Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson says his administration will continue to meet its financial obligations including payment of salaries, execution and completion of developmental projects, in spite of the drop in the allocations to the state from the Federation Account.
Giving the assurance at the monthly Transparency briefing for the months of July and August at the State Banquet Hall, Yenagoa on Monday, the Governor said the drop in allocation was not peculiar to the state alone but the state is worst hit because of its low Internally Generated Revenue base.
However, the governor assured that this development would not affect his administration’s development agenda, especially in the area of human and capacity building.
According to him, all the projects embarked upon by the present administration will be completed while new ones will be embarked upon and this will not stop until all the communities in the state feel the impact of the government.
“Bayelsa state is on course in spite of the nationwide drop in revenue allocation. The state is still meeting up its salaries and contractual obligations, though not at the pace we actually wanted.”
Explaining the shortfall in the revenue allocation, the governor stated, ‘in July and August, the shortfall is almost two billion naira and it has been consistently so for the past two years. Though it is nationwide, Bayelsa state is worst hit because of its low IGR base and as if that is not enough, we have also paid one hundred and thirty seven million naira to a neighbouring state as refund for an overpayment to a previous administration but we shall surely get over this trying time.
On the security situation in the State, Hon. Dickson expressed sadness over the few kidnap cases recorded in some part of the state recently.
While assuring people of the state of the administration commitment towards keeping Bayelsa safe for residents, business and other socio-economic activities, the Governor warned perpetrators of such nefarious activities to steer clear of the state as security operatives are on red alert.
According to him, some suspects have already been apprehended in connection with the abduction and murder of an octogenarian in Brass local government area of the State.
On the highly dreaded Ebola Virus Disease, the Governor allayed the fear over the spread of the disease, adding that, there is no single case of Ebola in Bayelsa. All the wards in the isolated centres are empty. We thank God for that.
He, however, advised the people to report any case of Ebola to the designated centres, adding that, this is not the time to visit prayer warriors or herbalists. Ebola is not a death sentence. It can be taken care of when discovered and attended to promptly.
The danger is when victims hide themselves and by doing so endanger lives of other people.
