25th July, 2018
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa, Perekeme Kpodoh, has urged Governor Seriake Dickson to reduce his alleged frequent trips outside the state as this was affecting the people.
Kpodoh also claimed such trips are wasteful and affecting good governance in the state.
The chieftain said rather than always travelling, the governor should partner with investors and politicians for positive impacts.
According to him, “These frequent travels are without benefits. We can count how many days he has travelled. Many issues need attention in Bayelsa. Everybody is complaining of Sylva and late Alameiseigha’s travelling pattern, but Governor Dickson has traveled more than both of them combined.
“We want a governor that will focus on development and not hunkering around the country in the name of politics and shutting government businesses and accounting. if he is around, the issue of rising complaint among workers of the state civil service would have been looked into.
“Workers are crying that their salary packages are being mutilated through illegal deductions. What is happening? Do Bayelsa workers not deserving of true wages?”
Kpodoh also noted that in line with a new data released by the Bureau of Public
Service on the number of state workforce and the recorded allocation of between N14 billion and N17 billion naira, Bayelsa would have done much in the area of practical development.
“Unlike the past administrations, the ongoing controversial reforms have saved money for the present administration but without proper utilisation.
“What we are talking about is that if the monies are judiciously used, the state would have witnessed massive and proper development. Every Bayelsan would have benefitted.
“Bayelsa people have been patient with reforms and the figures released monthly as allocation. But they are not benefiting. If most projects are done through direct labour, with recruitment of indigent Bayelsans, contracts awarded with quick win projects, it would have solved issues of unemployment and rising insecurity,” he said.
The APC chieftain said a coalition of politicians and civil activists were still collating facts and figures on the spending of state funds and projects embarked upon by the government.