Bayelsa Plans Low Cost Houses For Civil Servants

In a bid to improve the living conditions of civil servants, Bayelsa State government has disclosed its intention to build low cost houses for them. It has directed the relevant ministry to acquire 100 hectares of land for that purpose.Governor Seriake Dickson, who announced the plan in Yenagoa at a three-day retreat on strategic management for permanent secretaries in the state, said the development was part of the welfare package for civil servants.

The retreat is organised by the state government in collaboration with the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON).Dickson said the project would commence at Agbura in the next two months just as another housing scheme for senior civil servants would be located opposite the five-star hotel in the state capital.

The governor also assured of government intention to add four more buses to the existing fleet of six for the mass transport scheme for civil servants, saying it will take off at the end of the month.He said, “The reforms being undertaken in the civil service were geared towards enhancing the productivity and professionalism of the workforce as the civil service is the instrumentality through which government policies and programmes are implemented”.

He described as wrong and criminal the development where some civil servants without the requisite medical qualifications were benefiting from the medical and health workers salary scale.

Dickson also directed the Ministry of Finance to work in conjunction with the Head of Service and Treasury Department to expunge the names of such medical workers from the special salary scale with effect from this month.In his words, “There is an unhealthy practice in this state.

There are people who are not entitled to earn the medical and health workers’ allowance. Entitlement depends on qualification and not membership of a union. We are working together to lay a foundation of a new Bayelsa State and if we do not do so, Bayelsa will self-destruct.

We must not allow this illegality and impunity to continue.”On the need for workers to pay appropriate taxes in conformity with the Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) of the Federal Government, Dickson said government would soon evolve a tax policy for the private sector in the state to enable all stakeholders to participate in the development of the state. 

SAMUEL ESE, Yenagoa
From Business Day news..

BAYELSA GOVT INVESTS N1.17BN ON AQUACULTURE FARMS

BAYELSA GOVT INVESTS N1.17BN ON AQUACULTURE FARMS
 
Bayelsa government is investing N1.17bn on Aquaculture farms; fish processing and storage facilities, while its foreign partners will source for N2.73bn. The project is expected to gulp N3.9bn.
 
Disclosing this at an interactive session with newsmen, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Thomas Commander said the government has signed a pact with two foreign technical partners to establish Aquaculture Farms, Fish Processing and storage facilities in the state to boost food production for local consumption and export.
 
Dr. Commander said the present administration is taking a giant leap to diversify the economy from oil and gas by taking advantage of its climate that is ideal for massive rice, cassava, banana, fisheries and aqua- culture production.
            
According to him, “P and R International, which is one of the partners, is going to establish a fish farm with a capacity of about 1500 metric tones of Cat fish with 500 metric tons of Tilapia making a total of 2000 metric tons of fish per annum.
 
“In view of the volume of fish that would be produced, they have been asked to also establish a fish processing factory with a capacity of 2500 Metric Tonnes and a Cold Storage Facility
 
These three components amount to 24 million US dollars with a naira equivalent of about N3.9bn. That is the cost, but this amount is to be shared across three important components- fish farm, fish processing factory and the cold storage facility which, has never happened in Nigeria. So it is cost effective and we are sure that we have done the best thing.
 
“In this amount, 30% is what the state is going to pay while the partners are going to source for 70% of this fund. However, there is an agreement that whatever they bring in will be paid back over 24 months.
 
He stated further that in line with the present administration’s target of achieving self-sufficiency in food production, the state would boast of its indigenous rice as government would commence harvest of the produce in the next three months.
 
According to him, government is making frantic efforts in revamping the Peremabiri, Isampou and Kolo farms for commercial rice production, noting that 1000 hectares of land have already been cultivated in Otuasega, Fando and Burma under what he called, “the Outgrowers Scheme.”
 
Dr. Commander maintained that government is working with foreign technical partners on Commercial Cassava Starch Processing Factory at Ebedebiri in Sagbama local government area; while efforts are on to rehabilitate the Bayelsa Palms in partnership with Malaysian experts.
 
 
Daniel Iworiso-Markson
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa State
08/08/2013

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

GOV DICKSON APPOINTED MEMBER OF INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF VISITORS AT PRESTIGIOUS LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, USA

04/08/2013
GOV DICKSON APPOINTED MEMBER OF INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF VISITORS AT PRESTIGIOUS LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, USA
 
Governor Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has been appointed in to the International Board of visitors of the prestigious Lincoln University in the United States of America.
 
In a letter to the Governor, the President of  the University’s Board of visitors, Robert Jennings stated that, the appointment was done based on Governor Dickson’s track record of achievements in all sectors of the state’s economy, especially in education, infrastructure and human capacity development, among others.
 
He noted that, the University, which has closely followed the Governor’s developmental strides since his assumption of office, was proud of the various steps he has taken to reposition as well as make the state more relevant in all spheres of national life.
 
In his acceptance letter, Governor Dickson, described Lincoln University as an institution with unbreakable historic ties to Nigeria and Africa, being the university that produced great African leaders like Late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe of Nigeria and Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, stressing that, he will commit himself to strengthening the vital bridge between the university and Africa, especially Nigeria.
 
While, affirming his preparedness to support every effort geared towards the expansion of the educational, cultural and social links the university shares with Africa and its people, Hon. Dickson noted with satisfaction that as the first university to award degrees to African Americans and having also produced many outstanding graduates that have made valuable contributions to the growth and progress of Nigerians, Lincoln University will continue to hold a special place in the history of the black race.
 
The acceptance letter read in part, “Being the university that produced Nnamdi Azikiwe, my country’s first President, and other monuments to African progress such as Kwame Nkrumah, Lincoln has unbreakable historic ties to Africa and Nigeria.
I am eager to join you in advancing this rich tradition. As you have extended this honour to me, I reciprocate by committing myself to strengthening the vital bridge between your institution and Africa, particularly Nigeria. You shall find me a reliable friend and emissary in support of efforts to expand the educational, cultural, and social links the University now shares with Africa.
 
As the first university to award degrees to African Americans and because of the many outstanding graduates who have contributed to the progress of our people, Lincoln holds a special place in the history of the Black race. As a member of the Board of Visitors, I am morally obligated to honour that history”
 
The Bayelsa State Chief Executive concluded by stating that, he was accepting the appointment, not for himself alone, but on behalf of the Government and people of Bayelsa State and Nigeria in general.
He pledged his commitment to continue to render selfless and quality service to Bayelsa State and Nigeria, adding that, he will give his best shot to the new responsibility given to him by Lincoln University to further enhance the gains of his restoration government in the State.
 
 
Daniel Iworiso-Markson
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa State

“We’ll Turn Bayelsa State into a Top 5 Economy in Africa”… Economic Adviser

Press Release                                 
“We’ll turn Bayelsa State into a top 5 Economy in Africa”… Economic Adviser

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has again reiterated his unflinching resolve to enhance the fortunes of the state by embarking on big ticket investments and leveraging state owned entities to drive the restoration agenda.

The Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, Mr Tamunoye Alazigha disclosed this in Yenagoa today in a strategy meeting with Managing Directors of state owned companies.

Mr Alazigha who is also the Deputy Managing Director of Bayelsa Development and Investment Corporation assured that a new era of efficient resource use and value addition had dawned in the state with the coming on stream of the corporation.

He said the meeting with the companies was informed largely by the crying need to leverage these assets to reposition the state. “The state needs to generate more revenue and these revenues in turn needs to be optimal deployed to meet the needs of citizens. And this is what Governor Dickson is doing; bringing about socio-economic and infrastructural transformation to address our key developmental challenges,” he enthused

He noted that the BDIC was taking steps to collaborate with the companies in developing key sectors of the economy but was, however, quick to emphasize that it was expedient to start small and grow into a behemoth rather than taking up more than could be handled at the formative stages of any project.

He recounted that most business started small and focused on areas where they had comparative advantage.He said Bayelsa State has comparative advantages in a whole lot of sectors including tourism, Oil and Gas and Maritime but hinted that lack of proper harnessing of these resources had meant that revenues had been lost in the past.

Mr Alazigha asserted that the whole idea of vesting assets in the corporation was, therefore, to show value by embarking on biggest impact projects with lowest cost and highest profit margins, noting however, that for each unit of returns, “we have to measure the risk and take steps to mitigate it”“The people in the state, the living conditions and quality of life generally is of very great concern to the Governor.

The BDIC is the strategic enabler to grow the wealth of Bayelsans so that on the whole we can say with a certain degree of exactitude that life in Bayelsa is far better than what used to be. And this is what drives our passion to deliver the goods. We are extremely committed to touch lives positively.”

According to him, the era when the entities were mere conduit pipes through which monies were siphoned by previous administrations was over, adding that going forward, the administration of Gov Seriake Dickson through the BDIC would liase with the various heads to build creative capital that would eventually generate financial capital and add value to the state.

Earlier, the Managing Directors of the Companies had enumerated several challenges assailing them principal of which was the lack of take -off capital, huge outstanding liabilities and, of course, funding generally.Responding, the Deputy Managing Director charged the directors to be more proactive in their strategies in order to circumvent and surmount the challenges by constantly devising means of generating income.Under the new arrangement, the Corporation is to serve as a holding company for subsidiary entities.

The strategy meeting was convened by the BDIC to examine the status of the companies with a view to enabling it take strategic action plans aimed at repositioning the companies for efficient production and quality service delivery.

It had in attendance, the Managing Directors of Bayelsa Airlines, Cpt. Henry Ungbuku, Bayelsa Hotels and Tourism Development Company, Dr. Bribena who was represented by Head of Admin, Mr. Samuel Ikiba, Bayelsa Property and Investment Company, Mr. Azana Patrick Azazi and Mr. Morris Walson, a Board Member of Bayelsa Farms.

 It will be recalled that Bayelsa is 6.6% of Nigeria’s economy, the fourth largest, 3rd largest oil producer and 7th largest fish basket.   However, 92 % of its 2million population reside in the rural areas, underscoring the imperatives for rural infrastructural development.What is more, its GSP of N2.4 trillion or $18.5bn is large enough to attract the right kind of investors to catalyze development, as it is larger than the national and combined GDP of Guinea Bissau, Gambia, Cape Verde and Liberia.

Interestingly, among the 15 ECOWAS nations, only Ghana and Cote’d Voire have national GDPs larger than Bayelsa’s GSP.This clearly shows that the state occupies a key position in the emerging political economy of Africa and that the objective to translate it to a top 5 economy in Africa is not just political grandstanding or hocus pocus but is indeed, achievable if round pegs are put in round holes.

But this potential has been seriously threatened by the structural imbalances which require oil revenue (96% of GSP) to be remitted to the central government and distributed based on some whimsical fiscal parameters that put the state at a disadvantaged position.

And this is why the Governor sought for and got a seasoned investment banker like Tamunoye Alazigha who has in his kitty over 19 years of experience in financial management at JP Morgan Chase, US Trust Bank of America, and BGL to pilot the affairs of the corporation.

Indeed, the state has several investment potentials waiting to be harnessed in tourism and hospitality, agriculture, aquaculture, oil and Gas, power, mineral deposits and infrastructure.

And the challenge in the form of lack of indigenous skilled manpower and harsh geographical terrain, according to the Chief Economic Adviser, only represent opportunities for growth and investment.But the absence of a focused, visionary, ambitious and charismatic leadership in the past has meant that over the years these potentials had been left largely untapped.

Today, however, a new Bayelsa is emerging. The story is beginning to be different.Already, the BDIC has been instrumental in jumpstarting and leapfrogging the economy by attracting core investors into critical sectors like hospitality and tourism, agriculture and aviation, health and energy to mention but a few.  

Signed:  Famous Obebi Famous
Special Assistant (Media) to the Chief Economic Adviser 

PDP DETERMINES NATION’S STABILITY, AS DICKSON URGES MEMBERS TO CLOSE RANKS

The Bayelsa State Governor and the Chairman of the newly inaugurated Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party,PDP Reconciliation Committee, Hon. Seriake Dickson says the stability of the Country depends on the stability of the PDP.

This, according to him is as a result of the Party’s spread and its unbroken hold on power in the last 14 years, noting that, the party remains the strongest centripetal force that holds the diverse Country together irrespective of the threat to its very existence as an indivisible country.

Making this known in his acceptance speech as the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Dickson stressed the need for members of the Party to put aside their differences and forge a common front, adding that the interest of the nation should be of paramount interest in the minds of people, both in the political and non- political fields.

Noting the relevance of the PDP in the nation’s  polity, the Governor said, it now becomes imperative for its members to work together as a team to enhance the success of the party in future elections.According to him, ‘‘at no time in our history has our nation’s unity come under sustained and several attacks as it is now.

Mr. Chairman instead of building a political platform for the unity and development of the Country, the way our party is doing, the centrifugal forces are exploiting our diversity to expand the attacks and even making political capital out of them.‘‘Let me stress here that the PDP is the only political platform from pre-independence till date that has made it possible for a so called minority to win presidential ticket and general election as President.‘‘

A large platform like the PDP cannot be devoid of several tendencies, conflict of interest and all manner of crises. But as democrats, we must evolve ways of appreciating them and resolving crises within the party without stifling people. I think this is what you have done by setting up reconciliation committee’’

Calling on the members to support the reconciliatory efforts of the various committees set up by the leadership of the Party, the Governor disclosed that the mandate of his committee is to provide the template that will make the ruling party organize credible primaries and select candidates for elections.Urging the members to take advantage of the Committee, Hon. Dickson said, ‘it is the Party, and only the Party that wins election; no individual has the capacity to single handedly win an election. To us, the Party is like a race horse, anybody can ride once it is strong’

Daniel Iworiso-Markson                                                                                                           
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa State 
25/07/2013

GOV. DICKSON TO OPEN OFFICE TO COLLATE AND HARMONISE PROJECTS BY AGENCIES/COMPANIES, ALSO TO CHECK DUPLICATION OF PROJECTS

GOV. DICKSON TO OPEN OFFICE TO COLLATE AND HARMONISE PROJECTS BY AGENCIES/COMPANIES, ALSO TO CHECK DUPLICATION OF PROJECTS

  A Partnership Office is to be established soon in Bayelsa State to collate and harmonize all development needs of communities in the State. When established, it will also serve as a one stop office to equally authenticate and harmonize all development efforts being undertaken by interventionist agencies as well as check the duplication of projects.

 Governor Seriake Dickson dropped the hint during a tripartite meeting between the state government, Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC and Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC on the construction of the Ogbia and Nembe road project. “I like to thank SPDC and NDDC, which are our development partners for their initiative and investments over the years, particularly on this road and all the interventionist projects that are going on.

In this state we are establishing the Partnership Office and once it is functional, it will be a one stop office that will collate and harmonise all development needs of our communities and various efforts by the interventionist agencies they are handling.” When functional, the Governor explained that, all interventionist agencies would liaise directly with the partnership office and communities to streamline their activities. 

In his words: “This meeting has been summoned because we want to know the state of affairs of the Ogbia/Nembe road. I campaigned on the need to invest in critical infrastructure in this state and we are delivering on that”  Governor Dickson explained that the meeting was convened for representatives of the companies involved in the execution of the Ogbia/Nembe road project to brief him on the position of the road to enable government intervene where necessary to ensure that the project is delivered on schedule. 

 He stressed that it was necessary to move on to the next phase of the road project, which he described as the most expensive and challenging in order to ensure completion of the project within the stipulated time frame. 

While, pointing out that construction work was already ongoing on two senatorial roads, expressed concern over the delay of work on the Nembe-Brass road, stressing that, his administration was desirous of opening up the state to boost socio-economic activities. “We have the objective of hitting the Atlantic Ocean on three main fronts.

The west through Ekeremor and Agge; that job is going on, the central through Yenagoa-Oporoma-Koluama-Ukubie, work is going on seriously as we speak but then our plans to get to the Atlantic in Brass cannot move further if we are not sure of a realistic time frame for the completion of the road already started from Ogbia to Nembe because the road we want to take is from Nembe to Brass. But even if that road is started and finished, it will be of no effect unless we first ensure that we can get to Nembe and that is why that project is very important to us.

 In an interview with government house correspondents shortly after the meeting, Secretary to the state government, Prof. Edmund Alison Oguru, said the issues responsible for the delay on the project were discussed as well as ways and means to address the challenges. 

Also in his remarks, Chairman of the Directorate of Project Monitoring and Evaluation, Chief Walter Feghabo-Amain said the meeting deliberated on issues of compensation and local content employment. Chief Feghabo-Amain who doubles as chairman of the Project Monitoring Committee of the Ogbia/Nembe road noted that, compensation for those whose farms were affected by the project and the issue of employment for communities situated along the road would be addressed. 

In their separate interviews, representatives of SPDC, Mr. Evans Krukrubo, NDDC, Mr. Edi Orubo and the Project Manager of SETRACO, Senaka Rupanett, stated that the partners involved in the execution of the road have expressed commitment to the completion of the project in 2015.

Mr. Krukrubo said the SPDC was funding the project by 70% while the commissioner on the board of the NDDC, Mr. Orubo observed that the meeting would go a long way in improving the performance level of the commission as outstanding payments to it would be sorted out in the next one week.       

Daniel Iworiso-Markson
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa State
25/07/2013