The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Seriake Dickson

  • Bayelsa govt. moves to avert primary school teachers strike

    Bayelsa govt. moves to avert primary school teachers strike

    The payment of April salary for primary school teachers in Bayelsa has averted a planned three-day warning strike by teachers in the state.

    The state chapter of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) had planned to proceed on a warning strike to press for payment of up to seven months’ salary arrears.

    Dr Agatha Goma, Bayelsa Commissioner for Local Government Administration, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa on Sunday that the ministry had met with the teachers union to avert the strike.

    Goma commended the primary school teachers for their patience and assured that the state government would implement all agreements reached with their union.

    She attributed the delay in the payment of the salaries to paucity of funds due to dwindling revenue as a result of economic downturn.

    The commissioner explained that the local government share of the Paris Club refunds was deployed to the payment of salaries of primary school teachers.

    According to her, as part of government demonstration of good faith, local council workers are now getting full salary as against half salaries paid last year.

    The commissioner said the state government would continue to work with the local authorities to find permanent solution to the lingering financial crisis in the councils.

    Goma said government was aware of the critical roles of teachers in the ongoing educational revolution in the state and would not toy with their welfare.

    “Teachers welfare is pivotal to Gov. Seriake Dickson’s revolution in the education sector. There is no deliberate effort to undermine teachers’ welfare.

    “The issues of half salary in 2016 and delays in payment arose because of the recession in the Nigerian economy.

    “But the teachers should be assured that government is concerned about their welfare and everything is being done to find a permanent solution to this challenge,” Goma said.

     

  • Niger Delta University: Students lament hike in fees

    Niger Delta University: Students lament hike in fees

    Students of the Bayelsa government- owned Niger Delta University (NDU) at Amasoma have decried increase in school fees and other levies in the university, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    Some of the students, who bemoaned the increment describing it as outrageous, insensitive and anti-masses, predicted that many indigent students would drop out of school as their parents would not be able to pay.

    NAN reports that the government and the university’s management increased school fees by over 200 per cent for both Arts and Science students.

    For instance, second year students of the Faculty of Nursing who paid the sum of N37, 000 as school fees last year would now pay N100, 000.

    The increase in fees at the NDU is sequel to a new policy of the state government which had directed the university to fend for itself and stop depending on subventions from the government.

    The students, however, expressed fears that the upward review of school fees could have serious security implications for the state and the Niger Delta region already battling with the challenge of militancy and other social vices.

    They complained that most of their parents who were civil servants in the state did not receive salary regularly.

    The aggrieved students wondered where the government expected their sponsors to get the resources when it was not meeting its obligations to the workers in the state.

    Agbogidi Emomotimi, President of National Union of Bayelsa State Students (NUBSS), appealed to the government and the university management to review the fees downward to avert mass dropouts.

    Emomotimi said many students owed school fees for the previous academic sessions, the reason for which semester examination results had not been released.

    “One thing we must understand is that the Ijaw man is one generation backward educationally. That’s why the Niger Delta University was established so that the Ijaw man can go to university even without money.

    “We are shocked that the restoration government of Governor Seriake Dickson that declared a state of emergency on education can increase school fees to this extent.

    “Even last year when school fees was N29,000, over 50 per cent of NDU students could not pay their school fees up to this academic session.

    “That’s why results have not been released. There will be a lot of school drop-outs if these high fees are not changed,” he said.

    v

  • Dickson, Bayelsa mourn, death of first military leader

    The people of Bayelsa State and their Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, have been thrown into mourning following the death of the state’s first Military Administrator, Navy Capt. Philip Ayeni.

    Dickson in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, condoled with the immediate family, the Government and people of Ekiti State over 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, reportedly died last Thursday, after a protracted illness.

    Dickson described Ayeni’s death as untimely, painful and devastating, saying it happened at a time, the state was beginning to reap the benefits of the policies he initiated as the administrator.

    He said though, the tenure of Ayeni was cut short by his health challenges, he meant well for the state and had genuine intentions to put the Bayelsa on a sound, progressive and worthy pedestal.

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

    He recalled that, in appreciation of his pacesetting roles and sacrifices, the state government recently built, furnished and presented a befitting residential apartment to Ayeni at his country home in Ekiti.

    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.

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

    “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”

    He pointed out that, the beautiful and wonderful story of Bayelsa State would never be complete, without the pioneering legacies and efforts of Ayeni, adding that, the Government and people of the state would remain ever grateful to him.

    Dickson assured the government and people of Ekiti of the continued support of Bayelsans and prayed for God’s grace to guide, protect and  strengthen the deceased family.

     

  • Dickson signs 2017 appropriation bill into law

    The Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, has signed the 2017 appropriation bill of N243.2b and the Educational Development Trust Fund (EDTF) Amendment bill into law.

    A Government House statement issued on Monday said Dickson while assenting to the bills noted that the budget tagged: “Budget of Repositioning For Consolidation” was designed to complete various on-going projects in the state.

    Dickson said the government appropriated N111billion for capital projects and called on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure strict implementation of the budget.

    He asked the ministries to fast-track the processes of awarding contracts, adding that his administration was committed to completing most of the projects and programmes this year.

    Dickson, however, said that recurrent expenditures such as salaries, pensions, gratuities and overhead would gulp the remaining balance of the budget.

    He commended workers in the state for their understanding and patience, saying the government was working out modalities on the payment of the backlog of salary arrears owed workers.

     

     

  • 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.

  • Niger Delta Youth Coalition supports Gov. Dickson educational policies

    The Niger Delta Youths Coalition for Peace and Progress (NDYCPP) on Sunday commended the educational policies of Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Dickson had on 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 would be used to run secondary educational institutions in the state and to provide revolving loans to indigent students in tertiary institutions.

    NDYPP in a statement signed by Pastor Olayinka Tiedor and Chief Henry Nabena, Acting National Chairman and Acting State Chairman in Bayelsa respectively pledged to collaborate with Bayelsa government to sensitise the public to contribute towards the trust funds.

    The coalition noted that the educational programmes of the Dickson’s led administration in Bayelsa were panacea to reverse the educational backwardness of the state.

    It noted that the establishment of Ijaw National Academy, a model boarding secondary school providing scholarship to 1, 000 students from the Niger Delta region 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 in the state.

    “This will also check youth restiveness in the state by providing opportunity to 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 several youth groups across the Niger Delta with structures in all the states and Local Government Areas of the region, remain a viable youth advocacy platform.

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

    The group further stated that in collaboration with the Bayelsa Ministry of Agriculture, it had facilitated the participation of some 200 youths in the CBN Anchor Borrowers Scheme for Fish/Cassava farmers.

    It stated that the target of empowering 5,000 youths was feasible going by its efforts in agriculture, entrepreneurship development, wealth creation and existing partnership with the three tiers of government and private sector

    The group also lauded the plans of Bayelsa government to float Bayelsa Young Entrepreneurship Programme to provide soft loan to youths with viable business ideas capable of creating jobs to decongest the labour market.

    Meanwhile, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) on Sunday urged state governors in the Niger Delta region to priotitise education and step up investment in education.

    The youth group was reacting to the foundation laying for Senate building of Niger Delta University by Gov. Seriake Dickson in Amassoma, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa on Thursday.

    Secretary of the IYC Mr Parkins Ogede said that the Dickson has taken the bull by the horns in tackling the educational disadvantage of the region by initiating the education development trust fund (EDTF) in the state.

    The group urged other governors in the region to emulate Gov. Dickson by paying attention to education.

    Ogede said that IYC will not hesitate to call out under-performing state 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.

  • Unions oppose collection of education levy from Bayelsa civil servants

    The labour unions in Bayelsa, on Friday, opposed the Higher Education Students’ Loan and Education Development Trust Fund Law, which is meant to collect education levy from civil servants.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the law was signed to take effect on Wednesday by Gov. Seriake Dickson in Yenagoa.

    The law makes it mandatory for government officials in Bayelsa public service as well as those in the private sector to contribute to the education fund.

    The government is expected to contribute 10 per cent of the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to support the education fund on a monthly basis.

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), explained that with the withdrawal of a 20 per cent tax waiver earlier granted to civil servants, the proposed levy would pose additional burden to them.

    The Bayelsa chapter NLC chairman, Mr John Ndiomu, who said that the workers were in support of the education development of the state, however, believed that the State Government could afford to finance it.

    Ndiomu urged the State Government to review the levy, as workers, who were  owed a backlog of salaries of more than six months, were grappling with how to survive the current recession.

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

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

    Shortly after signing the law, Dickson implored the workers to refrain from politicising the policy.

    He disclosed that N50 billion had so far been invested in the education sector by the  State Government.

     

  • Jonathan backs Dickson’s peace committee

    Jonathan backs Dickson’s peace committee

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday threw his weight behind the Governor Seriake Dickson-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Peace and Reconciliation Committee, insisting that a political solution remained the best option to resolving ongoing crisis in the party.

    Receiving the governor and members of the committee in his country home at Otuoke, Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State, Jonathan urged the contending parties to embrace negotiations as a way out of the current party challenge.

    Jonathan, who made the remarks after receiving the report of the peace Committee, said party affairs should be treated like a family matter and settled out of court.

    He commended the Dickson-led committee immensely for its good work, saying members of the committee deserved encouragement.

    The former President particularly thanked the governor and his entourage for going round the country to meet with key stakeholders and leaders of the party to seek ways of returning peace to the PDP.

    Jonathan expressed reservation over the use of courts to settle political matters, stressing that a political solution would ensure a win-win outcome for the warring groups within the party.

    He said: “I believe a political solution remains the best means of resolving the crisis in the party and that’s why the Dickson committee must be commended.

    “No two parties go to court and come out smiling especially for a political party like the PDP that is in the opposition,” he said.

    Giving instances of people who went to court and at the end could not get the desired result, Jonathan insisted that courts should ordinarily have no business in deciding who should be the chairman of a political party.

    The ex- President urged the parties to submit themselves to a political solution and expressed hope that it would finally resolve the protracted crisis.

     

     

  • 2019: Lawyer advises PDP to resolve crisis fast

    2019: Lawyer advises PDP to resolve crisis fast

    A lawyer, Mr Onyekachi Ubani, on Friday advised PDP to resolve its problems internally and politically to enhance preparations for the 2019 general elections.

    Ubani gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    He was reacting to filing of a motion by the Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led PDP Caretaker Committee to strike out an appeal challenging the restoration of Sen. Ali-Modu Sheriff as the party’s national chairman.

    NAN reports that the Supreme Court had on Thursday fixed May 4 to hear the motion.

    The Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led caretaker committee is praying the Supreme Court to upturn the Feb.17 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt, which restored Sheriff.

    Ubani told NAN that both factions of the PDP should adhere to Gov. Seriake Dickson’s Reconciliation Committee’s call for peace.

    “PDP can put its house together for 2019 if it solves the problem politically.

    “If they (PDP members) insist on court actions, and the court makes a pronouncement, I do not see any reconciliation.

    “The best way is to put the matter out of court; both factional chairman should agree not to contest for the leadership of the party and allow neutral people to emerge as leaders.

    “The moment they want this matter to be solved by the Supreme Court, the court’s pronouncement may be in favour of any of the factions, and the other faction may not accept it.

    Ubani warned that continuation of the crisis would ‘kill’ the party.

    “If they resolve this matter internally and politically without allowing the court to make the final pronouncement, the PDP factions may be on the verge of reconciliation,” Ubani said.

    NAN reports that the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt had on Feb. 17 affirmed Sheriff as the national chairman of the party.

    The PDP had in its May 2016 national convention resolved to sack the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

    In place of the NWC and National Executive Committee of the party, the convention constituted a National Caretaker Committee headed by Sen. Ahmed Makarfi to manage the party and organise an elective national convention.

    Sheriff challenged the development in court and secured judgment in his favour

     

  • PDP crisis: My committee report not sacrosanct – Dickson

    PDP crisis: My committee report not sacrosanct – Dickson

    The Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has said the report of his reconciliation committee is not sacrosanct.

    Dickson stated this in Abuja on Wednesday while presenting a copy of the report to the Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The report, which contained recommendations for the conduct of the party’s national convention, was last week, presented to the court backed National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff.

    The governor said the report was not tailored to favour any group or individual, contrary to insinuations in some quarters, adding that the document is open to amendment.

    He said, “It’s just a proposal that the committee came up with. It is not cast in stone so it is not sacrosanct. We are still consulting with key organs and stakeholders in the party. So it is still subject to amendment.

    “Anyone with superior ideas and views on the document would be given the opportunity to make contributions because we made the proposal in good faith.”

    The governor said he came to submit the report to the caretaker committee to enable its members make contributions in form of amendment or additional suggestions on the way forward.

    Rueing the leadership crisis in the party, Governor Dickson sought the cooperation and contribution of the Makarfi group in finding political solution to the crisis.

    He added: “Now the party has challenges, the institutions are intact. The organs of the party are intact, they are not affected by the crisis and as such, they can play their role and their leaders are known.

    “We have them certainly as committee and we have said the convention committee can handle even the zoning and we should be able to confide in the judgement and wisdom of the leaders of the party.”