•Governor withholds salaries of affected
persons
There were indications yesterday that the
Seriake Dickson-led Bayelsa State
government has allegedly compiled the
names of 500 workers for punishment for
“supporting” the All Progressives Congress
(APC) in the last December 5 and January 9
governorship polls in the state.
Besides the punishment, it was learnt that
the affected civil servants had not been paid
since last October.
The government is said to be unhappy that
the civil servants worked against Dickson’s
re-election and his party, the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), in the polls that
were marred by widespread violence.
The government’s action is said to be
generating tension with the affected civil
servants planning to seek redress in court.
Dickson was declared the winner of the
election by the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) after defeating
former Governor Timipre Sylva of the APC
and Moses Siasia of the Peoples Democratic
Movement (PDM).
It was gathered that the government set up
“a special committee” in each of the eight
local government areas to monitor the
activities of pro-APC civil servants before
and during the elections.
Workers in the Ministries, Departments and
Agencies (MDAs) within grade levels eight to
17 are said to be affected by the
government’s action.
The order to sanction the “indicted” civil
servants was said to have emanated from
the committee’s report.
It was learnt that the names of the affected
persons were forwarded to the Due Process
Bureau, which operates the automated
payroll system of the state government, for
appropriate action.
The directive reportedly emanated from the
Office of the Secretary to the State
Government (SSG) through the Office of the
Head of Service (HOS) to the Due Process
Bureau.
The bureau, headed by Dickson’s Special
Adviser on Treasury Matters, Mr. Timi
Seipulo, was reportedly asked to implement
the order.
It was also gathered that workers in the
state’s broadcasting corporation and the
sport council were the worst-hit.
A source, who spoke in confidence, noted
that there was a deliberate effort by the
government to flush out those considered
APC members in the civil service.
“Right now, a fresh verification of workers is
ongoing for this singular purpose. Most of
these workers have not received their
salaries since October, last year. While pro-
PDP workers are receiving their salaries,
those perceived to be APC members are
not,” the source said.
One of the affected workers, who did not
want to be named for security reasons, said
the accountant in his establishment told
them their names were missing from the
payroll.

Source: http://thenationonlineng.net/dickson-sanctions-500-workers-for-backing-apc/