BAYELSA GOVT PARTNERS FOREIGN FIRMS ON MASSIVE FISH PRODUCTION …… MAPS OUT STRATEGY TO UNCOVER PAYROLL FRAUD

BAYELSA GOVT PARTNERS FOREIGN FIRMS ON MASSIVE FISH PRODUCTION
…… MAPS OUT STRATEGY TO UNCOVER PAYROLL FRAUD
 
Bayelsa State Government has signed a bilateral agreement worth millions of dollars with two foreign firms- P&R International Limited and Onida Development Company for the establishment of aquaculture farm project and fish processing plant in Angalabiri, Sagbama local government area of the state.
 
Also, the Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson sought the support of well meaning people in the state, including media practitioners in uncovering payroll fraud, adding that all hands should be on deck to rid the civil service of corrupt and sharp practices.
 
Rendering his account of stewardship during the Monthly Transparency Press briefing held on Tuesday at the Banquet Hall Yenagoa, Governor Dickson said the State posted N19.9bn at the end of July,2013 after statutory deductions and capital payments.
 
The governor disclosed that the Fish Farm project upon completion would increase the revenue profile of the State as well as create employment opportunities.
 
Stressing the need for diversification from oil and gas sector of the economy, Hon. Dickson said investment in the agricultural sector; especially aquaculture fish farm is one of the cardinal programmes of his Restoration Agenda.
 
In realization of this lofty aim, the governor disclosed that 500 youths drawn from the eight local government areas of the state are undergoing training in Songhai Farms in Benin Republic, while the government has concluded plans to set up an Agricultural School to train middle level manpower.
 
His words, “we want to be number one as far as Aquaculture is concerned not only in this country but in our continent and beyond because we have the climate.
 
“We have also a contract for the development of a PGA rated Golf Course of the highest International standard and with the assurances that I have been given and with the little that I have come to know about what our contractor has delivered already in this country, I expect that you will perform according to the terms of the contract.
 
“As you know, our government is serious about broadening the base of our economy because that is the right thing to do. On our own part, we have got to invest more and more in Agriculture. We want large cassava, banana and plantain plantations springing up here. This is where we have the climate. We are also working with partners to develop oil palm resources and in all of these because agriculture going forward is going to be a major plan upon which a viable economy will be based in this state.
 
Giving the financial breakdown on behalf of Governor Dickson, the Deputy Governor, Retired Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah declared N19.96bn as balance of funds available after statutory deductions including recurrent expenditure and capital receipts.
 
He explained that out of a gross inflow of N17.96bn, FAAC deductions took N2.07bn leaving the state with a net inflow of approximately N15.9bn.
 
Rear Admiral John Jonah, who put the Internally Generated Revenue for June at N658m, announced that civil servants salaries gulped N3.96bn while N428m was spent on the payment of political appointees’ salaries.
 
Daniel Iworiso-Markson
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa State