenditure and running cost of government.

    “We have to come up with a policy to revisit the yet to be concluded biometric exercise to clean up the nominal roles. All salary payments will be e- based.”

    Dickson said overhead to ministries and deferments have been reduced.

    He said N7.7 billon has been allocated for the Ministry of Health, N6.2 billion for the Ministry of Energy, N2.7 billon for Agriculture ministry.

    The proposed Airport project is expected to be completed in 2014.

    Two new schools will be established-the school of tourism and school of agriculture.

     

  • Yakowa was great, says Dickson

    Yakowa was great, says Dickson

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has described the former Governor of Kaduna State, the late Patrick Yakowa as a detribalised Nigerian, who within his short life in government, built bridges of love and unity.

    Dickson, in a tribute at the special valedictory session organised yesterday in Yenagoa by the Bayelsa Executive Council in honour of Yakowa, said: “The late Kaduna State governor was and will remain a great Nigerian patriot, who came to Bayelsa, building bridges of love and bonds of fraternity. He was a dedicated and humble servant of the people of Kaduna State and Nigeria at large.”

    The governor, who described the last Saturday incident that killed Yakowa, Azazi and others as a hurting nightmare, said the day would forever remain dark in our memories.

    He said the country lost two distinguished leaders and dedicated military officers in the ill-fated crash, adding that Yakowa died in active service while visiting Bayelsa as a friend of the state.

    According to Dickson, with Yakowa’s untimely death, “our nation has lost a great leader and democrat who lived and believed in the unity of our nation. Bayelsa has lost a great friend and I, personally, have lost an elder brother.”

    The governor was accompanied to the session by his wife, Rachael.

    He assured the late Yakowa’s widow, Aminatu that the government and people of Bayelsa would remain close to her.

    He said: “We will always be with you now and forever.”

    Former Bayelsa State Governor Diepreye Alamieseigha described the late Yakowa as a brother, who served the nation and Kaduna State as a deputy governor and governor meritoriously.

    He said upon the emergence of the late Yakowa as governor of Kaduna State, many Nigerians did not give him a chance to succeed as a governor, because of the ethno-religious politics in the state.

    Alamieseigha said: “But by divine providence, he became governor when his erstwhile boss, Namadi Sambo was elevated to Vice-President. Yakowa, then proved his critics wrong by building bridges of love and unity. He was a nationalist and man of peace. His departure should be a source of encouragement to all those who value peace and humility.”

    Secretary to the Bayelsa Government, Prof. Edmund Allison-Oguru, said the valedictory session in honour of the late Yakowa was a solemn moment in the remembrance of a great Nigerian leader, who died in humility.

    He said: “From his name, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, you will see that the various ethnic groups can live together in unity. This is a man who built bridges of love and peace between the Northern and Southern Kaduna people.”

    Deputy Governor John Jonah led a government delegation to escort the body of Yakowa to Kaduna.

    Dickson is expected to lead an enlarged delegation of government and people of Bayelsa to Kaduna today to commiserate with the family of Yakowa, the government and people of Kaduna State.

    The governor said the delegation would also be in Abuja to commiserate with President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo, on the death of the victims of the crash.

     

  • Why I left Dickson’s cabinet, by ex aide

    Kemasuode Wodu, who recently resigned as Special Adviser to Governor Seriake Dickson on Legal Matters and Chief Legal Officer, has said his leaving the cabinet was not out of any ill will.

    He told journalists in Yenagoa at the weekend that his exit from the Dickson-led administration with the proper understanding of the governor who is a personal friend, adding that the move was to enhance his professional growth.

    He said, “In the last six months we have started receiving hearing notices from the appellate courts. If I develop myself properly in the legal profession it will be of greater service to the state.” He denied that his resignation had anything to do with any ill feelings, saying “absolutely there is no problem, the relationship between myself and the governor is smooth. I enjoyed the working relationship.”

    He added that to show that his exit is with the understanding of the governor, he was made a member of the Constitution Review Committee “even after my resignation, we worked for about a week before I went to Calabar to present the position of the state. I am still willing to work for the state.”

     

  • Bayelsa didn’t collect N17b, says Dickson

    Bayelsa didn’t collect N17b, says Dickson

    Bayelsa State has denied receiving N17billon from an escrow account in the Federation Account as alleged by Rivers State.

    The cash, according to Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, was kept in the account, pending the determination of the dispute over the Soku oil wells between the two states, but was “surreptitiously released to Bayelsa State”.

    But Bayelsa Governor Seriake Dickson, at the inauguration of the 14-man state Boundaries Committee yesterday, denied the claim.

    He said: “It is not true that Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) paid any amount of money to the government of Bayelsa State wrongly from an escrow account. That is wrong; that is not true. No N17bn was ever kept in any escrow account; no such money was ever paid to the Government of Bayelsa State.

    “That is deliberate falsehood that has been put out there to create an impression of bias on the part of a hardworking, impartial federal agency that is doing its work. The truth, however is this:

    “Last year, the government of Bayelsa State in the last administration made some claims against Rivers State on the account of revenue collection due Bayelsa in respect of some disputed wells.

    “The government of Rivers State and its officials duly defended this claim and at the end of it there was a reconciliation of figures. At the end of the reconciliation, it was found and agreed upon by all parties, including officials of the Government of Rivers, that Rivers State government had wrongly collected the sum of N17bn that was due Bayelsa State.

    “That was determined and found to be a fact at the reconciliation. Therefore, an agreement was reached by all parties, including the representatives of the Government of Rivers State for a refund to be made. Government of Rivers State also made a counter claim of wrongful payment of some other wells in its territory to Bayelsa State and other neighbouring states.

    “The appropriate Federal agencies looked at these claims, heard from all the parties and found that as a fact that Rivers State government was entitled to refund of close of N15-N16bn again in defence, there was an agreement reached for refund, as a result of which all the states affected were made to refund that money. Refund was agreed upon to be made to Rivers State. Either all the states affected have paid or in the process of doing so. The government of Bayelsa State was made to pay about N2bn as refund to Rivers State based on that consensual understanding.

    The government of Bayelsa State consequently after paying our refund to Rivers state got about N15.1bn. In line with our transparent regime in this state, we duly declared this earning to the people of Bayelsa State. As I am talking to you, this sum is safely kept in the account of the government of Bayelsa State and when the flood and rain subside, we shall direct it into putting back our critical infrastructure.

    “It is mischievous for anybody to allege and create an impression that the sum of N17bn was ever kept in an escrow account and that a federal agency paid it out to Bayelsa State during the pendency of litigation. That is a lie that has been fed to the public to create the impression that the Federal agencies are biased.

    “That is the procedure and that is why we are convinced that the issue of derivation is best left for states to handle and not communities but since my counterpart from Rivers State has made it a communal affair, I believe that he will help us to tell the people of Rivers State, particularly the people of Kalabari Kingdom, who he claimed to be fighting for that the basis of our recent claim is that the government of Rivers state in the past couple of years has wrongly received about N120bn that shouldn’t have been paid to Rivers State.

    “I hope he will also tell the people of Rivers state, particularly the people of Kalabari, about the refund that was consensually agreed upon and effected in favour of Rivers state to the tune of about N15-N16bn which he got about a month ago. We feel that this matter are best left for states and other stakeholders at the Federal level to resolve in accordance with laid down rules.”

     

  • Dickson signs Bayelsa Judiciary Autonomy Bill into Law

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has signed the State Judiciary Autonomy Bill into Law.

    Signing the bill at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House in Yenagoa, the state capital, Dickson said the law showed that his administration believes in the financial autonomy of the Judiciary.

    He said: “Having had the privilege of being a member of the Bar, a former Attorney-General of the state and now Governor, I am in a better position to provide the requirements for improved justice delivery.”

    Dickson said the constitution does not stipulate the framework for the implementation and execution of the autonomy of the Judiciary.

    He said he decided to create a legal backing for the autonomy so that it would not be over-ruled by any administrative fiat in future.

    The governor said: “With effect from the next budget, I and governors after me will no more treat approvals and requests from the Judiciary.”

    Urging other governors to support the move for a truly independent Judiciary, he said: “Our democracy is not safe and our civil rights cannot be protected unless we strengthen our Judiciary, which alone has the constitutional authority to deepen our freedoms and protect our fundamental liberties.”

    House of Assembly Speaker Kombowei Benson said the bill was deliberated on and passed within a week. B