The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mr. Seriake Dickson

  • Sylva to Dickson: Leave tribunal to do its work

    Sylva to Dickson: Leave tribunal to do its work

    Former Governor and Bayelsa State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Timipre Sylva, Friday, asked the incumbent governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, to halt his dangerous campaign against the state’s election petition tribunal.

    Sylva said Dickson and his co-travelers were patronizing a few online media to cast aspersions on tribunal members and browbeat the court as it prepared to deliver its judgement.

    The former governor is challenging the outcome of the 2015 governorship election in which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Dickson, a candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the winner.

    Sylva in the statement signed by his Media Adviser, Mr. Doifie Buokoribo, reacted to series of verbal attacks launched by pro-Dickson’s groups ahead of the judgement.

    He said that Dickson was frequently using bully-boy tactics involving a series of lies deliberately told to impugn the integrity of the tribunal in obvious fear of an unfavourable ruling.

    Sylva said: “In one of the canards about a week ago, vended through a strange group, Good Governance Initiative (GGI), the Dickson group claimed that Sylva was lobbying the wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN), the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engr. Babachir David Lawal, and other officials of the Federal Government to put pressure on the election tribunal to declare him governor via a “black market judgement”.’

    “Another false report, an apparent follow-up to the intimidation campaign run, appeared on Thursday, 14 July. It claimed the existence of an imaginary tension in Yenagoa following alleged “confirmation” by APC leaders, including the national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu that the tribunal would rule in Sylva’s favour.

    “According to the report, “Some key supporters of the Dickson-led PDP” have met to plan how to react in the event of an unfavourable judgement.

    “Chief Sylva, who is the petitioner in the case sees this attempt by Dickson to second-guess the decision of the tribunal and, perhaps, try to intimidate it, as immoral and despicable. Sylva appeals to Dickson and his men to allow the tribunal to do its job”.

    He said that Dickson successfully applied his familiar intimidation strategies in the past, before, during, and after the governorship election in the state last December and this January.

    But Sylva said such tactics would not succeed with the judiciary adding that as a democrat, he took his case against the last election to the tribunal.

    He said: “As a democrat and firm believer in the rule of law, Sylva had taken his misgivings about the outcome of the election to the election tribunal to see if the victory awarded to Dickson by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could stand up to judicial scrutiny.

    “He, thus, urges that Dickson should for once control his predilections for falsehood and violent incitement and wait for the judicial process as it unfolds.

    “Sylva’s expectation of justice from the election tribunal is hinged on his belief that the honourable judges would be guided by the letter and spirit of the law.

    “Neither Bola Tinubu, nor Abubakar Malami, Babachir Lawal or Aisha Buhari is a member of the election tribunal. Therefore, it is unfair for Dickson and his group to insinuate that the respected tribunal judges are poodles of any political party or individual.

    “It is also unjust for Dickson to be spending the resources of the people of Bayelsa State on a desperate media campaign purposed to call into question the reputation of the country’s judiciary.

    “It is even wicked, ungodly and uncaring that this wastage is happening at a time when workers in the state are being owed several months’ salaries.

    “We are aware that huge amounts of money have been disbursed by Dickson to individuals and groups to do a hatchet job on the Bayelsa election tribunal as it prepares to deliver its judgement.

    “We are also aware that certain groups have been procured by Dickson and his men to cause violence if the ruling does not go in his favour.

    “This manifestation of politics of anxiety on the part of Dickson is despicable. It is uncalled for, especially, as he is well aware that whatever judgement the election tribunal would give is not final”.

    Sylva added: “Finally, no date has been fixed for judgement by the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal Holden at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja with Petition Number: EPT/BY/GOV/002/2016, involving:  Sylva and the APC Versus INEC, Dickson and PDP. Yet, one report was very categorical on “the date” for verdict. This is worrisome.

    According to one online medium on Thursday: “Although the tribunal will deliver its judgement on his petition on July 29, sources told journalists that the ‘positive mood’ in the Sylva’s camp was sequel to alleged ‘confirmation’ received from some influential citizens within the APC that judgement will likely go the way of their candidate at the tribunal.

    “Irrefutable evidence linking key media aides of Dickson to these irresponsible reports makes this even more worrisome.”

  • Bayelsa workers threaten to drag Dickson to EFCC over N1.2bn bailout

    Bayelsa workers threaten to drag Dickson to EFCC over N1.2bn bailout

    Local government workers in Bayelsa State, yesterday, reached a resolution to drag the state Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, to anti-graft agencies if after seven days he fails to produce the N1.2bn bailout he got from the Federal Government for their salaries.

    The workers vowed that Dickson and his officials would have a case with the Economic  and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) if they failed to produce the money.

    Workers in the state are undergoing economic hardship following the inability of the Dickson-led Restoration Government to pay them backlog of salaries.

    While the local government workers are owed over 13 months of salaries, civil servants have not been paid for about six months.

    Dickson got N1.2bn from the first tranche of bailouts doled out to local government areas by the Federal Government.

    The state has also been receiving allocations for local government areas from the Federation Account.

    Dickson, in the last Transparency briefing, while rendering account of how his government spent N95bn the state received from the federation account in the past one year, said out of the money, N12bn went to the eight local government areas.

    But the workers who rose from a joint emergency meeting under the aegis of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and Medical and Health Workers Union (MHWUN) were angry that despite all the money, Dickson had refused to pay them.

    They were particularly unhappy that President Muhammadu Buhari pitied their condition, provided money for them but Dickson refused to pay them.

    The workers said they were going to also write a letter to the President to formally report their plight to them.

    The employees in a communique issued by a joint executive council of the two unions and signed by their secretaries, Mr. Tonye Jaja and Mr. Arafat Wibani, said they would ask the EFCC and the President to recover the money.

    “We will have no other option than to invite the Economic and Crimes Financial Commission to step in and recover the money”, they said.

    The workers further said they would not accept the proposal by the governor to pay them 50 per cent of their salaries.

    “The wages and salaries of workers are guided by law and cannot be slashed except the employees are convinced of the financial position of the state”, they said.

    They further called on the Commissioner for Local Government and Administration, Agatha Goma to always release the monthly statutory allocation to local councils after the Joint Allocation Committee (JAC ) as required by law.

    They urged the state government to without delay release the full January and February salaries to the genuine verified and confirmed staff of the local councils.

    They also advised the government to release 10 per cent of the Internally-Generated Revenue(IGR) and 20 per cent of the derivation funds for the running of the councils.

  • Dickson accuses Sylva of gathering youths for violent protest

    Dickson accuses Sylva of gathering youths for violent protest

    • Leave me out of your woes – Sylva

    The Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, Thursday, accused the state leader and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief Timipre Sylva of perfecting plots to instigate youths to embark on a violent street protest on Friday in Yenagoa.

    Dickson in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Security Matters, Dr. Boma Spero-Jack, claimed that the plan is for the youths to violently disrupt business activities and cause a breakdown of peace and order.

    The governor warned youths in the state not to allow themselves to be used saying the government would hold them responsible for any deaths, injuries or acts of lawlessness that could arise from the protest.

    He further called on the people of the state to be vigilant and asked parents and guardians, to ensure that, their children and wards were not used to breach the existing peace in the state.

    Dickson stressed that, the government would not hesitate to apply the full weight of the law on any group of youths, who might decide to take to the streets, under whatever guise.

    “The various security agencies have been put on full alert to deal decisively with any acts of violence, no matter, who is involved”, he said.

    But Sylva immediately fired back describing the statement credited to Dickson as irresponsible, baseless and laughable.

    Referring to Dickson’s government as embattled, Sylva in a statement signed by his Media Aide, Mr. Doifie Buokoribo, asked the governor to leave him out of his many woes.

    The statement said: “Ordinarily, we would have ignored the statement since it did not provide any proof to support the alleged involvement of Sylva in the so-called plot. However, we are compelled to respond since the matter involves security of lives and property.

    “First, Sylva has nothing whatsoever to do with any protest in Bayelsa State on Friday or any other time.

    “Second, and more importantly, it is Mr. Dickson and his unsympathetic, anti-people and sick administration that should take the blame for instigating any revolt in the state for its deliberate refusal to pay its workers.

    “It is Dickson, and not Sylva, that is responsible for the mass hunger in Bayelsa State. University lecturers, who are currently on strike, are being owed several months’ salaries. And pensioners and workers are also being owed.

    “The children and their parents are forced to stay at home and, as the saying goes, ‘the idle mind is the devil’s workshop’.”

    “Dickson and his syndicate have envisaged crisis from the social inertia they have forced on the state with their lack of imagination and mindless looting of the people’s resources, and they are now on a desperate hunt for someone to blame.

    “But, as usual, the people of Bayelsa are wiser and they can see through Dickson’s shenanigans. If the people are now fed up and want to take political action to defend their humanity, Dickson should simply hold himself responsible.

    “Let Dickson be man enough to take responsibility for his actions and inactions, and leave Sylva out of his woes”.

    But the state Police Command warned against unauthorised and unlawful gathering of persons or group of persons, without a duly approved police permit.

    The command in a statement signed by its  Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Asinim Butswat said: “Information at our disposal reveals that some group of persons are planning to carry out a protest in Yenagoa and its environs, tomorrow Friday, 24 June, 2016.

    “The Police commands appreciate the fact that individuals or group of persons have the right to stage a peaceful protest, however, the law states that they should obtain a permit from the Police before embarking on any form of protest or procession.

    “The Command hereby appeals to parents and guardians to advise their children or wards to desist from joining any form of protest or procession.

    “Members of the public are advised to go about their lawful businesses as adequate security measures have been put in place to curtail the activities of miscreants, and the Police will not hesitate to enforce the law against any violator.”

  • Dickson admits receiving N95bn from FAC in one year

    Dickson admits receiving N95bn from FAC in one year

    …threatens journalists

    The Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, yesterday, confirmed that the state  received N95bn from the Federation Account (FAAC) in one year.

    Out of the amount, the governor said N12bn went to the eight local government areas in the state, bringing the state government’s receipt to N83bn.

    The governor spoke on Monday during the 50th edition of the state’s monthly transparency briefing and the launch of transparency website, .’Transparency Watch’ at the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall in Yenagoa

    But computations of al, the breakdown reeled out by the governor showed a total expenditure of N111.6bn, against the N95bn receipt.

    He said N14.89bn was used to service bond repayments taken by the Timipre Sylva administration while salaries of workers consumed N32.38bn.

    He further added that bank loans gulped about N15bn,  local debts including inherited debts and overdraft N24.6bn,  overhead costs for running the three arms of government N3.9bn while the sum of N20.9bn went to projects.

    With the expenditure profile of about N111.7bn, the state government is in deficit of about N28bn.

    He said if not for his administration’s prudent management of resources, the state would have collapsed.

    Dickson decried what he described as lopsided federal system, saying that though Bayelsa is an oil-rich state, the nation has not been fair to the state.

    The governor seized the occasion to attack journalists operating in the state accusing them of hiding under press freedom to work with criminal syndicates, thieves and cult leaders.

    He asked journalists not to take the hospitality of the state and his government for granted saying his administration had not killed nor physically attacked anybody.

    Dickson who was obviously angry at some reports in the national dailies about the happenings in the state, claimed that his administration was monitoring text messages and telephone conversations between journalists and their paymasters.

    He said they were aware of persons paying money to reporters in the state to run down  the state and incite the public against his government.

    He said: “So, when some young men are sent to the state, they call themselves different names operating in different guises with criminal syndicates, not working to advance the course of democracy and what is good for the country and even for their profession, they come here and connive with criminals, thieves, cult leaders.

    “The press, they know the cult leaders. They come here not to advance the course of the state. They come here not to assist in developing democracy in our country. They hide under the guise of press freedom and work with criminal syndicates.

    “Sometimes, we know the text messages, their conversations and those who give them money just to run down the state. You Bayelsans should know that there are people who don’t want a strong clear-headed leadership, a focused leadership from Bayelsa State.

    “There are those who want Bayelsa to be a weeping child of the Niger Delta. For our friends who enjoy the hospitality of our state; in our government, no one kills anybody. No one attacks anybody.

    “It doesn’t happen in their own state but they will come misrepresent Bayelsa, paint Bayelsa bad, government of Bayelsa bad when in their own states they don’t have leaders that will stand up to 10 per cent of what we represent.

    “They know that you people delight in running down the government. So, this is a warning to all those who are here. You have the right to be here, enjoy our hospitality but don’t run down the state.

    “Don’t instigate civil unrest because you only know how it starts but you don’t know how it will end up. In some of their states, their governments have not paid salaries for 15 months; those boys that are writing nonsenses, in their own state. Yet they come here, instigate our people and misrepresent things”.

     

     

  • Banks grumble as Dickson pays half of April salary

    Banks grumble as Dickson pays half of April salary

    Management of different commercial banks in Bayelsa State, Tuesday, kicked against the decision of the state Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, to pay civil servants half of their April salaries in cash and cheques.

    Investigations revealed that instead of paying the civil servants through their various bank accounts, Dickson opted for cash and cheque payment apparently to avoid deductions of workers’ financial liabilities by their various banks.

    Bayelsa has been in the throes of hardship following the inability of the state government to pay backlog of salaries it owed to different categories of workers in the state.

    The government is owing civil servants about six months, local government workers about 13 months and pensioners about eight months.

    Dickson could not fulfill the promise he made last weekend to pay workers half salaries, shifting the pay day to Monday, though he said he queried the Head of Service and the accountant for flouting his order.

    It was gathered that civil servants went to their various pay points in their ministries to collect half of April salaries by cash and in cheques on Tuesday morning.

    One of the civil servants said she collected half of her one month salary in cash describing the money as grossly inadequate.

    “I went to my pay point and I was given just half of one month. In fact, I was paid half of April salary. I am confused because I don’t know when other arrears will be paid. We have not received salary since January, others since December”, she said.

    She confirmed that some ministries issued cheques to their workers adding that the government moved cash to ministries’ accounts and asked them to withdraw the money and pay the workers in cash.

    She admitted that workers were owing banks huge sums of unserviced liabilities arising from months of unpaid salaries.

    But it was learnt that by paying cash to the workers, the government had pitted them against their banks.

    A bank manager who spoke in confidence said the development was a violation of an agreement banks reached with the workers’ unions and the government.

    He said in several meetings, the banks and organized labour worked out modalities and new percentages of deductions before the half salary was paid.

    He said: “We held many meetings with government representatives and labour unions. Initially when full salaries were paid, we used to deduct 50 per cent to service liabilities of the civil servants.

    “But based on the prevailing economic problems in the state, we agreed that when the half salaries are paid, we will apply 33 per cent of deductions for the liabilities. We were shocked to notice that the agreement was not obeyed.

    “Instead, the government decided to be paying cash to our customers. It is affecting our cash flow but for now, we are still watching”.

    He said there would be punishment for default unless the workers on their own return the 33 per cent of the money to service various loans they collected and other liabilities.

  • Dickson inaugurates committee to tackle cultism 

    Dickson inaugurates committee to tackle cultism 

    The Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, has constituted a Students’ Management Committee to tackle cultism and other student-related issues in the state.

    A statement signed by Dickson’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said Tuesday that the committee which was inaugurated in Yenagoa, the state capital, was chaired by Ebipatei Apaingolo.

    Members of the committee are Evans Baribote, Eteli Tuanam, Atti Moses, Maxwell Obesi and Miss Imoemi Tombofa.

    Others are Ipogi Tony, Oweifie Success, Fortune Jack, Jeremiah Owoupele, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on NYSC, Suoyo Appah and Tari Pori.

    The governor asked the committee to collaborate with other youth bodies in the state, to manage the affairs of students and check acts of cultism and other forms of criminality among the youths.

    Dickson charged members of the committee to sensitize students on the prevailing national economic challenges and their spillover effects on the state.

    He said it was imperative to include the student body into the activities of the government to enable students be abreast of the political and socio-economic issues.

    He said: “We need to work together and manage our processes of government and the way we carry out our collective businesses so that our society can get out of this crisis.

    “I want a situation where students and the youth population in general are not misinformed. As future leaders, l want them to understand the real issues that government and other leaders have to deal with.

    “I want a situation where the young people in this state the basis upon which political service must stand. For us, political service must mean an opportunity to serve our society first and one’s self the least.

    “But the reverse is the case. But it is not their fault. It is as a result of faulty foundation and that is why our government is solving foundation problems on a daily basis since we came on board.”

  • Confusion as three pensioners collapse in Bayelsa

    Confusion as three pensioners collapse in Bayelsa

    ‎There was pandemonium at the Samson Siasia Stadium, yesterday, following the slumping of three old pensioners who came to participate in a pension verification exercise ordered by the state Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson.

    It was learnt that the affected pensioners were immediately rushed to the hospital for medical treatment.

    Prior to the incident, the pensioners who had not been paid many arrears, were said to have complained of stress, hunger and dehydration.

    The inclement weather occasioned by heavy downpour reportedly contributed in exacerbating the hardship of the pensioners during the exercise.

    The exercise which started on Monday was initiated by the state government to get the actual figure of the pensioners.

    But the retirees complained that the exercise had many hiccups and urged the government to find a lasting solution to their plight.

    One of them, Mr. Daniel Ogobugha, said he was not happy with the method adopted for the verification adding that the government would have combined the payment of the arrears with the exercise.

    He said: “Yes, we have been here since morning, many of our people have fainted, some critical ones have been rushed to the hospital; the government is helping but this exercise is very stressful to us.

    “Most of us are aged, some can no longer walk but look at us here for verification; well, if it is the way to fish out fake pensioners, is okay but I must tell you that this is not good due the health of some of us.

    “Some of us are being owed for over six months, we can’t pay our children school fees, with the current harsh economy, feeding have been a huge challenge to some families”.

    Another retiree, Mr Richard Epiri, urged the state government to expedite action in paying the backlog of their pensions.

    Confirming the development,the Chairperson, Bayelsa Pension Board, (BPB) Mrs. Jane Aleke, said the the pensioners collapsed because of exhaustion.

    He confirmed that the affected persons were rushed to the Government House Clinic.

    Aleke said that the exercise was not aimed at stressing the retirees but to enable the government get actual figure of pensioners.

    She appealed to the retirees to be calm and promised that every pensioners in the state would be captured in the exercise.

    “This is about management of wealth and you know in paying them, the state government cannot just begin to pay with a gauss number, so, we cannot do gauss work.

    “We are ready to reach all the Local governments in the state, we have started with Yenagoa; for those of them, who are sick and cannot walk, we will definitely go to their house,” she said.

  • Students protest indefinite shutdown of Bayelsa varsity

    Students protest indefinite shutdown of Bayelsa varsity

    Students from the Bayelsa State-owned Niger Delta University (NDU), Saturday, protested the indefinite closure of the university following the inability of the state Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson to pay backlog of workers’ salaries.

    The students under the aegis of the Niger Delta Visionary Movement (NDVM) also knocked other students’ bodies such as the Student Union Government of Niger Delta University (SUG-NDU), National Union of Bayelsa state students (NUBSS) and the National union of Izon-Ebe Students (NUIS) describing them as puppets.

    The aggrieved students in a statement signed by the Spokesman, NDVM, Mr. Wisdom Adike, threatened to march naked with their books and block the entrance to Government House if after a week the stakeholders failed to settle their rift and open the university.

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been on strike following the inability of Dickson to pay its members.

    Adike said: “We wish to bring to the notice of the general public, that the strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Niger Delta University Chapter on 26th April 2016, over nonpayment of salaries, have led to the shutdown of the institution for over 3 weeks now, which have continued to give parents and students great concern.

    “Niger Delta University being the only state owned university is a legacy established by the late Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha who was recently laid to rest. The institution has not only helped in meeting the manpower needs of the state but the entire Niger Delta region and beyond.

    “However, we wish to express our displeasure over the lingering strike and government’s attitude towards resolving the situation noting that the strike has increased hardship, made students to sit idle at home and lose focus on their academic pursuit, as well prolonged their academic programmes, thereby causing youth restiveness and society unrest”.

    He wondered why all the students’ bodies kept sealed lips and toothless over the plights of students and appealed to the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide to intervene and ensure immediate reopening of the school.

    He said: “We also call on the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) to stand up, break their silence and defend the legacy of the ijaw nation by ensuring the immediate reopening of Niger Delta University. This is because now is the time to protect our common heritage.

    “We are also using this medium to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in his magnanimity and benevolence in salvaging the state from the current economic crunch and hardship as parents and guardians especially in the local governments of the state have not received salaries for over 12 months, despite the release of bail out funds by the federal government.

    “Finally, we want to urged all students to embrace peace and calmness as all available non violence means will be utilized to end this strike and return back to school.

    “We also want to state, that if the bayelsa state government, IYC, and other stakeholders fail to give a positive response within one week, then we shall march naked with our books and foams across the state and beyond, we shall occupy creek haven and the east-west road”.

  • Dickson blames predecessors for non-payment of pensioners 

     

     

    The Governor of Bayelsa state, Mr. Seriake Dickson, Tuesday, blamed the inability of his government to pay pensioners their monthly entitlements on his predecessors.

    The governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, spoke in Yenagoa when he constituted the state and local government pension boards.

    Pensioners are owed about nine months of unpaid arrears in the state.

    Dickson said: “The government inherited a liability of about N6billion; we then worked out a mechanism where we set aside N500million for monthly payment until the last 8 months that the state allocation from the federation account started dropping.

    “For about eight months the pensioners have not been paid and that is very touching because for four years, we did not fail to pay pensioners until the last eight months.

    “Now for this old men and women are on account of the failure of the leadership of the past, we are now unable to meet our obligations to them.

    “We want to use this opportunity to ask for understanding, for people who gave their all for years in the service of the state. We appreciate their service to the state and we will leave no stone unturned to ensure that they begin to get their pension every month.”

    But Dickson charged the new boards to make concerted efforts at ensuring the physical verification of all pensioners.

    He gave them an assurance that payment of those identified will commence with immediate effect and lamented the untold hardship of pensioners in the last eight months.

    The state pensions’ board is to be headed by Mrs. Jane Alek, while Sir Frazer Okuoru, is to chair the LG pensions’ board.

    While Owie Biate Igoni will serve as Secretary of the State Pensions Board; Nathan Ayibakeme, Mr. Leader Tamatimigha, Dr. Martha Akpana and HRH Darius Job are to serve as directors, with 1: ex-officio members.

    The local LG pensions’ board has Mr. Mathias Otuogha as Secretary and six other members.

    The governor said he was determined Dickson to completely eradicate payroll fraud in the state and charged both boards to swing into action immediately.

    He advised members of the boards to collaborate with the various ministries, departments, agencies and parastatals to ensure that the names of dead pensioners and persons who above 70 years and above are detected and expunged from the payrolls of the government.

    He said: “This board has a number of experienced people, who can give advice and guidance, and I call for collaboration among those on the board and the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to identify all those who are dead and are still on the payroll of the government, and those over 70-80 years still collecting salaries.

    “I charge you all to ensure that all those who are going to be paid are verified.  You have to verify each and every one of them, interact with them, go to them if they are too weak to come, take their photographs, very their age and particulars.”

     

  • Striking workers dare Dickson, picket ministries 

    Striking workers dare Dickson, picket ministries 

    Bayelsa State workers protesting their backlog of unpaid salaries, Friday, stormed ministries in Yenagoa, the state capital to enforce their industrial action.

    The angry workers, it was gathered, ensured that the secretariat was locked and all the offices closed in total compliance with the directive of their union leaders.

    Their action was contrary to the no-work-no-pay threat of the state Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, whose inability to pay different categories of workers had thrown the state into economic hardship.

    Dickson owes civil servants about five months; pensioners for over eight months and local government workers for about 13 months.

    The development has thrown workers and residents in the state into untold hardship with many of them resorting to begging for survival.

    Non-payment of salaries has brought the economy of Bayelsa, known generally as a civil service state to its knees, with many business ventures shutting down operation.

    The workers resorted to strike after 21-day ultimatum they gave to the government expired with the governor not able to meet their demands.

    Dickson who threatened to invoke the no-work-no-pay principle, however, appealed to the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to return to the negotiating table.

    But the workers were said to be further angered by the threat of the governor wondering why Dickson was trying to intimidate civil servants he could not pay for five months.

    Reacting to the Governor’s threat that workers would forfeit their salaries if they failed to work, a rights activist,  Mr. Alagoa Morris,  said that such threat would not work.

    He said: “The threat will not work because if labour leaders allow that to happen, it means they have lost their bearings.  Next time if they call their members out for strike,  they will not obey them.

    “So,  it is always part of the settlement at the end whereby even the government would sign that nobody will be victimised.  It is the workers’ right to embark on strike when things are not going right.

    “It will be unwise at the end of the day, which I know will not happen, that labour will agree and let the Government to punish workers for going on strike. It is always ending with ‘no Victor no vanquished’.”

    He said the governor’s threat was centered on ego, stressing that “threats will be given, threats will be made but it is part of the industrial relation that at the end of the day, they will settle”.

    Morris said he supported the labour action adding that the workers had the right to go on strike.

    He said it is the legitimate right of workers and means to force he hands of the authorities to act appropriately.

    Also, the Chairman, NLC, Bayelsa State, Ndiomu John-Bipre, said the threat would stop the strike adding that they would cross the bridge when they got there.

    Noting that the workers were like children to the governor, he they were crying to Dickson to feel to their pains over the unpaid salaries.