GOVERNOR DICKSON,BAYELSA’S UNSUSTAINABLE WAGE BILL AND HIS NEW AIDE

By Afolabi Olayinka

On Friday the 19th day of July 2013, Governor Seriake Dickson of the oil rich Bayelsa State presented the financial balance sheet for the month of June at the monthly transparency briefing in Yenagoa. The Governor lamented the wage burden of the state. According to him, expending N4.3 billion on workers’ salaries is unsustainable for the economy of Bayelsa.

He said that the state government’s wage bills “over the months remain a sour point in our financial balance sheet’’
“I disagree with this figure of N4.3billion because it is not sustainable for our economy.

“We must come together and do something urgently to reduce this figure. We have to do something if we must grow our economy,’’

The governor further said that N2.6 billion was received by the state government as statutory allocation from the federation account for June.

He said the total derivation of the state was N9.39 billion, and that the total financial inflow to the state stood at N19.09 billion
Mr. Dickson further explained that while the state government had continued to spend huge amount of money to run the government, the internally-generated revenue (IGR) remained minimal. He said the IGR of the state for the month of June was N645.39million.

“While we complain of the huge burden of our workers’ salary, our internal-generated revenue had remained poor; we must strive to improve it,’’ he said.

The day was one of lamentation not only for the Governor but for all Bayelsans. Not a few wondered how Bayelsa managed to accumulate a wage bill of N4.3 billion naira considering that its entire population is less than 2million. Arguments arose in not a few quarters as to the validity of the claims of the Governor. Some made reference to Lagos State with a workforce which exceeds Bayelsa’s entire population. Lagos however has a wage bill of around N4.7billion monthly . Some joked that there were perhaps spirits,ghosts,hippopotamus and manatee on the workforce of Bayelsa State. But all in all,the atmosphere was one of despair and the one thing that binded all Bayelsans was the hope that their Governor will find a way to rid the workforce of all the ghosts and spirits bedeviling it.


By Saturday, Bayelsans had reason to cheer when one of their own,eighteen year old Anna Banner was crowned the 26th most beautiful girl in Nigeria. The mood was lively and congratulatory messages were exchanged between Bayelsans and for a fleet moment, the somber mood of the previous day was absent, or so they thought. The Silverbird group which organized the MBGN competition presented miss Banner with a brand new car, undisclosed sum of money with numerous additional prizes. She will also represent Nigeria at the miss world 2013 finale scheduled to hold in Jakarta. The young lady was visibly joyous at the windfall and couldn’t have asked for more. But then she got more from no other than Governor Seriake Dickson, the host governor who perhaps out of the enormous joy in his heart, appointed Miss Anna Banner as “honorary” Special Assistant to the Honorable Governor on Culture and Tourism and also declared her the Tourism Ambassador of Bayelsa State. The Governor also stated that Bayelsa will host future MBGN competitions and winners will serve in same capacity.


It is not in doubt that Governor Seriake Dickson meant well with his proclamations, What is in doubt is if the governor has the best interest of Bayelsans at heart. It is inconceivable that just a few hours after giving a somber presentation in which the primary cause for concern was the overbloated wage bill of Bayelsa, the Governor will be handing out frivolous and inconsequential appointments which will serve the interest of Nobody. It is a well known fact that the Silverbird group has a pre-determined schedule for winners of the MBGN. Her appearances are scheduled and for that Year, she is the property of the Silverbird group. This then leaves one to wonder what time,if any Miss Banner will have to fulfil her duties in Bayelsa State. Duties for which she will no doubt earn a humongous sum which will add to the burden of the already overburdened wage bill.

This action of the Governor only reminds one of a similar one in which he appointed the wife of the President, Dame Patience Jonathan as permanent secretary in Bayelsa State. Mrs Jonathan has neither resumed to her duty post nor has she been relieved of her position, yet she continues to draw a huge salary. This actions of the Governor make it clear how appointments and employments are made in bayelsa. it is now clear that in Bayelsa, Qualification and Job Preparedness are not considered before employment is offered.

Governor Dickson admitted that Bayelsa received total inflow of over 19billion Naira in the month of June this is more that the allocation of Ekiti, Osun and Ogun States put together. It will be good if he endeavours to channel this huge sum to developmental projects rather than frivolous appointments.

http://afolayinka./2013/07/22/governor-dicksonbayelsas-unsustainable-wage-bill-and-his-new-aide/

Bleeping!Bleeping!Bleeping!Her bosom is* Dick* sorry Dickson's
target.No more no less.Honorary special assistant my foot.
Pastor Bakare has said we shuld pray that God shuld dry up these
Politicians high libidinal tendencies.