Bayelsa 2016: Dickson’s Unending Battles: The Bayelsa Governor,Hon. Seriake Dickson’s performance in the area of Infrastructural development and human capital development and the prediction of a second term may have run into trouble waters. Osa Okhomina, examines the unending battles and disturbing silence among leading members of the ruling PDP on the restoration style of governance in the state. The announcement was sudden and it came at a time no one in the state expected it. And throughout last week, there seem to be a drastic drop in the soaring popularity of the present administration led by Governor Seriake Dickson. This is much unlike past policies that had seen the Hon. Seriake Dickson administration being rated high over an improved Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from few millions into almost N4 billion, the various anti-corruption and fiscal responsibility policies, transparency and monetary savings and educational policies, the dip in rating of the administration came due to the rising dissent among those tagged “Restoration Boys” and the people of the state. With the new twist, politicians including Members of the State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Hon. Kombowei Benson, State Working Committee (SWC) of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some unnamed strong sponsors and supporters of the present administration are complaining of huge slash in expected patronage and allowances. Majority of the people including the political appointees are complaining and groaning under what they called “Restoration Austerity Policy” and has made their appointment and loyalty to the present administration a mere messenger job. The bone of contention, it was gathered, was the decision of the present administration to foot a new fiscal measure due to fall in Federal Revenue. The Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson had proposed new austerity measures that will witnessed a huge slash in remunerations approved for parastatals and travel allowances for Government functionaries including the Governor and his Deputy, Rear Admiral, John Jonah. Governor Seriake Dickson, while announcing the new policy during the signing into law the State 2014 Appropriation Bill of N332 billion, said the decision was based on the worrisome dwindling in the allocation of the state in the last few months with about N5 billion. Dickson noted that though the administration’s policy on monthly savings had saved the state from huge economic downturn, “If necessary economic measures are not put in place, the situation will have serious impact on the economy of the Stated called for the expansion of the revenue base” Governor Seriake Dickson told a crowd of government officials and assembly members present including the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Konbowei Benson, the decline in the monthly allocation from the Federation Account,” the recent economic downturn which has led to sharp reduction in the State’s monthly allocation from the Federation Account is worrisome.” “It was in anticipation of this grim impending economic downturn, that his administration is taking steps to create alternative sources of income flow to boost the revenue profile of the Government. I have directed members of his economic team to expeditiously work out modalities to cut down on the State wage bills such as remunerations approved for parastatals and travel allowances for Government functionaries including the Governor.” At the state owned Niger Delta University,(NDU),Hon. Seriake Dickson showed his serious resolve to actualise the new economic policy by asking the institution to seek alternative sources of revenue, noting that it’s over N6billion annual recurrent expenditure is not sustainable. Dickson asked the institution to prioritize its needs. He also tasked the NDU officials to explore the frontiers of knowledge by developing a robust consultancy department as one of the options of revenue generation to make the university financially autonomous. Underscoring the need for the downward review of the institution’s recurrent expenditure of N500m monthly, the Governor noted that the inspection of projects and facilities at the university has given him an insight into the challenges and prospects of the educational facility. According to him, “This University is the only state-owned university that has a recurrent expenditure that is higher than any other state university. Available records show that your Government spends close to N500 million every month on payment of salaries and sundry entitlements. Now, I have told your Vice Chancellor and the Governing Council that that is not sustainable. “What is the students population for which the State Government is spending N6 billion every year, that is outside investments on infrastructure. I am aware that the responsibility entrusted on me at this point in our history to bring about restoration means that we must take decisions that are right and fair even when they are sometimes unpleasant. “I like to appeal to your sense of commitment and patriotism on this journey. I am charging the university authorities working with our team to re-order your priorities, so that we can have some funds for capital development, because we want this university to be one of the best in Nigeria and the world.” Soliciting the cooperation of members of the NDU to take the university to the next level, the Governor said education was the topmost priority of his administration beyond infrastructural development as any investment made in manpower development was an enduring one While many of the Political Office holders and known political bigwigs supporting the administration seems to have welcomed the decision with heavy silence, other were quick to point to a glaring scenario in which it was alleged that the “Restoration Journey” in the last two years have been more beneficial to the First family and their relatives. While some have lost the zeal to serve as political appointee, others seem to have resorted to seeking new and rewarding ground from Elected and appointed officers at the National level. While many including the Former Secretary-General of Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO),Comrade Morris Alagoa supporting a slash in the salary of Political office holders insisting that it will make political office holders wake up from their slumber, others view the action of the Governor as another “vicious” kick that may not end well for the present administration. A political office holder from Nembe Local Government Council, who spoke with leadership on condition of anonymity, said though some of the policies of the present administration is seen as promoting development and creating a paradigm shift in governance, “the recent unsolicited slashes in our salary and predictably, that of the Civil Servant, may lead to a dramatic end.” “The people of the state are groaning. They supported us in the last two years but the recent harsh conditions coupled with low moral in the system, many are ready for any eventualities. I hope we will not be embarrassed when the President comes in April.” Stay up to date, follow us on Twitter; @LeadershipNGA Original link Read More elotitv/easyblog/entry/bayelsa-2016-dickson-s-unending-battles (y) ✍comment ☏share
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 02:37:05 +0000
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