The Bayelsa State Government on Wednesday announced that, acquisition of the new 64 page electronic passport would be at no cost to its workers as part of efforts to promote their welfare. Governor Seriake Dickson stated this at the Nigeria Immigration Service in Yenagoa, while flagging off the new electronic passport exercise, that was recently launched by the Federal Government. He emphasized that, the move was part of the welfare package for civil servants and would assist them travel outside the shores of the country, especially to embark on pilgrimages and other purposes. In his words: “We have a robust policy which would be implemented very…
Author: Bayelsa News
The re-election bid of Governor Seriake Dickson come 2016, received a boost as members of the State House of Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a vote of confidence on his administration. The Governor had during the last Monthly Transparency Briefing commended the various groups in the state for endorsing him for a second term, stating that, their request would be prayerfully looked into and responded to at the appropriate time. Acknowledgement of the governor’s efforts at transforming the state, especially in the areas of human capacity building was attested to by the lawmakers during the Governor’s inspection of the re-modeled…
Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson says his administration will continue to meet its financial obligations including payment of salaries, execution and completion of developmental projects, in spite of the drop in the allocations to the state from the Federation Account. Giving the assurance at the monthly Transparency briefing for the months of July and August at the State Banquet Hall, Yenagoa on Monday, the Governor said the drop in allocation was not peculiar to the state alone but the state is worst hit because of its low Internally Generated Revenue base. However, the governor assured that this development would not affect his administration’s development agenda, especially in the…
In keeping with the already established policy of his administration to declare the finances of the State to the people, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State is to address another edition of the monthly Transparency Initiative Briefing. The briefing, which is scheduled for the Banquet Hall of Government House in Yenagoa, holds at three O’clock in the afternoon. A Government House statement has also requested representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, the Trade Union Congress, TUC, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union, RATTAWU and the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA. Other invited groups…
Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa state has noted with regret, the increasing rate of unemployment around the world, with an assurance that, his administration will not relent in current efforts at creating jobs for the teeming youths of the state. Describing unemployment as a global phenomenon, the Governor, argued that, the restoration government in the state has employed more Bayelsa youths than many other governments, stressing that, about 200 forestry guards from different local government areas have recently been engaged on the basis of equal representation.According to the Governor, in order to reduce the level of unemployment in the state,…
Bayelsa State Governor, Hon Seriake Dickson says, marriage being an institution ordained by God should be jealously guided and protected by couples at all times. The Governor gave this charge at the traditional matrimony between former Miss Elizabeth Bassey Efa and Mr. Idumam Adegi Asara, son of Chief Asara A. Asara, the Obanema of Akipelai community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State in Calabar, Cross River State. Represented by his Principal Executive Secretary, Hon. Douye Diri, he described marriage as a sacred duty, which a man and a woman must strive to undertake at some point of their…
The death of Professor Dora Akunyili has been described as not only shocking and painful, but a personal loss to the Government and people of Bayelsa State on account of her major contribution to the establishment of the Drug Mart in the State capital, Yenagoa. In his tribute to late Professor Dora Akunyili, Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson said, the edifice housing the mart is a telling story of the essential Akunyili as a caring and visionary leader that was always poised to eradicate the prevalence of fake drugs in the state and the country as a whole. According…
Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State says, the Government will continue to give priority to the welfare and well-being of its workforce, despite the decline in federal allocation. In an exclusive interview with newsmen in Government House, Yenagoa, Governor Dickson disclosed that, the federal allocation to the state has dropped by about 40%, stating, however, that, the salaries, allowances and other entitlements of civil servants will always be given priority attention. He explained that, the current monthly salary obligation for civil servants stands at about N4 billion, stressing that, his administration will ensure that, all legitimate entitlements due civil servants,…
The Bayelsa State Governor, Hon Seriake Dickson has expressed optimism that, despite the state low level of internally generated revenue (IGR), his administration’s offer of 50% tax waiver for information, communication and technology-related investments will engender socio-economic development of the state in the nearest future. A Government House statement issued on Thursday quoted the governor as saying that, the restoration government would not hesitate to take any decision that is capable of creating the much needed enabling environment to attract investors to the state. According to Hon Dickson, the memorandum of understanding signed between the state government, the Federal Ministry…
Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson has restated his administration’s desire to invest massively in agriculture to adequately harness the State’s potentials in the sector. The Governor, who stated this in an interview with newsmen in Yenagoa, described agriculture as one of the most viable sources of revenue away from oil and gas, yet to be explored by the State, stressing that, with careful planning and execution of its agricultural programmes, the sector can sustain the State’s economy. According to him, government’s vision for agriculture is massive, noting that, the state has comparative advantage in agriculture, especially in rice production,…
AS The Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Seriake Dickson has approved the sum of 400million Naira for the payment of bursary and scholarship entitlements for students of the state origin in institutions of higher learning in Nigeria and abroad. Addressing newsmen in his office in Yenagoa, the Chairman of Bayelsa Scholarship Board, Evangelist Foster Ogola, who gave the breakdown of the amount explained that, 200 million naira is for the payment of bursary and the other 200 million naira for foreign scholarship obligations, excluding those in the United Kingdom. According to the Board chairman, students of the Niger Delta University…
Multinationals and other corporate organisations executing health projects in their host communities have been charged to always liaise with the Ministry of Health to avoid project duplication. The Bayelsa State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Ayibatonye Owei, gave the charge in Epebu Community in Ogbia Local Government Area during his inspection of health facilities. Dr. Owei, who also urged benefiting host communities of such projects to always liaise with the ministry for advice before the execution of such projects, said avoiding project duplication will serve the interest of the state and the communities better. He said within the next three months,…
Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State over the weekend urged those who occupy positions of public trust in the country to exercise power in the best interest of the people. The Governor gave the advice, while interacting with his Rivers State University of Science and Technology classmates fondly referred to as ‘class 92’ when he hosted them to a dinner party at Government House, Yenagoa. He noted that nobody could achieve power outside the benevolence of God and therefore, it should be used in promoting the common good of the people. To achieve this, he posited that, leaders must be…
The Bayelsa State Government says, it has set up 103 surveillance sites in all the local government areas as part of measures to check any outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease in the state. The Government has also called on the people of the state to imbibe the culture of personal hygiene, noting that it would assist in the prevention and the spread of the deadly virus. Making this known at the end of the maiden meeting of an 18-member task force on Ebola, on Saturday, Governor Seriake Dickson assured the people that there was no cause for alarm, since…
Governor Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State is to proceed on a two-week annual vacation from the 11th of August, 2014. The Governor, who has continued to demonstrate unparalleled commitment to the implementation of his Restoration agenda in all sectors, is expected to take a well deserved rest, even though, he will still be undertaken some pressing state duties to ensure the uninterrupted implementation of his administration’s development agenda for the state. The statement called on Bayelsans to remain confident and steadfast in the ability of the present State administration to deliver on its promises, adding that the Governor has…
The Bayelsa State Government says it has made elaborate preparations to tackle any outbreak of the dreaded Ebola virus in the State. Addressing Government House correspondents, after a State Executive Council meeting in Yenagoa, the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Ayibatonye Owei disclosed that, the state government has also set up a 13-man Taskforce to map out strategies as well as liaise with other notable local, national and international health institutions to confront any cases of the virus in the State. The Committee has the Commissioner of Health, Dr Ayibatonye Owei as chairman, Dr Biribina Samayin as secretary, Dr Wakiente Ombu,…
Bayelsa State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Iniruo Wills has charged youths in the state to desist from pipeline vandalism. He gave the charge recently during a meeting between the Ministry of Environment and officials of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) at the Conference Hall of the ministry. Mr. Wills condemned the spate of vandalism in the state and described it as man’s in-humanity to man, considering the grave danger it constitutes. The Environment Commissioner called on NOSDRA to relocate its headquarters from Abuja to any of the oil producing states for more effective collaboration. Earlier, the…
Teenagers in the state have been charged to strive to have role models that they can look up to for inspiration to better their lives. Bayelsa State Commissioner of Information and Orientation, Deacon Markson Fefegha gave the charge at Toru Orua in Sagbama Local Government Area recently while speaking at a sensitization programme with the theme “Say No to Teenage Pregnancy”. Represented by a Deputy Director in the ministry, Mr. Chris Odi, Deacon Fefegha said in addition to looking up to such role models for inspiration, the teenagers would receive mentorship from them and aspire to become like their role…
The Director General of Bayelsa Investment Promotion Agency (BIPA), Ms Freda Murray-Bruce has said the state is safe for investment and ready for economic and enduring intercontinental business activities. The Director General stated this to news men in her office while reacting to the successful hosting of the 1st Bayelsa State Investment and Economic Forum in Yenagoa. Ms Murray-Bruce, who noted that the 1st State Investment and Economic Forum was marked with several activities aimed at promoting investment opportunities in the state, added that it was equally utilized to dissect the theme of the Forum ‘Unlocking Bayelsa State’s Economic Potentials:…
Octogenarian mother of Senator Emmanuel Paulker, representing Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, Madam Florentina Paulker was freed on Wednesday, six days after she was abducted by suspected kidnappers at her residence in Opolo, Yenagoa Local Government Area of the State through the combined efforts of security operatives. Briefing newsmen at the end of the State Security Council meeting at the Government House, Yenagoa, the State Commissioner of Police, Hillary Okpara, the Deputy Commander of the JTF, Commodore Ime Ekpe and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Col. Bernard Kenebai, Rtd, lauded the efforts of security operatives at securing…