The ART of DELIVERY - Official Website of His Excellency ...

The ART of DELIVERYis a compilation of selected extempore remarks, and the first of a trilogy, by

Governor Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

In this book, the reader will encounter the robustness of Governor Dickson's

remarks delivered extempore with striking ability to inspire and engage its

audience in a manner that is most compelling. Governor Dickson is an orator

of a different hue. He speaks authoritatively with penetrating intellectual depth

typical of most great leaders in the world, both past and present.

GOVERNOR HENRY SERIAKE DICKSON A PROFILE

Governor Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State in Nigeria has, by his performance in office, underscored the critical role of leadership in strategic restructuring and effective governance.

He has changed the face of development, sanitized the polity, and encouraged participatory governance. The emerging economic prosperity in Bayelsa is a product of vision and courage.

Dickson, 48, is an exceptional leader whose foresight on the diversification of the state’s economy beyond oil and gas to focus more on tourism and agriculture holds great promise of economic boom.

A lawyer, former Attorney-General of Bayelsa State and member of the National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, he was elected to the House of Representatives in 2007 and re-elected in 2011, where he served as the Chairman, House Committee on Justice.

His star was further on the rise when he was elected governor of Bayelsa State by popular acclamation later in 2012. He has been an agent of positive change, challenged the status quo and re-invented the architecture of governance in a peaceful and resourceful environment.

The road to restoration

Hon. Henry Seriake DicksonGovernor of Bayelsa State

THE ART OFDELIVERY

DICKSON

DICKSON

TH

E A

RT O

F D

ELIV

ER

Y

THE ART OFDELIVERY

DICKSON

Compiled and Revised by:

Daniel IworisoMarkson

Chief Press Secretary to the Bayelsa State Governor

Edited by:

Sully Abu

Dr. Jeane�e Gibson

ISBN: 9789789380008

© 2014

Henry Seriake Dickson

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or introduced into

a retrieval system or transmi�ed in any form or by any means without

prior wri�en permission from the publisher

The road to restoration

CONTENTS

02 THE ART OF DELIVERY BY HENRY SERIAKE DICKSON

P11 PROLOGUE

Address on his intention to run for the office of Governor of Bayelsa

state

P12 INTENTION

Text of the address delivered by Hon. Henry Seriake on his intention

to run for the office of Governor of Bayelsa state.

P24 LOOKING FORWARD

Inaugural speech on the occasion of his swearing in as governor

of Bayelsa state

Remarks on the occasion of a dinner held in his honour and for

his deputy

Remarks on the occasion of the breaking of 3day fast and prayer

meeting for the restoration of Bayelsa state

P44 BUDGETS OF RESTORATION

2013 Budget

Address at the presentation of the 2013 Appropriation Bill for the

Governorʹs assent

P59 ACCOUNTABILITY: THE TRANSPARENCY BRIEFINGS

Transparency briefing for the month of January 2012

Transparency briefing for the months of March and April 2012

Transparency briefing for the month of May 2012

Transparency briefing for the month of June 2012

Transparency briefing for the month of July 2012

Transparency briefing for the month of November 2012

Transparency briefing for the months of February and March

2013

143 AGENCIES SET UP TO DELIVER RESULTS

Inauguration of the board of the Bayelsa state construction and

dredging company

Presentation of cheques for NECO and WAEC and inauguration

of education inspection commission

Inauguration of the commi�ee on youth development and

empowerment

Inauguration of the pensions and gratuity commi�ee

Inauguration of 12member board of the Bayelsa state

Agricultural Development Company Limited

Inauguration of the State Empowerment and Expenditure For

Result Project (SEEFOR) commi�ee

Inauguration of the Bayelsa State Commi�ee on Entrepreneurial

Capacity Development

Inauguration of the Governing Council of the Niger Delta

University


P143 BOOSTING TOURISM

· AMAA awards fundraising dinner in Abuja

· A speech at the 2013 speech edition of the Most Beautiful Girl in

Nigeria Award

P154 ĲAW RESTORATION

Inauguration of the newly elected Ijaw National Congress

Executive Council

Remarks at the state banquet to mark Major Adaka Boro Day

Address on the occasion of the 2012 World Ijaw Day Celebration

Address at an interactive meeting with leaders of the Ijaw nation

in the state

Address at the commissioning of IzonWari building in the state

P176 AGENDA FOR DEVELOPMENT

Address at the launch of the new transport scheme in the state

Address at a 3day conference of the Nigerian Content

Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB)

Address to Bayelsa state civil servants

Address at a retreat organised by government in conjunction

with ASCON for permanent secretaries

Address at a meeting with PDP stakeholders at the partyʹs

secretariat

Address at the presentation of free school uniforms and other

materials

Address to the National Executive Commi�ee meeting of the

Nigerian Bar Association

P236 HONOURING BAYELSAʹS BIRTH

Text of the radio broadcast to commemorate the 16th anniversary


of the creation of Bayelsa state

Remarks at a special thanksgiving service at the King of Glory

chapel in Government House

Remarks at the presentation of cheques to pensioners

P256 WALKING THE TALK

AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY: Signing the Bayelsa State

Judiciary Autonomy Bill –

Remarks to the Universal Basic Education board and others

Remarks at the presentation of the N3 billion cheque to

SETRACO for the completion of the OgbiaNembe road project

Remarks during a solidarity visit by Bayelsa state PDP delegation

to the new PDP chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muʹazu

Remarks and answers to the mediaʹs questions on the local

government election at Toru Orua, Sagbama local government

area

Remarks shortly a�er visiting accident victims

Remarks at the sending forth of the first batch of trainees to the

Songhai farms in Benin Republic (Page 335)

Remarks during the courtesy visit by D.G. SMEDAN

Speech at the presentation of monthly stipends to the elderly

under the Bayelsa State Welfare and Social Security Scheme


The challenges of leadership and governance as they relate to delivery

on policies and programmes form the kernel of the book, Dickson: The

Power of Delivery. It is a fascinating work which a�empts to lay bare

the daunting task of repositioning the development track in the state as

well as the triumphs, chronicling the stewardship of Hon. Henry

Seriake Dickson as the Governor of Bagels State as evident in this

compilation speeches delivered extempore by the man fondly referred

to as the countryman governor.

From the beginning to the end, the character and vision of the governor

reflects sharply on the issues of development in the various sectors of

the state economy. Understandably so because of the obvious hurry to

develop the state and make impact on the lives of the people and

indeed as a democratic imperative. The Power of Delivery is thus

arranged in sequence to explain the raison detre for the various

development initiatives executed by the government and the

achievements recorded.

Starting from the establishment of institutions and processes,

particularly on the need for prudence and accountability, the book

PREFACE


logically presents the way and manner developmental projects were

initiated and consummated resulting in marked transformation by the

state government within a short period of time.

The declaration of emergency in education, for instance, was targeted

at addressing the acute shortage in infrastructure and quality in the

sector as a necessity in building relevant manpower for the

development of the state. This was obviously in realisation that a

proper education for the young people is arguably the most important

ingredient in the development process. The proclamation of state of

emergency in the educational sector was a fi�ing step by the

Restoration Government to address the rot in the educational sector

and as we have seen in the last three years, the transformation in the

sector had been phenomenal. Additional incentives to boost

educational development also had solid backing in the various

scholarship awards up to PhD in highly rated institutions locally and

abroad. Considering the pivotal role of education in human and

societal advancement and in contrast to the abysmal situation inherited

by the government in this critical sector, the steps taken by Dickson

administration clearly stands out as a welcome development.

We also follow through in The Power of Delivery to connect with the

bright ideas behind the huge a�ention devoted to infrastructure

provision by the Dickson Administration. The rationale being that

development would be be�er and faster with infrastructure in place

particularly roads and bridges connecting the three senatorial districts

of the state. Accordingly, the administration carried out the

construction of a total of 350km roads and critical bridges from

February 14th 2012 when the administration came on board and they

are contributing to the growth of the state economy through inter

linkages now facilitating easy movement of goods and persons from

one location to the other in Bayelsa State.

The essential value in The Power of Delivery on governmentʹs policies

and programmes also received greater impetus and realism in the


context of farsighted development agenda when we take a deep look at

the longterm implications of the diversification of the stateʹs economy,

by emphasizing the development of tourism and agriculture as the

economic future of the state. The understanding being that over

reliance on oil as the economic mainstay in the state was not a realistic

strategy to true development particularly in the face of dwindling

revenue and other vagaries in both the international market and in the

local condition. Diversifying the stateʹs economy was indeed a realistic

step taken by the Dicksonled Restoration government and going by

the sharp fall in the price of crude in the world market, the

administration must be applauded for its foresightedness.

Fundamentally, therefore, diversification has led to reorientation of

the people to appreciate and take up business enterprise, build

businesses, create more jobs, become selfreliant, happy and

prosperous. This new idea found remarkable expression in agriculture

just as the dynamic strides in tourism development is achieving same

effect though in relative terms. Even with the cautious view that

optimal utilisation of the tourism sector manifesting much later when

the ongoing infrastructure in hotels, golf courses, airport, etc are fully

on stream. Bayelsa State is already being hailed as the entertainment

capital in Nigeria having played host to a number of high profile

entertainment events of global reckoning in recent times.

Also besides development of human capital, which the book locates in

the aggressive promotion of SMEs, the establishment of the Bayelsa

Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC) as a powerful

vehicle to facilitate funding of projects remains ingenious. Similar

audacious development a�empts like industrialization resulting in

building petrochemical and fertiliser companies and in fact the

establishment of the Agge deep seaport are such uncommon narrative

of ambitious development initiatives.

This is the basis for the massive provision of public infrastructure in

Bayelsa State and invariably boosting economic development, leading

to socioeconomic revival and social stability. Allocation of resources


was done in an efficient manner and ensuring value for money spent

while all leakages were blocked to also free resources for development

and thereby enhancing optimal delivery.

But there was also an institutional foundation to the overall stability:

the government established a robust security system to tackle the

menace of criminality and all forms of antisocial behaviour as a

deliberate action to restore law and order. Thus Operation Doo Akpor

with such modern and sophisticated security system helped to ensure

that peace returned to the state and this was the beginning of the new

era of socioeconomic transformation.

What The Power of Delivery consciously narrates in the main is the

utility of leadership and vision in public administration and in

particular the intricate business of governance. It is a recurring issue in

contemporary discourse on why government exists as a function of the

high expectations of the people in a democracy and meeting the

challenges of the day. Basically, that governments should endeavour as

a ma�er of necessity to deliver on the basic provision of infrastructure,

public amenities, create jobs, provide functional education and boost

literacy, improve on the health condition of the people, provide security

of lives and property, and of course, the requisite institutions and their

processes in establishing order and decency in a society. Ultimately this

has the tendency to usher in a renewal of hope and enterprise as society

is inspired to see an array of possibilities set in motion by the

leadership. Excellence as an integral part of development came into

sharper focus in the book, completing the other variables of

development: vision, goals, leadership and efficient implementation.

Importantly, that such altruistic leadership and bold vision coupled

with the power of delivery as the Bayelsa example demonstrates has

significant utility not only in creating happiness among the people but

also goes a long way in making citizens believe in the political system

and leadership and by implication in democracy as the best form of

government. It is also very important in analysing political leadership


visavis the values shaping vision and expectations in a polity. Since

governments exist to serve the people, we begin to see how far can a

government go in offering service and in the long run by which we can

also measure responsibility and legitimacy.

As we have in this interesting book, such documentation of history and

positive contents marks apart the Dickson Administration in delivery

on policies and programmes when compared with previous

administrations because of the power in the governmentʹs ability to

deliver on what is termed The Restoration Agenda, being the manifesto

of the PDP government in the state. But this can never be construed that

previous governments didnʹt performeven in relative terms but that

what we read in the Power of Delivery established in vivid dimensions

the superiority and depth of achievements (and without bias)

especially when the impact on the people both in the short and long run

are put into proper perspectives. This is the inescapable deduction on

the book as a valid test of leadership. It speaks to Governor Dicksonʹs

commitment and convictions on the challenges facing the state and the

route to restoration and indeed how he would want to be remembered

as a leader. Arguably all the achievements in the Power of Delivery

were not so easy to accomplish ...it had been a product of untold

sacrifices even in the face of resistance by some institutional

stakeholders. What counted strongly here was the political will to take

decision in the public interest irrespective of how unpleasant such

decision could be to vested interest groups especially in a political

environment where sentiments and parochial inclination still interfere

in the act of governance and public affairs in general. And this

essentially underlines the high point in the book, establishing the fact

that the gamut of chronicle in The Power of Delivery is not just about

innovative leadership but revolutionary.

Daniel IworisoMarkson


The most striking feature of the minimanifesto read by Hon Henry

Seriake Dickson as he declared his intention to run for Governor of

Bayelsa state over two years ago is how faithful he has been, almost in

every material particular, to the words of that declaration. This is why it

is reproduced here as Prologue to what has been two years of a most

remarkable performance in office as governor and chronicled in the

speeches in this book.

THE PAST AS PROLOGUE


n 1986, at the age of 19, while my contemporaries were still

Ienjoying the cosy comfort of their family homes, I joined the

Nigeria Police and learnt about service to my country, Nigeria, and

fought crime and criminality in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Thirty years on, I am still in the trenches fighting against crime and

criminality, upholding the rights of the downtrodden and standing for

our people; standing against bad governance and oppression of our

people.

Today, I announce to you all that I report again for duty. This time to

restore the lost glory and dashed hopes of our dear state. Today, I heed

your call to offer myself to restore Bayelsa State to its true glory in

accordance with its founding principles as the Jerusalem of the entire

Ijaw ethnic nationality. Today I publicly affirm to you all my

determination to reconcile all our people, to rally our people together

and to lay the foundation for a Bayelsa of our dreams.

Text of the address delivered by Hon. Henry Seriake on his intention to

run for the office of Governor of Bayelsa state

TO ALL BAYELSANS, WE BRING GOOD TIDINGS:

CHANGE HAS COME


Two weeks ago, I sent a le�er to you my elders, leaders, women and

youths of Bayelsa State of my intention to enter the gubernatorial race

to salvage our dear state from the grip of anarchy, insecurity, bad

governance and reckless abuse of state power and resources without a

corresponding sense of honour, responsibility and compassion. In that

le�er I set out general principles that would form the basis of our

development marking a paradigm shi� in the governance culture. The

principles are Transparency, Accountability and Service. I also

highlighted key areas that our Government would focus on: massive

investment in Education and Human Capital development,

Infrastructure, Tourism development, Health, Agriculture to name but

a few.

I come reporting for duty with a background of service to country and

to my people. Between 1996 – 2005, I again learnt about service in

various positions as the pioneer Publicity Secretary, Nigeria Bar

Association (NBA) Yenagoa from 19961998, State Chairman Alliance

for Democracy (AD) 19982000, National Legal Adviser, Alliance for

Democracy (AD) 20002002, National Legal Adviser of the foremost

PanIjaw sociocultural body, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) 2001

CAMPAIGN IN KOLGA , L.G.A


2003. I was also the founding Secretary of the Great Commi�ee of

Friends (The Green Movement). In 2006,I served as the Honourable

A�orney General and Commissioner for Justice of this State. In all these

offices and responsibilities, I discharged my duty to the best of my

ability and in most cases, surpassed the expectations of many.

In 2007, I was elected unopposed into the House of Representatives as

member representing the Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency

and became Chairman of the Justice Commi�ee between 2007 – 2011,

and chaired several adhoc commi�ees. I sponsored and worked on

several bills, some of which have become Acts of the National

Assembly.

In 2011, in spite of all machinations by some of the powersthatbe in

the state, I was elected by the good people of Sagbama/Ekeremor

Federal Constituency, who reelected me as their representative and I

now chair the Commi�ee on Special Duties. Between 2007 to date I have

shown leadership and served the people of my constituency, Bayelsa

State and the nation at large, diligently, with honour, loyalty and

dedication to duty.

You all are aware that in 2007, when the present administration in the

state was elected into power, we were all full of hopes that the dreams

and aspirations of our people would be met and that the foundations of

our development which previous administrations laid would be

sustained and consolidated. This, the government has failed to do. We

are in a democracy and I acknowledge the right of a few public office

holders to hold the opinion that the present government should

continue. But to such people and to you all, I pose the following

questions:

1. Why is Bayelsa the most indebted state in the country?

2. What were all these loans and our huge statutory allocations used

for?


3. Are we not all tired of LOANS, LOANS, LOANS and more

LOANS by which our future has been mortgaged?

4. What happened to the three senatorial roads awarded, paid for,

and started by previous administrations but abandoned by this

government?

5. What happened to the hotel projects started by previous

administrations and abandoned by this government?

6. What happened to BYCAS (Bayelsa State College of Arts and

Science), the schools for gi�ed and talented children as well as

the NDU (Niger Delta University), the College of Education at

the Governorʹs hometown, Okpoama?

7. What is happening to the Scholarship Board and the

disbursement of bursaries to our children home and abroad?

Why has the government allowed the infrastructure of our

primary and secondary schools to deteriorate to this

unacceptable level? Why has government refused the timely

payment of the fees of our children for NECO and WAEC?

8. Why the failure in agriculture, health sector, water projects, gas

turbine project and airport project, in spite of the huge sums

expended on them?

9. Why the many lives killed and maimed by the Operation Famu

Tangbei? Why replace the peace this government inherited with

violence, guns and bombs?

My people, at this juncture let us observe a minute silence for all those

who were murdered by this WICKED terror group. May their gentle

souls rest in peace.

Sadly, our expectations have been completely sha�ered in spite of the

improved statutory revenue, which has accrued to the state and the


historic opportunities that exist now for synergy between the state and

the Federal Government at this point in time. Majority of Bayelsans are

highly disappointed with the present administration over its poor and

dismal performance to date. I also share in this emotional pain.

As a result of this inability to meet the expectations and aspirations of

our people and the sense of disappointment occasioned thereby, I and

several other well meaning Bayelsans have come under intense

pressure to answer the clarion call to duty.

I know that several families have lost young and dear ones, several

families have lost their means of sustainable livelihood and businesses,

the educational dreams of our young people have been truncated, our

commonwealth squandered, our collective psyche traumatized and

our future mortgaged.

To restore our future we have set up a formidable campaign

appropriately called ʹRestoration 2012ʹ with the theme: Our Bayelsa,

Our Future. We have by this demonstrated our patriotism and earnest

At this point in our political history when we have the

historic opportunity of providing the leadership for this

great country, we need someone who has a unique

understanding of the issues and priorities of the times,

who can rally support for synergy in the interest and

welfare of our people, not one who will connive with

people to undermine our interests; not one who will

fri�er away our resources in the guise of politics; not one

with a penchant for starting supremacy tussles which are

completely unnecessary; not one who uses our resources

to empower others while we remain impoverished; not

one who turns our peaceful state to a haven of criminals.


desire for change. We urge you all to come on board and be a part of this

historic change, so that when this period is recorded in the future, let it

be said of you, by your children and generations unborn, that you saw

the dri� and the rot and the destruction of our fundamental interests,

and you volunteered yourselves in the service of our people to protect

their tomorrow at great risk and inconvenience.

Let history not record you as being on the side of the oppressors of our

people who place their personal interests above the common good of

our people and who do not care at all about the future of their children

which is under threat by mindboggling loans but with nothing to show

for them; lack of investment in education and a distortion of our values.

So let the change begin now!!!

I urge you all to join the Restoration team and form commi�ees in all

our towns, villages, communities and local government areas as

vehicles for the realisation of the change we deserve. Soon I will be with

you in all the towns and villages that make up Bayelsa State, to cheer

you up and thank you most sincerely for your support, solidarity and

prayers.

Tell them in your communities that their government has failed them;

tell them it is their right to reject a government that has failed; tell them

that this election is not about me, but about their future; tell them that

they must seize this opportunity for change; tell them I am one of you

who will live and work here and fight for them; tell them to reject those

who do not understand their problems; tell them to reject those, who

have betrayed their trust; tell them I am a simple man of honour,

dedicated to their service. But most of all, tell them the good news that

change has come!

My fellow Bayelsans, by the grace of God and with your mandate,

when I am elected Governor, Bayelsa State the Ijaw nation will not be

the same again. I will unfold a paradigm shi� in the governance


culture, through which the development of the state will be assured

and made irreversible in favour of our people and their welfare.

My government will be transparent and accountable to the people; you

will be informed about revenues accruing to the state and the

expenditures. Values and high ethical standards of governance will be

established to create and maintain enduring institutions to ensure that

the development of the state will be irreversible. I will put a stop to

corruption and ensure that wastages and leakages in government will

be plugged.

The educational sector will be comprehensively reformed and

overhauled from Primary to Tertiary levels including vocational and

technical education. We will redesign and build model primary schools

with modern facilities. Model boarding secondary schools shall also be

built in every local government area of the State with state oftheart

facilities. The abandoned schools for the gi�ed and talented children

will be completed and put to use. No longer will our children and

youths take a back seat in the educational development of our country.

To put a stop to the poor performance of our students in the past few

years in WAEC, we will reintroduce the Bayelsa State College of Arts

and Science to remedy this situation. A Teachersʹ Training Institute will

be established for the training and retraining of our teachers.

The future prosperity of our people must be built on sound education,

our youths must be given the opportunity to acquire the knowledge

and skills they need to survive in an increasingly competitive,

globalised environment. Under me, a�ention must be paid to the

teaching of our indigenous language and culture, while we expose our

children to languages and cultures of the emerging economies. Thus,

we will revive the abandoned Ijaw Language Project to prevent our

language from going extinct.

I will establish an Economic Advisory Council, which will lay the


foundation to produce a blueprint to revamp the economy by focusing

on Commerce, small and medium scale Enterprises, Agriculture,

Energy and Tourism. We shall utilize the natural endowments of our

environment, by investing in the Maritime, Oil and Gas industry, as

well as on technological innovations to create more job opportunities.

We will also do so by building and boosting a diversified revenue base

of the State to lay a foundation for a future economy which will not

depend on federal allocations. We must lay the foundation of a future

economy of our state without oil, founded on tourism, agriculture,

entrepreneurship, skilled manpower base, manufacturing and

industry and effective private sector participation. For this to happen,

the public sector itself must be run on high standards of

professionalism and vision, and selfless dedication.

We will create an enabling environment for peace, security,

development, and happiness through a zero tolerance for crime and

criminality. Yenagoa and Bayelsa State as a whole must be made safe for

tourism and businesses to thrive.

I will ensure the completion of all abandoned and ongoing critical

infrastructure, especially the three senatorial roads and the abandoned

hotel projects do�ing the streets of Yenagoa.

The Capital City Development Authority CCDA will be reorganised

and the Yenagoa City Development Master plan, fully implemented.

An efficient and accelerated land title processing system will be

introduced in addition to the establishment of a mortgage institution

for the provision of affordable housing for our people (Anybody get C

ofO for Yenagoa before?) We will expedite the process of obtaining C

of Oʹs in Bayelsa State.

We must have a healthy and vibrant workforce; therefore we will build

modern and functional hospitals in each local government area. People

in every community deserve access to medical care. Therefore health


centres will be set up all across the state. All medical personnel will be

trained and retrained to meet international standards. The State

Commi�ee on Aids (SACA) will be transformed into a fullfledged

agency to contain the scourge of HIV AIDS. We will build centres of

excellence for HIV AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other

communicable diseases in the State. Children, pregnant women and all

Bayelsans above 65 years will receive free medical treatment. We will

invest in the provision of modern health facilities in order to make

Bayelsa a centre of medical tourism.

Water! Water! Everywhere! And yet there is no potable drinking water

in our state! My administration will ensure that water will flow in every

household in the Yenagoa metropolis. Integrated water schemes will be

introduced in every local government area of the state.

The gas turbine at Imiringi will be reactivated to provide power to

Yenagoa metropolis. In addition, we shall build sub gas turbines to

service local government areas and clusters. We shall also invest in

alternative sources of energy.

Our great women of Bayelsa...Great Ijaw Women.... A dooooh!!!!

I will ensure that women will have equal opportunity to participate

fully in governance, policy and decisionmaking. Appropriate

programmes such as SMEʹs, cooperatives, agricultural grants will be

established to provide opportunities for sustainable livelihood for our

women and mothers. In addition, we will protect the rights of the Girl

Child.

Great Ijaw Youths!!!... Great Youths of Bayelsa!!! Government will

pursue an integrated approach to youth development, empowerment

and employment generation. We will establish a sports academy to

harness the sporting potential of our youths; we will establish skills

acquisition centres and promote technical education to take advantage

of our natural endowment and opportunities. We will sustain bursary


payment, scholarships and grants locally and internationally. My

administration will focus on human capital development to lay a solid

foundation to prepare young Bayelsans for a competitive edge in the

global economy.

The civil service and local government service will be reorganised and

refocused to enhance workersʹ welfare, training and productivity.

Traditional rulers and community leaders will be supported and

strengthened as necessary partners in government. I will strengthen

their roles and responsibilities by proposing a law to the State

Assembly

My dear people of Bayelsa, as I report for duty, I urge you all to

remember the memories and sacrifices of our political leaders in the

struggle for the Ijaw Nation and Bayelsa State. I go forward as a political

son of the great Ijaw Legend, Chief Harold DappaBiriye , a student of

Chief Melford Okilo, the fisherman and countryman. We must not also

forget the contributions and the sacrifices of Major Adaka Boro, Capt.

Sam Owonaro, Capt. Amangala and Ken SaroWiwa. I salute our great

Ijaw leaders, Chief Edwin Clark, Prof. Demie, Chief Joshua Fumudoh,

Prof. Kimse Okoko, High Chief F.J Williams, Sen. Sekibo Oduabaji, Prof

Turner Isoun and other Ijaw leaders too numerous to mention. I also

salute my compatriots in the Ijaw struggle, Felix Tuodolo, Asari

Dokubo, Barr. Oronto Douglas, Timi Ogoriba, Tompolo, Ateke Tom

and others.


To our youths, I make a pledge that the sacrifices made for

the survival and sustenance of the Ijaw Nation and

Bayelsa State will not be forgo�en. Your tears and blood

shall not be in vain. All our sacrifices for the Ijaw Nation

and dreams will be meaningless and unrealisable unless

and until Bayelsa State is put right. This is the most

critical challenge of our time, the challenge for which I am

offering myself as a symbol. As a product of the struggle

myself, the INC and the IYC, which are the two organs of

mobilization of the Ijaw people, will be reinvigorated

and refocused for positive national development. By

Godʹs Grace and beginning from the very moment I am

elected as Governor, it will be clear to everyone that the

Ijaw Nation is pu�ing its house together again. The days

of dissonance and contradictory signals and messages;

the days of desecration of our fundamental values and

interests; the days of enrichment of others with our

resources at our expense; the days of selfdestructive

politics are over for good!

In place of these we will rally our people and take steps to defend our

fundamental strategic interests; we will give the necessary leadership

direction and support to all sons and daughters of Bayelsa State. This is

our responsibility; this is our tradition; this is the natural leadership

role expected of Bayelsa State, and Bayelsa must play its Godʹs given

role as the Jerusalem of the Ijaw people.

I cannot bear the weight of this restoration alone. I need you all on

board. I do not have all the answers to our numerous problems. As is

my style, I promise you that my doors will be open to all, my ears shall

listen to all and my hands will reach out in fellowship to all. From my

background of service to you over the years, I am trained to listen to and


appreciate all perspectives on issues including views I do not

necessarily support or agree with. I do not have any baggage of IOUs.

My single minded loyalty will be to you and your interest.

I call on you today to rise up and support this cause, the vision for a

be�er Bayelsa; the vision for a greater tomorrow.

Let us remake Bayelsa! The time for change is now!

Long Live Bayelsa State!

Long Live the Ijaw Nation!

Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!


LOOKING

FORWARD


BAYELSA STATE GOVERNOR, HON. SERIAKE DICKSON

DELIVERING HIS INAUGURAL SPEECH

y Dear Good People of Bayelsa State and the Ijaw Nation,

MToday marks the climax of the journey we started several

months ago when I announced my intention to run for the

office of Governor of our dear state on the platform of the Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP). In the course of our campaigns we promised

change and restoration of our lost glory. Today that change has come.

Today our Restoration journey begins.

Let me thank you all for your prayers and support and the confidence

reposed in me by your overwhelming mandate. I also must thank you

for the sacrifices made and the risks taken to ensure our victory at the

polls.

I wish to particularly thank my boss and elder brother, the President of

the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele

Jonathan, GCFR, for his fatherly support and unflinching commitment

to a be�er, prosperous and secure Bayelsa State and Nigeria. I also want

to place on record our deep appreciation to the First Lady, Her

THE NEW BAYELSA BECKONS

Inaugural speech of his Excellency, hon. Henry Seriake Dickson on the

occasion of his swearing in as governor of Bayelsa state on Tuesday,

14th of February, 2012 at the peace park in Yenagoa


Excellency, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan, for her motherly

support all the way. Similarly, we salute the Vice President, Architect

Namadi Sambo, who as Chairman of the National Campaign

Commi�ee provided uncommon leadership, which contributed

immensely to our victory at the polls.

Let me also thank the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark and

my worthy brother and friend, the Speaker of the House of

Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and the entire

members of the National Assembly for their solidarity and their

abiding support.

Our immense gratitude also goes to all the leaders of my party

particularly, the Acting National Chairman, members of the National

Working Commi�ee and all the members of the National Campaign

Commi�ee for Bayelsa Governorship campaign. Of course, this victory

couldnʹt have been possible without the phenomenal work of the

various party organs and structure in Bayelsa state. Let me specially

thank the Right Honourable Speaker and Members of the Bayelsa State

House of Assembly, Chairman of our party, Deacon James Dugo and

members of his Executive Commi�ee. I salute the efforts of the Elders

commi�ee ably led by our former Governor, Chief D.S.P

Alamieyeseigha and our Campaign caucus under the capable

leadership of my dear brother, Chief Ndutimi Alaibe.

Permit me to also extend my sincere appreciation to all our teeming

supporters, KEME2KEME volunteers, party faithfuls and most

especially, members of “The Restoration 2012 Campaign Team” led by

the Director General, Chief Fred Agbedi for their dogged

determination in driving this campaign to its final destination;

resulting in our partyʹs resounding victory at the polls. We are truly

grateful and eternally indebted to you for your invaluable

contributions to the success of our campaign.


We thank you the good people of Bayelsa State for your peaceful

conduct before, during and a�er the polls. By your conduct at the polls,

we have proved our detractors wrong. We have shown to the whole

world that we will not succumb to violence and that we are not a violent

people.

I am humbled by the overwhelming support and mandate freely given

to us by Bayelsans. Accredited observers, both local and international

have adjudged the election to be free, fair and credible and probably the

best in the history of our dear state. Let me thank INEC and the security

agencies for conducting a free, fair and violentfree election.

As a product of the Ijaw movement, I am aware that I was not just a

candidate of Bayelsa State but of the entire Ijaw nation. Let me therefore

thank all the Ijaw people at home and in the diaspora for their prayers

and unflinching support. To all Ijaws wherever they may reside, let me

reaffirm that Bayelsa will be continue to be your Jerusalem and I will be

your Governor too.

We thank all friends and wellwishers of Bayelsa State for their keen

interest and partnership. We specially thank all those who contributed

materially and otherwise to the success of our campaigns and

subsequent victory at the polls.

We sincerely thank all the clergy men for their prayers and unyielding

support. I personally want to thank them for their steadfastness in

prayers for me and my family all through the course of this campaign.

We must at this point thank the chiefs and elders in all the communities

we visited to solicit for votes. The campaigns offered us further insight

into your problems and potentials. We assure you that you will hear

from us soon in very specific terms.

To all my brothers who took part in this electoral contest with me on the

platform of other political parties, yesterday we were opponents but


today offers an opportunity for partnership in the service of our people

for a greater tomorrow.

To you my good people of Bayelsa State, who have voted for change

and restoration, let me say a few words about the cardinal focus of the

Restoration Agenda.

We shall undertake fundamental reform of the governance culture to

emphasize transparency, accountability, due process and value re

orientation by all institutions and functionaries of government,

beginning with my humble self. For emphasis, there shall be zero

tolerance for corruption under my administration.

The days of enrichment without labour and funding the

greed and avarice of a few at the expense of the

development of our people is over. I will rather use our

common wealth to fund the construction of good roads,

education, promote tourism, generate wealth and develop

agriculture than fund corruption and greed.

Be prepared therefore for a fundamental paradigm shi� in the

governance culture, values and lifestyle of public officials. I am aware

that we will face resistance, we may be misunderstood but we shall

always do what is right in the interest of you the people.

To do nothing now about the corrupt, decadent and selfserving status

quo, poses a clear and present danger to the very existence of our state

and will be the greatest disservice to our aspirations as Ijaw people. If

Bayelsa fails, the Ijaw nation also fails and so will the Niger Delta with

grave consequences for national stability. This, we cannot allow to

happen. We will therefore take the necessary decisions and actions,

however difficult, however painful, however controversial those

decisions and actions may be. Even when you have a different


perspective, which is your right to hold, be rest assured that our actions

will always be in your interest and you will be consulted regularly. As

part of our commitment to transparency, we shall announce and

publish all revenues accruing to the state beginning from now.

In the course of our campaign, we promised massive investment in

education, critical infrastructure, agriculture, health, as well as peace

and security. The development of human capital is our most

compelling and urgent need. That is why we promised you free and

compulsory education for all our children in primary and secondary

schools with emphasis on computer literacy, science and technology. I

hereby announce with effect from today the takeoff of free and

compulsory education at primary and secondary school levels across

Bayelsa State. The rebuilding of our educational infrastructure

commences forthwith. Our curriculum will emphasize the study of

Ijaw language, history and culture.

We will invest in the development of other aspects of human capacity

for our teeming youths, such that they will be able to unleash their

creative capacities as well as enhance their drive for entrepreneurship.

We shall construct roads and other infrastructure to link our people and

fast track comprehensive development. The completion of the three

senatorial highways will be given high priority. But all these will not be

possible without an atmosphere of peace and security. We must

therefore strengthen our consensus as a community to have zero

tolerance for criminality and insecurity. As a government, we will make

all the necessary investment to create and sustain a secure society

governed by the rule of law.

Our concept of security includes a commitment to protect our

communities from all forms of environmental terrorism. We are willing

to partner with all corporate entities operating in our state but we will

insist on the highest standards of responsible corporate citizenship.


Similarly, we will not condone the irresponsible acts of our own people

who through criminal acts damage the ecology and environment.

We shall review and emplace an institutional framework for promoting

investments with the active collaboration of the private sector. So to the

rest of the country and the world, we declare that the new Bayelsa State

is ready to welcome genuine investors and investments in an

atmosphere so convivial, that beyond rhetoric, Bayelsa will be your

home away from home. We are determined to make Bayelsa a foremost

tourism and investment haven.

Fellow Bayelsans, it is true that no great enterprise or society has ever

been built without a grand vision. But vision alone, like an architectural

drawing, no ma�er how beautiful has never built anything without the

labour of many skilled, semiskilled and even unskilled hands. We have

cast a beautiful vision of restoration for our beloved Bayelsa, the Glory

of all lands. Now we must labour to make it happen and it is to this

labour we now summon every man, woman and child – Hear the

clarion call – To thy work oh Bayelsans– Let the Glory of all lands be

restored again!

Judge me by this – I will not play politics with your development. I will

not play politics with crime, criminality and violence. I will not play

politics with the protection of the Ijaw National interest within the

context of a united, democratic and peaceful Nigeria.

A new dawn has broken;

The New Bayelsa beckons;

With your support and prayers and by the grace of God, Bayelsa State

and the Ijaw nation will NEVER be the same again.

GOD bless Bayelsa State!

GOD bless the Ijaw Nation!!

GOD bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!


y dear good people of Bayelsa state, my dear good and

Mwonderful people of the Ijaw nation, I told you sometime

ago that a contriman had reported for duty. Today, I

announce to you all by virtue of the mandate you so freely gave that a

contriman here and now assumes service.

Today marks the climax of a journey we started several months ago

when I announced my intention to run for the office of governor in our

dear state under the campaign platform of the Peoples Democratic

Party. In the course of our campaign, we promised change and

restoration of our lost glory.

Remarks on the occasion of a dinner held in his honour and for his deputy

LET US GIRD OUR LOINS TO TRANSVERSE THE LONG AND

DIFFICULT ROAD AHEAD

Today, change has come. Today your restoration journey

begins.


Let me thank you all for your prayers and support and for the

confidence that you have reposed in me by your mandate. I also must

thank you because I know the sacrifices you all made and the risk that

you all took at a time that a lot of people would not have come near the

restoration project. Let me thank you all. Let me dedicate this victory

therefore to you all, the good and wonderful people of Bayelsa state. I

wish to thank you particularly, my brother, my leader, our elder brother

and president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Dr.

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR. For his fatherly support and

unflinching commitment to a be�er prosperous and secured Bayelsa

State and Federal Republic of Nigeria. We know he is here with us in

spirit. I also want to place on record our deep appreciation to the First

Lady, wife of Mr. President, Her Excellency, Dame Patience Goodluck

Jonathan for her motherly support and advice all the way. Similarly, I

will like to salute the Vice President, Architect Namadi Sambo GCON,

who as the chairman of the national campaign commi�ee of our party,

provided uncommon leadership which contributed immensely to our

victory at the polls. Permit me also to thank the president of the senate,

Senator David Mark, and our worthy brother and friend, the Speaker of

the House of Representatives, Honourable Waziri Aminu Tambuwal


CFR and the entire members of the National Assembly for their

solidarity and abiding faith and above all our great party, especially, the

acting national chairman, members of the working commi�ee and all

the members of the campaign commi�ee for this governorship election.

Particularly, let me mention those who were contestants in the

governorship primaries, who a�empted to serve and who accepted to

serve as members of the governorship campaign commi�ee: my chief

and my leader, Chief Francis Doukpoula, My brother and colleague,

the Hon. Youpele Kalangu, I thank you.

This victory would not have been possible without the various parties,

organs and leaders and you wonderful people of Bayelsa state. Let me

specially thank my brother the Rt. Hon. Speaker and members of the

Bayelsa state house of Assembly. I salute the efforts of the elders

commi�ee and the efforts of the various campaign coordinators and

caucuses across the local government areas of Bayelsa state. Permit me

to also express my sincere appreciation to all our teeming supporters

across the state, to the volunteers of Keme 2 Keme, the Door 2 Door,

members of the restoration campaign team led by the D.G. and greatly

assisted by the deputy. Iʹm indeed grateful and we shall remain

indebted to you all the good and wonderful people of Bayelsa State for

your support. Let me also thank you all my people of Bayelsa for the

peaceful manner in which you conducted yourselves during and a�er

the election. By your conduct at the polls and a�er, you have proved our

detractors wrong. You have shown to the whole world we are not a

violent people.

Let me also thank the Independent National Electoral Commission

(INEC), the dedicated, capable commi�ed patriotic Nigerians serving

in the armed forces and other security agencies for working very hard

and tirelessly to provide peaceful and safe environment during the

elections and up to now. As a product of the Ijaw movement, Iʹm also

aware that I was not just a candidate of Bayelsa state. I was in reality a


candidate for the entire Ijaw nation.

Let me therefore thank all the good and wonderful people of Ijaw ethnic

nationality at home and in the Diaspora for their prayers and their

unflinching support. To you all ĳaws wherever you may reside, let me

reaffirm in accordance with the standing principles of this state that

Bayelsa will continue to be your Jerusalem, your home, and I will

continue to be your Governor too wherever you may reside in this

country. We thank all the friends and wellwishers of Bayelsa State for

their keen interest and their partnership. We also thank all of you who

have contributed materially and otherwise to achieve success. Let me

thank men of the clergy; let me thank all of you who prayed tirelessly

for this victory and for restoration. Let me thank also the chiefs and

elders of all the communities we visited for their warmth and for the

hospitality they extended to us. This campaign offers further insights

into your problems, our problems, as well as insight into your

potentials.

I assure you that you will very soon hear from us in very specific terms.

All my brothers who took part in this contest in other political parties,

let me say this again: yesterday we were opponents but today offers an

opportunity for partnership in the service of our people for a greater

tomorrow. Our doors are open; you are all welcome onboard the

restoration train. To you my good people of Bayelsa who have voted for

change and restoration and to all those who campaigned across the

length and breadth of this state selling the message of restoration, let

me use a few moments to summarize the essence, the cardinal

principles of the restoration agenda.

To do nothing now about the corrupt and decadent status quo poses a

clear and present danger to the very existence of our state, and will be

the greatest disservice to the aspirations of the Ijaw nation. And if

Bayelsa fails, the Ijaw nation has also failed and so will the Niger Delta

with great consequences for national stability.


We shall undertake fundamental reforms of the governance culture to

emphasize transparency, accountability, due process, value orientation

by all institutions of state and functionaries of the government,

beginning with my humble self. For emphasis, there shall be zero

tolerance for corruption under my administration. The days of

enrichment of a few without labour and funding of the greed and

avarice of a few at the expense of the development of our people, those

days are over for good! Say amen!

I will work hard to block all leakages and sources of our common

wealth in order to fund the construction of roads, to funds free

education, to promote tourism, to generate wealth, to create

employment for our teeming youths, and develop the agricultural

sector, to expand our economy rather than fund corruption and greed.

Be prepared my dear people of Bayelsa State for a fundamental

paradigm shi� in the governance culture, in the values and lifestyle of

all of us, particularly public officials in the state beginning with me. I

am aware that we will face resistance. I will be misunderstood but we

will always do what is right and in your best interest.

To do nothing now about the corrupt and decadent status

quo poses a clear and present danger to the very existence

of our state, and will be the greatest disservice to the

aspirations of the Ijaw nation. And if Bayelsa fails, the

Ijaw nation has also failed and so will the Niger Delta

with great consequences for national stability.


This we cannot afford to happen, certainly not under my watch. We will

therefore take the necessary decisions and actions however difficult,

however painful, however controversial those decisions and actions

may be. Even when you have a different perspective, which is your

right to hold, be rest assured that our actions and decisions will always

be in your best interest, and I will endeavor to consult stakeholders

regularly.

As part of our commitment to transparency, we shall from today

announce and publish all revenues accruing to the state government.

The people of this state, the people of the Ijaw nation and the elected

members who represent you are entitled to know the revenue profile of

this state on a regular basis. In the course of our campaigns we

promised massive investment in education and investment in the

development of critical infrastructure, agriculture, health as well as

peace and security. The development of human capital is our most

compelling and urgent need. That is why we promised free and

compulsory education for all our children in primary and secondary

schools with emphasis on computer literacy, science and technology

because that is the way to the future.

I hereby announce with effect from today free and compulsory

education at primary and secondary schools level across this state. To

underscore the importance of human capital development and the

priority a�ention it would now receive, let me today at this solemn

occasion declare a state of emergency in the education sector in this

state. Now it will be education, education, education. We will not rest

until you have the right skills to survive, compete and to contribute to

your economy. The building of our educational infrastructure will start

forthwith; our curriculum will also emphasize the Ijaw Language,

History and Culture, so that our culture and language will not die while

we do nothing.

We will invest in human capacity development for our teeming youths.


I wonʹt bore you with all the specific details of this programme.

We will construct roads and infrastructure to link our people and fast

track comprehensive development and also improve the base of our

economy. The conclusion therefore of the three senatorial roads will be

given topmost priority.

I am aware of the state of the finances a�er a preliminary briefing but I

know that we will work very hard to conquer our difficult terrain and to

hit the Atlantic from three fronts; Agge the west, Oporoama/Koloama

from the center and Brass from the east. Some of these we will do in

partnership with the federal and other agencies, and that is why we will

need to build synergy with the Federal Government and its agencies.

We must also strengthen our consensus as a community and have zero

tolerance for crime, criminality and violence. I am a man of the law in its

enforcement, in making of the law and its interpretation, and as you

know all the ba�les I have joined I have always followed due legal

process. So, our concept of security will involve a commitment to

protection of our communities from all forms of environmental

terrorism such as what led to the Chevron blow out in some parts of this

state.

We are willing to partner with all entities and corporate bodies in the

state but we will insist on higher standards of responsible behaviour

and citizenship. Similarly, we will not condone the irresponsible acts of

our own people who through criminal acts damage our own

environment and ecology.

We will have in place an institutional framework for promoting

investment and promoting collaboration with the private sector

because government alone cannot do all that you need. To the rest of the

country and the world we declare: a new Bayelsa is ready to welcome

genuine investors in an atmosphere that is conducive. It is our duty to

create that enabling environment. To all investors, I say to you Bayelsa


will be a home away from your home, and we are determined to make

Bayelsa a foremost tourism and investment haven.

Bayelsans, it is true no great enterprise or society has ever been built

without a vision. But vision alone, like an architectural drawing no

ma�er how beautiful, has never built anything without the skills and

the labour and commitment of many workers, many hands. We have

cast a beautiful vision of transformation and restoration of our state to

become the glory of all lands. Now we must labour, all of us, to make

that happen and it is for this labour we summon every man, woman or

child to hear the clarion call of duty and service. Let the Glory of All

Lands be restored again.

Judge me by this, and this is no political campaign, I will not play

politics with your development. I will not play politics with crime,

criminality and violence. I will not tolerate criminality and cultism in

Bayelsa. We have had enough unnecessary bloodshed; we have had

enough unnecessary violence bringing us a bad reputation in this

country and beyond; we will partner together to achieve peace. I will

bring to you, therefore, peace. I bring to you restoration. I bring to you

reconciliation. I will not play politics with the protection of Ijaw

national interest within the context of a united, democratic and

peaceful Nigeria. So, all of you, I say to you, a new dawn has broken, a

new vista of possibilities has now opened before you. The new Bayelsa

beckons, and with your support, with your prayers and by the grace of

the Almighty God, Bayelsa and the Ijaw Nation will never be the same

again in Jesus name! I repeat that with your support, with your prayers

and by the grace of the Almighty God, Bayelsa and the Ijaw Nation will

never be the same again in Jesus name!

This is my solemn promise and this I shall keep, as I your contriman

reports for duty today. God bless Bayelsa State, God bless the Ijaw

nation, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. May God protect

you all, may God shower you His blessings. Thank you all.


Remarks on the occasion of the breaking of a 3day fast & prayer meeting

for the restoration of Bayelsa State

PUTTING GOD FIRST

oday is the beginning of a 3day state fast which a�er

Tconsultations with the Christian leadership we decided to

proclaim. According to the exultation, according to what the

preacher said we believe that we must get the foundation right. We

have gathered here in prayers as part of the process of building that

foundation, a solid foundation founded on God, founded on what is

right, founded on what is fair and what is good for our people.

I want to thank you all for all your prayers and especially the clergy. Let

me thank you all for all your prayers for peace in the country and let me

enjoin you to continue to pray for our brother, our President, one of us

who is facing very serious challenges at the national level. Continue to

pray for the leadership that you have met in this state and it is not a

coincidence that all arms of government except the Judiciary have new

leadership.

I want to thank you all for all your prayers and all your support, prayers


that you will continue to offer in the privacy of your own homes and in

all the churches. I was told that there have been for quite some time all

over the state and with today marking the commencement of this 3day

fast. We have declared this 3day fast because we want to gather

together in supplication and invite the presence of God, for God to take

charge in this new government, for God to come to Bayelsa and usher in

the blessings of prosperity over this land. We have all gathered here

because we think that the right thing to do is to put God first and that is

what we have gathered here to do. So I thank you all, members of the

clergy for enabling us to do just that. For me, I have been reminded once

again of numerous responsibilities on my shoulder and let me assure

you once again my brothers and sisters, and my leaders, by the grace of

God I will not let God down and I will not let you down.

In less than two weeks that I have been on the saddle by your mandate

and with your support by the permission of God, you are already

seeing signs of doing things differently. The government that you have

voted in, of which I am privileged to head, is a government that will cut

RLEF; GOV. SERIAKE DICKSON, EXCUTIVE SECT. NIGERIA PILGRIM BOARD, MIC OKPARA,

CAN PRESIDENT, ORITSEJAFOR AYO AND APOSTLE ZILLY AGGREY AT THE 3DAYS FAST AND

PRAYER MEETING IN YENAGOA


waste and corruption, just as the preacher said, a government that will

continue to address the real problems and priorities of our people and

that is why you continue to hear me talk about education, education,

education. That is why you will begin to see in the next couple of days

or weeks or months and more, massive investment in that sector,

massive investment in health care delivery; massive investment in

peace, law and order and security in this land, massive investment in

infrastructure and so on.

This is not a campaign opportunity but Iʹm just here to remind you that

just as you are all praying for Bayelsa, I your governor and the team that

we are pu�ing in place is going to work tirelessly not to let you down.

But please pray for us because we need your prayers. Continue to

support us when we do what is right, continue to advise us and counsel

us when we think we can do things be�er and differently. For me and

that is one thing quite a number of people do not know yet and that is

one shocker waiting for them. I am not in politics, I am not in power for

any personal benefit that will accrue to me and I intend with your

support and prayers to end this journey of service glorifying God for

the opportunity He has given to me to serve you all to the best of my

ability. And at the end of the day to still remain a humble servant of

God, humble servant of His people. This is my aspiration.

My desire is not to be the richest man among you because I donʹt need

those billions, and that is why you heard yesterday that in this first

month we have reduced the running cost of Government House alone

by a billion naira. And ask me now what we are going to do with it; we

will ply it back to your service. I believe that one of the greatest things

God can do for you is to give you the opportunity to lead your people.

And that opportunity must be protected jealously, knowing that like all

things, every position, every privilege has a responsibility.

My responsibility is to do those things that will promote greater

happiness and well being of your people. Nothing will add to my


personal aggrandizement. Yes, some decisions will be taken that you

may not even agree with. At all times, be assured that I will act in what I

consider to be in your best interest. Today is not a day of thanksgiving.

We intend to have one very soon. In consultation with the clergy, we

intend to proclaim a day of thanksgiving, where all of us in this state

will gather to honour God and thank Him for His mercy and His

blessings.

Maybe you donʹt know you are a blessed people. If you did not know,

then know it now. It is not an accident as few as we are we have

produced the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

I know that in this business of power, God is the ultimate politician. So

far those who are running to the east and running to the west for power,

they are running to the wrong places. And our President wouldnʹt be

where he is but for God. For all these and more blessings we intend in

consultation with the church to proclaim a day of fast, a state day of

thanksgiving where we all gather together and thank God, as part of

pu�ing God first.


BUDGETS OF

RESTORATION


The Rt. Hon. Speaker,

The Honourable members,

Bayelsa State House of Assembly

It is a great honour and privilege for me to step into these hallowed

chambers once again to present the 2013 budget estimates to you the

representatives of the good and peaceloving people of Bayelsa State.z

Mr. Speaker, at the presentation of the revised 2012 Appropriation Bill

to this Assembly, I detailed the fundamental principles and general

philosophy as well as the strategies for the smooth take off of our

Restoration Agenda. As it was our first budget, it was specifically

designed to ensure that a solid foundation was laid for all the

programmes and aspirations of the Restoration Agenda. Mr. Speaker,

a�er about nine months of serious restructuring, redesigning and re

organizing of the entire governance structure in the state, I am glad to

report that the stage is now set for a full and aggressive implementation

2013 BUDGET: THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF

OUR RESTORATION

Presentation of the 2013 Appropriation Bill to the Bayelsa State House

of Assembly on December 21 2012


of all the programmes and projects of the Restoration Agenda in all the

sectors of the state. It is for this reason that I feel confident to come

before you today with a ʹBudget of Consolidationʹ, a budget carefully

cra�ed to ensure thorough and speedy implementation of our various

policies and programmes

PERFORMANCE OF 2012 BUDGET.

The year 2012 was a year of strategic planning and programming for

this Administration.

All the institutional and administrative structures needed

for effective service delivery with particular focus on

good governance, have been successfully erected.

Therefore, the good people of Bayelsa State can rightfully

expect an aggressive, determined, and more importantly,

a properly coordinated execution of our Restoration

programme in 2013.

GOV. SERIAKE DICKSON (L) PRESENTING THE 2013 BUDGET TO THE SPEAKER

OF BSHA, RT.HON KONBOWEI BENSON


You will recall that our initial appropriation for the 2012 fiscal year was

N238.157bn. Due to the devastating effects of the 2012 floods,

Government later raised a supplementary budget of N16.867bn which

brought the total budget for the 2012 fiscal year to N255.024bn. Of this

amount N98.719bn or 38.71% was earmarked for recurrent expenditure

while the sum of N156.305bn or 61.29% was devoted to Capital

Expenditure.

In terms of revenue which accrued to the state during the outgoing

year, actual receipts stood at N206.509 bn or 80.98% of budgeted sum as

at the end of November 2012. The breakdown is as follows:

Nʹ bn

1. Statutory Allocation: 25.283

2. 13% Derivation: 94.397

3. Excess Crude/Budget augmentation: 31.193

4. VAT 6.098

5. Others; 22.811

6. IGR 4.752

7. Capital Receipts 21.975

Total N 206.509

The breakdown of our expenditures of N186.868 bn as at the end of

November, 2012 is as follows:

Nʹ bn

1. Personnel Cost 31.599

2. Overhead 41.605

3. CRFC 68.908

4. Capital Expenditure 44.756


Total N186.868

From the above figures, it can be seen that the State has saved the sum of

N19.641bn in the 2012 fiscal year as at the end of November 2012.

The 2013 Budget:

The 2013 Budget proposals were carefully put together using the 2013

2015 MTEF as its basic platform. Consequently, the 2013 budget comes

with a total proposal of N285.930bn comprising N133.235 or 46.60% for

recurrent expenditure and N152.695bn or 53.40% for capital

expenditure. The sum total of the 2013 budget is expected to be

financed from a total revenue projection of N247.902bn and Capital

Receipts of N38.028 bn.

The Revenue profile therefore consists of the following:

Nʹ bn

1. Statutory Allocation 27.268

2. Excess Crude/Budget augmentation: 45.500

3. VAT 9.955

4. 13% Derivation 160.706

5. Internally Generated Revenue 4.473

6. Capital Receipts 38.028

Total N285.930

On the other hand, the 2013 expenditure profile is as follows:

Nʹ bn

1. Personnel Cost: 49.142

2. Overhead Cost 28.905

3. CRFC 55.188

4. Capital Expenditure 152.695

Total N285.930


The 2013 Budget provides for massive physical infrastructure and

accords high priority to measures and programmes aimed at

positioning our people strategically to harness the full potentials of our

Restoration Agenda. Permit me now to outline the strategic policies

and programmes of the 2013 Budget.

Works and Infrastructure:

Mr. Speaker, as I have said and demonstrated severally in the course of

the past nine months, the key to unlocking the huge development

potentials of the state remains in the massive provision of

infrastructure.

Accordingly, very high priority is accorded to this critical subsector of

our economy. While the state government will be involved directly in

the provision of some of these infrastructures, others will be provided

through a robust Concession Policy to work with the private sector

which will a�ract Foreign Direct Investment. Plans have reached an

advanced stage in finetuning the legal and institutional framework of

this Concession Policy. Some of the top priority projects that will be

immediate beneficiaries of the proposed concession policy include:

EkeremorAgge road, Oporomor –Ukubie road, Tower Hotel etc. Other

projects in the works and infrastructure subsector to be given priority

a�ention include: completion of the six high profile roads in Yenagoa

metropolis, completion of the dualisation works on Isaac Boro and

Road Safety roads, as well as the commencement of construction work

on the three Senatorial roads.

Also the three additional secretariat annexes, whose construction work

was started this year, will be completed in the 2nd quarter of next year.

Additionally construction work on the state Ecumenical Centre and the

Bayelsa State Airport will start in earnest next year. Accordingly, the

sum of N38.8bn has therefore been earmarked for the works and

infrastructure subsector.


Education:

This is one area in which the state government has made major strides

in the last nine months. We have taken several landmark actions

pursuant to the declaration of a state of emergency in this subsector.

The implementation of our free and compulsory primary and

secondary education is very much on course, whilst we have also

commenced massive infrastructural developments in the education

subsector. All the model schools whose construction work was started

this year will be completed next year. This will no doubt create the

much needed conducive environment for learning in our primary and

secondary schools in the State. The Teachers Retraining Institute

established earlier this year will also commence full academic

programmes next year. At this juncture, let me report with a great sense

of fulfillment that the College of Education Sagbama has become a

beehive of activities with student enrollment growing at geometric

proportions. Furthermore the very robust scholarship schemes that

were introduced this year will be strengthened next year. This is

intended to complement our efforts in establishing conducive learning

infrastructure in our schools, as we operate our schools to worldclass

standards.

The state government intends therefore to continue with the present

regime of quality investments in the education subsector, as more

schools are slated for renovation and remodeling. Accordingly, the

sum of N28.4bn has been proposed for the Education subsector next

year.

Health:

Mr. Speaker, as you are quite aware, the health subsector forms an

important component of our Restoration Agenda. This informed the

development of the policy of providing every local government

headquarters with a functional general hospital. The execution of that


laudable policy has reached an advanced stage. Also, the 500 bed

Melford Okilo memorial hospital will benefit from our concessioning

policy so that we can immediately put the hospital to use. We will

continue to sustain the present regime of quality investments in the

College of Health Technology and the Niger Delta University Teaching

Hospital as well as the School of Nursing to ensure the accreditation of

more of their programmes. I am quite sure that by the time our

investments in the Health subsector matures, Health care delivery

would have been greatly enhanced in the State. We have reinvigorated

the fight against HIV and Aids scourge in the state with the

establishment of the HIV and Aids Agency in the State. Accordingly, the

sum of N7.7bn is hereby proposed for the Health subsector.

Energy:

A�er a series of consultations in the energy subsector, we have come to

the conclusion that the challenges in this very important subsector have

become more daunting due to the nonavailability of a properly

articulated energy road map in the state. Therefore, the task we have

given ourselves for the 2013 fiscal year is the production of a power

master plan for the entire state. I am quite sure that this will provide a

good guide for our investment decisions in the energy subsector.

Accordingly, the sum of N6.2bn is earmarked for the energy subsector.

Agriculture:

It is true that agriculture provides a reliable basis for employment

generation both in the short and long terms. Yet, the agriculture

subsector with its enormous potentials has for many years suffered

serious neglect. We intend to reverse this unacceptable situation in

2013. To this end, a School of Agriculture will be established next year to

ensure that our teeming farmers are exposed to new technologies

designed to enable them improve on their productivity. Government

will as a deliberate policy of boosting food production, establish large


farms at Ebedebiri, Anglabiri, Abobiri and Isampou. Also, Government

will embark on the expansion of extension services and ensure be�er

and easier delivery of credit and other valuable inputs to farmers next

year. The sum of N2.7bn is therefore being proposed for agriculture in

year 2013.

Trade Investment and Industry:

The need to properly harness our potentials and advertise same to

prospective investors, necessitated the creation of this ministry. We

intend to carry out an aggressive ́ Foreignʹ Direct Investment drive next

year as, part of our multisectoral approach to the creation of

employment opportunities for our teeming youths. Also, we have

established the Bayelsa Development Investment Corporation (BDIC)

as a special purpose vehicle to drive the process. Furthermore, the issue

of building entrepreneurial capacity will be given a major boost next

year. The sum of N2bn is hereby proposed for this subsector.

Water Resources:

The provision of potable and clean drinking water will continue to be

accorded priority a�ention by this administration in 2013. Modern

water treatment plants will be established in various locations in the

state, while work on the various ongoing water projects will be

completed in 2013. The sum of N3.4bn is being proposed for Water

Resources.

Science Technology and Manpower Development:

Science and Technology being the corner stone of industrialization will

be given special recognition. This has been amply demonstrated with

the creation of a special ministry for it. The formulation of a state policy

on Information and Computer Technology shall be completed and this

will be followed immediately with the construction of a science and

technology centre of Excellence and Innovation as well as


renovation/furnishing of eight ICT centres in the LGAs. The sum of

N3.5bn has been proposed for Science, Technology and Manpower

Development.

Sports Development:

Mr. Speaker, the potentials of the state in sports are huge and this

administration is determined to harness them properly to ensure

greater unity and create the much needed employment opportunities

for our teeming youths in the state. Construction work on the Bayelsa

State Stadium complex will start in earnest. Also, all outstanding works

at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex will be completed next year. We

will ensure that our Sports Academy at Asoama commences fullscale

activities next year. The funding of our football and other sporting

outfits will also be sustained next year as they have done so much to

boost our collective image as a people. The sum of N4.5bn is allocated to

the Sports Development subsector.

Housing and Urban Development:

It is true that the housing deficit in the state is huge. Government will

take pragmatic steps to address this problem next year. In this regard,

the construction of low cost houses for our teeming masses will be

accorded high priority. Also low cost housing schemes in the 8 LGA

headquarters will get under way in 2013. Additionally, the Housing and

Property Development Authority will be encouraged to fulfill its

mandate of providing affordable housing to the people of Bayelsa State.

The sum of N3.2bn is being proposed for the housing subsector.

Budget Discipline:

Mr. Speaker, Hon. Members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, let

me say unequivocally that the management of public expenditure in the

state will strictly adhere to measures of efficacy, efficiency and

effectiveness. This administration is determined to foster transparency


and openness in the governance of the state. We will take all necessary

measures to forestall waste, inefficiency, and corruption in the

transaction of government business in the state. We will ensure that all

payments to be made in year 2013 are based on value for money. All the

measures developed to achieve cost reduction particularly in the areas

of personnel cost and overhead will be sustained next year. Budget

discipline will be our watchword in the 2013 financial year, as we will

ensure greater prudence and fiscal disciple in the handling of

government transactions. We will also make deliberate efforts in the

reduction of overhead and recurrent expenditure to channel our

resources for infrastructural development and to other key sectors of

the economic.

The Wage Bill:

This government has continued with policies to address the huge wage

bill of the state that was inherited without allowing these policies to

have negative impact on the legitimate workers of the State. The

biometric staff verification exercises are ongoing and have achieved

some positive results. We will work with our Permanent Secretaries

and Heads of Departments to clean up our nominal rolls. We have also

introduced daily a�endance record to ensure that those who do not

work with us are not paid salaries. We are working with consultants to

ensure that the processes of staff engagement, salary preparation,

salary payments, monitoring of staff daily a�endance at their work

places are computerized. The staff biometric database will be updated

for migration to the Human Resource Platform to make all salary

payments ebased. Right sizing the public service will be pursued with

vigor and the efforts in preventing payroll fraud will be sustained. We

will fish out all those wrongly employed into the public service and

cause their disengagement.

We will not stop these processes until we have made significant

progress in ensuring that all ghost workers or persons who are experts


in inflating salary figures are cleared from our state wage bill. Such

people will be prosecuted using the provisions of the Salary Fraud Bill

which this Assembly passed into law. We are also doing everything

possible to ensure that legitimate pensioners are paid their gratuities on

time.

Internally Generated Revenue:

Bayelsa State has one of the lowest IGRs in the country. To address this,

the government has put in place a number of policies.

An Internal Revenue Audit Commi�ee was set up which identified a

number of untapped sources of revenue and the loopholes in the

current scheme. The government has just set up a new Board made up

of men of integrity and experience to handle our IGR process. We are

also se�ing up a TAX/IGR Assessment and Review Commi�ee (TARC)

to coordinate all our IGR generating MDAs and activities. I have

directed my A�orney General and other related officers to review and

come up with laws to streamline our IGR process and capture those

potential sources we have not taken advantage of. For the civil servants

and political appointees, we have set up machinery to ensure that we all

pay our correct taxes in accordance with the relevant tax laws. In the

same vein we will ensure that all multinational companies and all

taxable persons doing legitimate business in the state pay their correct

taxes as at when due to further boost the Internally Generated Revenue

base of the state.

Bayelsans should be rest assured that we will be very transparent in the

utilization of their tax monies. To this end, I have directed that specific

bank accounts be opened for IGR generation and we will regularly

report to Bayelsans on how these funds are utilized.

Conclusion:

Our Government stands fully commi�ed to ensuring that the fruits of


the Restoration Agenda are shared by all sectors of our society,

especially those living in the rural areas. Therefore, we must remain

united, resolutely focused and unshakably commi�ed to restoring the

lost glory of our dear Bayelsa State. As a united force against poverty

indolence and corruption, we will start our journey slowly but we will

certainly arrive at the Bayelsa State of our dreams and aspirations.

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour now to present to you for consideration

and subsequently expeditious passage the Dra� Estimate for 2013

comprising.

Nʹ bn

1. Total Revenue 285.930

2. Total Recurrent Expenditure 133.235

3. Total Capital Expenditure 152.695

God Bless Bayelsa State!


Let me first of all express the profound sense of gratitude that we in the

executive arm feel. I commend the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, the

Leadership and indeed the entire members of the House of Assembly

who as usual, have worked tirelessly and selflessly, day and night to

consider this appropriation bill that I submi�ed to them in December.

I want to thank you Mr. Speaker and your colleagues for this unusual

dedication and selfless service to our people. I am not surprised

because we are leading the most proactive, the most productive House

of Assembly in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

BAYELSAʹS EXECUTIVE LEGISLATURE RELATIONS:

A WORTHY EXAMPLE

Address at the presentation of the 2013 appropriation bill for the

Governorʹs assent in Government House, Yenagoa on March 21, 2013

If as a government we have been able to make any

progress, as people say we have, the credit also goes to the

state House of Assembly for its selfless application and

commitment to the interest of our people.


Mr. Speaker, I want to thank you. I have taken note of your desire to

have future Appropriation Bills submi�ed earlier. This year, my

economic team and I will work and begin the budget preparation

process early so that before the end of September or at the very least, by

early October, you should be able to get the appropriation estimates to

enable you have sufficient time to do the legislative work that must be

done so that we can go into next year with a fresh budget.

This is March, we are having the budget at this time and I think that we

will at the executive Arm and all those who have responsibilities for

implementation of the budget work hard to ensure that the

performance targets that we have set for ourselves will still be met.

I want to thank you for your commitment and let me say that on our

part, we intend to follow this budget scrupulously. We intend to

implement it to the le�er.

A budget is only a statement of intent. It is a broad policy, financial

document and if there are shortfalls or there are areas we need to work

with the Assembly, we would not hesitate to bring that to your notice.

And I want to request you and members of your House to also support

government as you have always done by exercising the full ambit of

your oversight powers over all ministries, departments, agencies and

offices which are charged with the implementation of this budget so

that we can all work together to ensure that set goals and targets are

achieved and met, and that we bring development, prosperity and

security to the good people of the state.


ACCOUNTABILITY:

THE TRANSPARENCY

BRIEFINGS


Remarks at the monthly transparency briefing for January 2012

he statutory allocation to Bayelsa for January was N2,

T380,587,000 (two billion three hundred and eighty million five

hundred and eighty seven thousand Naira). That allocation is

where the bulk of your income now comes from and which is why we

need to diversify our economy. Derivation income that we received was

Ten Billion eight hundred and sixty nine million Naira (N10,

869,000,00). From Vat we received four hundred and ninety seven

million Naira (N497, 000,00). For sureP program we received for the

month of January one billion one hundred and sixty five million seven

hundred and ninety seven thousand Naira (N1, 165,797,000.00) and

then there was an NNPC Refund which came to three hundred and

eleven million Naira (N 311,000,000,00). So the gross inflow for January

was sixteen billion two hundred and sixteen million three hundred and

sixty five thousand seven hundred and sixty five Naira eightyseven

kobo (N16, 216,365,765.87). There are liabilities the Ministry of Finance

sorts out with the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Accountant

General Office at the federal level. These deductions came to two billion

BAYELSAʹS MONEY IS FOR DEVELOPMENT,

NOT FOR HANDOUTS


three hundred and sixty five million six hundred and ninety thousand

three hundred and sixteen Naira (N2, 365, 690, 316.00).

We have pending bond obligation which we must service and that is

deducted at source (N1, 214, 109, 426.57). There are deductions for

foreign loans recovery by the federal Government (N12, 000,480,00).

Every month they are deducting certain amount to service excess crude

payments received by the previous administration. This is the 27th

monthly deduction and that one was (N509, 000, 813.20). There is a

comprehensive recovery of an over payment that was made to the

previous government which is the 14th of 72 installments. So every

month for 72 months they will be taking that. That came to (N392, 885,

300.83). There is a forty one million (N41, 000, 000.00) deduction at

source also being repayments on commercial agricultural credit

scheme received by the previous administration.

By the way this one if it is well utilized was very well worth it. So the

total deduction at source came as I said to two billion three hundred

BAYELSA STATE GOVERNOR, HON. SERIAKE DICKSON (CENTRE) HIS DEPUTY, REAR ADMIRAL

GBORIBIOGHA JOHN JONAH RTD. (RIGHT) AND THE SPEAKER OF THE STATE HOUSE OF

ASSEMBLY, RT. HON. KOMBOWEI BENSON DURING THE MONTHLY TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVE

PRESS BRIEFING FOR THE MONTH OF FEB. 2012


and eighty five million two hundred and ninety thousand three

hundred and fi�een Naira ninetysix kobo (N2, 385, 290, 315.96). These

were the total deductions. If you deducted this from the gross (N16.216

billion) you now get a balance net inflow of N12, 829, 675, 539.91. This is

what we now received here. And for the month of January we are

working very hard and with support of our citizens our IGR has started

going up. The IGR for December which we now got for the month of

January is N427, 000, 000.00. When we started it was less than N 15,000,

000.00 but now gradually it is coming up and we have just introduced a

new tax regime. But this is still not good enough.

Our aspiration is to get to the level where from our IGR we should be in

a position to meet our recurrent obligation as a state. It is only then that

we can fully say we are selfsustaining and we are in control otherwise

we will be building our economy on oil receipt that is not within our

control. The other outflows apart from the tax deductions, apart from

paying the bondʹs obligations, are inherited bank liabilities. I think

when you are talking of state liabilities you must be very careful so that

you do not approach it in a way that you throw away the baby with the

bath water because however much you disagree with the nature of the

inheritance it is important that we protect the corporate integrity of the

state. So we are regularly servicing all those obligations. We have bank

repayments of over N1.9 billion. Then we paid FIRS deductions that

were not collected and remi�ed which they are now collecting from us

that came to N200 million.

We donʹt need to owe these things. It is not your money. We are only a

collecting agent. We should collect it and send it forth. So we are now

paying back. We have paid N200 million for the month of January.

Every month we pay them.

As for salaries, this is critical. When we started, our wage bill was N5

billion but because of various measures we have been taking it has

come down substantially. We are going to do even more because we


must bring down our recurrent wage bill to the barest minimum. You

still have many fake names on our payroll. For example in the primary

school system you have 5,267 teachers but you have 7000 approaching

8000 non academic staff by way of security guards, cleaners, clerks who

do not work. How can we have nonacademic staff that are more in

number than the number of teachers in our schools? Meanwhile the

people we really need in these schools are the teachers. We have got to

employ more teachers in the state. We donʹt have enough teachers. We

are going to take some decisions to streamline our economy. Some of

these decisions could be very bi�er but they are necessary.

We donʹt need almost 8000 workers who donʹt work. They earn maybe

N30, 000, N25, 000 or N20, 000 but when you aggregate this, it is

massive. And that is from the primary school system alone. In the local

government system, it is the same thing. Once somebody becomes a

chairman or councillor they list members of their communities, all their

relations, some as old as 80 years and put them on the payroll.

Now if we have to run a welfare system we must think it through. So as

your government takes some necessary but painful decisions we count

on your understanding and support because the right thing has to be

done. I wouldnʹt want any Governor coming a�er me to inherit this

type of situation because it is unhealthy and it is not sustainable. Our

wage bill for January is N 3.873 billion. This is in a way still too high so

we all can collectively discuss and see how we can address it. Political

appointees salaries in the state came to N304, 804, 763.41. Because of the

state of our economy we made several appointments. But this is not

much of a problem because we know them, they are human beings,

they are not fake names, they were appointed, they are doing their

work. The monthly overhead of the state which used to be about two

billion Naira has now been brought down to about one billion Naira.

For the running of Government House, the ministries and parastatals,

comes up to N1, 066, 133, 000.00. Again this is still too high. Monthly

standing approval including for traditional institutions came to N227


million.

As you are aware we have by law set up a state savings account and

every month we are saving a minimum of N250 million for the rainy

day. So for the month of January we will meet that obligation and N250

million must be paid into that account. That account is about N304

million right now. Because of the flood we had cause to run to the

Assembly for permission to access N1.5 billion because the law is

structured in such a way that the Governor has no control over the

account and we made it so deliberately. Even the Assembly cannot

easily approve, as it needs a 2/3rd majority not simple majority. So there

must be a compelling need before the fund can be accessed because we

are keeping it for the future.

We paid N1 billion to Bank of Industry so that we can begin to give

loans for small and medium business enterprises so people build

businesses. Now we have inherited gratuity obligations of our retirees

and very senior citizens who served our state to the tune of almost N4

billion. This state has been owing gratuity for the past 56 years and

which is very unfortunate but that was what we met. So every month

we have directed that we keep aside N250 million and we have been

doing that now for the past 5 months and right now the account is about

N1, 250, 000, 000.00 out of which in last two weeks I gave N500 million

as payments to the commi�ee to offset the gratuity.

Now NDU, our only tertiary institution has some issues of unpaid

arrears. For January we set aside N100 million for payment of those

outstanding salaries and so on.

So if you add all these outflows that I have mentioned it comes to N7,

751, 849, 816.20. The outflow is so much. And that is why your

Government has decided to be prudent and I donʹt mind to be called

ʹʹtighthandʹʹ Governor. The reality is that there is no free money to

throw around. There is no way we can pay all these contractors who are


working if we are not prudent. I tell you we are not owing a single

contractor, none! Thatʹs why we are controlling funds very well. They

say my hand is araldite. But I need your understanding. It is for our own

good. We are also trying to give jobs to people to do. That is the way we

can support you, not free money being thrown around. I donʹt do that

myself so I donʹt see why I should allow anybody to do so. Well it is your

money not mine. I have a duty to manage it in your best interest.

The details of these capital releases by your Government you have the

right to know. I will authorize the Auditor General to audit the account

and then release it to the numbers of the public. I think they should do

that very, very fast. Let them get the audited account ready and released

to the public.


Address at the transparency briefing for the months of March and April

delivered on April 25, 2012.

his a�ernoon ladies and gentlemen, we are assembled here in

Tfulfillment of the promise we made concerning the Bayelsa

transparency project. You will recall that some weeks back, we

assembled in this same hall where we laid out our commitment to one

of the cardinal pillars of the restoration project, which is transparency

and accountability to the people of Bayelsa state.

It is not because any law requires us to do that but we recognize the

fundamental right of the people to know the activities of their

government and those who exercise public authority on their behalf. I

want to thank you for all the support you have given us in the pursuit of

this initiative.

On the 15th of March, I told you that I had set up a commi�ee to

ascertain the huge debt profile inherited not just from the previous

administration. The commi�ee is working. So for the month of March

the Government of Bayelsa received N17, 965,168,389 from the

Federated Account. The outflow is as follows:

WE MUST REDUCE WASTE AND BLOCK LEAKAGES


Loan repayment took half a billion (N500million). The Federal Inland

Revenue Service deductions took N200million. Salaries and allowances

of the public service which, have been a problem, took N4.1billion

Overhead payment stands at N792million. Other recurrent payments

came up to N791m. Capital payment for ongoing projects that needs

urgent a�ention amounts to N583m. We have debts that gulped

N249m. Now with our Cash On Transfer position, we have spent

N58m. When you take all this away from the allocation, we are le� for

the month of March with N10, 250,000,000.

You will recall that a�er my assumption of office we created two

accounts, the Bayelsa Strategic Development Project Account and

Bayelsa Strategic Savings Account. So what we did was to transfer

N10bn to the project account and it is there as we speak. The remaining

N250m we transferred to the Strategic Savings Account as savings for

the month. In other words, a�er paying the salaries and a�er the

LRIGHT: FINANCE COMMISSIONER, MR. DUATE IYABI, SECRETARY TO THE

STATE GOVT, PROF. EDMUND ALLISONOGURU, THE STATE GOVERNOR,

HON.SERIAKE DICKSON, HIS DEP. REAR ADMIRAL GBORIBIOGHA JOHN

JONAH RTD,AND THE FORMER HEAD OF SERVICE, MRS. GLORIA IZONFUO

DURING THE MONTHLY TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVE PRESS BRIEFING FOR

THE MONTH OF MARCH AND APRIL 2012 IN YENAGOA


Oil is the mainstay of our economy but we are not in

control of the variables that determine the oil market at

the international level. So while we received N17bn for

March, the net inflow received for the month of April is

N12, 180,553,189bn. Now you see why we must all work

hard to reduce the recurrent burden of government. You

can also see why all must work hard to increase our IGR,

so that at a point, we will be in a position like some states

in this federation, to meet our recurrent expenditure

burden on the strength of our IGR. That is our ultimate

goal but we are not there yet. I believe if we work hard and

reduce corruption, block all leakages and wastages, work

earnestly to increase our IGR, I think we will get there in

no distant time.

recurrent funds, your government has not done any other thing apart

from transferring into the savings account for future use and we will

brief you monthly about the expenditure of these funds. And we will

also brief you about our reserves at the Strategic Development Project

Account, which is now N15bn while the Strategic Savings Account has

a reserve of N2.2bn. But just 2 days ago and upon my arrival this

a�ernoon, I received advice from the Commissioner for Finance that we

have received the allocation for the month of April.

So I want to also go ahead to prepare the projected receipt for the month

just as promised. The net inflow from the Federation Account to your

state reduced drastically. This is why we have to be careful; this is why I

always keep on making the point that we must reduce our recurrent

expenditure.


The net inflow from the Federation Account in the month of April is

N12.18bn. Now outflow starts with Loan Repayment, because as you

keep paying, it keeps reducing. Loan repayment gulped N584m; FIRS

deduction took N200m. As a result of the steps we are taking so far on

verification of public sector salary, we have reduced it from N4.2bn to

N3.8bn for this month. We have made savings of over N300m in just 3

weeks of action. Let me tell you this, we have just started; they have not

seen anything yet. For other provisional overhead payments the

amount they have worked out is N844m. WAEC and NECO fees and

other related payments come to N214, 780,200 and I gave instructions

that they should be paid immediately. Other Recurrent Payments

provision stands at N750m, for loans and obligations we already have

with the bank, N250m. The cash on transfer charges also reduced to

N36m because we have not borrowed any money from banks. So from

the N12bn, our outflow to meet certain obligations for this month is N6,

737,995,593 leaving a net balance of N5, 962,751,463. So in laymanʹs

terms, we have also saved N5.9bn for the month of April. If you add

N5.9bn to N17.250bn, out of last monthʹs receipt, your state now has

N23, 202,751,463. That is the total liquidity position of the state.

Now let me thank you all, especially all hard working members of the

public service whose payment in the past couple of weeks appeared to

be irregular or slightly delayed. Not because we donʹt have the money

to pay them but because of the delays that are normal to the verification

exercise. I want to use this opportunity to call for the understanding of

all honest and hard working civil servants in Bayelsa in all we are

doing.


ith a great sense of duty and commitment to the ideals

Wthat we have set out to promote and entrench in our

system, I welcome you all most sincerely to this third

transparency briefing.

Let me thank you all for the support and solidarity you have all

extended to us and also for the prayers and for peace and harmony that

we now enjoy in this state. Let me go straight to render our statement of

accounts for the month of May.

For the month of May, we had a drastic reduction of what came into this

state and what we got was N11, 971,214,230. In February, we got about

N17bn but the month of May you can see was a far cry from that.

That, you see, underscores why we have to be prudent with the finances

of the state. That is why we must not spend the stateʹs funds the way we

donʹt even spend our own personal resources. We must be prudent

because we donʹt know what will come tomorrow.

WE ARE CREATING THE ENVIRONMENT FOR PROGRESS

Address at the transparency press briefing for the month of May

delivered on Thursday June 6, 2012.


Our entire economy is tied to a commodity that is volatile over which

we have no control. You know that the previous administration

commi�ed this state into very serious financial obligations and we are

paying so much monthly to service loans and bonds.

The first bond obligation for the month is N1, 241,107,428. Now that

was not money that came to the state; that was your money that was

taken at source. Foreign loans and other obligations came up to N15,

156,361. Excess crude oil deductions for payment to the previous

government amount to a refund of N509, 801,020.

All of these were taken from source. Again, refund of over payment

made to the previous administration for which we are paying from

source is N187, 836,410. Another over payment to the previous

administration amounted to N392, 885,383.

We are paying for fertilizers and I will be interested to have a report on

this from the Commissioner of Agriculture. There is a deduction of

N114m on account of supply of fertilizer to this state. I am interested in

GOVERNOR OF BAYELSA STATE, HON. SERIAKE DICKSON SPEAKING

DURING THE PRESS BRIEFING


ge�ing a report from the Ministry of Agriculture on account of supply

of the fertilizers to this state within the next one week detailing how

much fertilizer we got, who supplied it and who were the beneficiaries.

Now when you take away all these deductions, we are le� with N9,

624,415,626. From this fund, I have also made the following loan

payments apart from the bonds and other loans we are indebted. I have

directed the payment of N717m for a loan the state is indebted to and

there is a tax from the FIRS of N200m.

Now, salaries of civil servants. When we took over, our total salary

payment was about N5bn and thankfully with the effort of all of you

who have supported the government to take certain decisions in the

interest of the state and because of the on going verification exercise,

this month our obligation is N3,886bn. For my political appointees, all

their emoluments, including my salary came up to N146m as against

almost N500m in the previous administration.

The monthly overhead was about N1.9bn when we took over but today

it stands at N816m. There is what they call, ISPO which is a standing

payment instruction entered into by the previous administration in

favour of Skye Bank and this is the final payment and it is N249m.

This leaves us therefore, with a balance of N3, 122,481,643. Out of this,

we have made our compulsory savings, which you know we signed

into law to support and I have authorized the savings of N250m for the

future. When you add what is le� with the ones that we have saved in

previous months, we have N24.500bn.

Of this sum, you know that N2.750bn is for the Strategic Reserve

Account and it is backed up by law. In this state no governor has the

power to authorize expenditure from that account. It has to be done in

extreme cases of necessity and supported by twothirds majority

support of the State Assembly.


That is how difficult we have made it. So that we can begin to save for

tomorrow, for the children not yet born. When you take this sum out,

what we have for Capital Projects in the account that we call, the

Bayelsa State Strategic Development Project Account, is about N22bn.

Now my brothers and sisters, we were due yesterday and today to

present cheques to most of our development partners that are

undertaking major projects in this state, but because of the air disaster,

as I am told, most of the companies have their staff in that illfated

aircra� we cannot do so.

I want to use this opportunity to condole with the President of the

Federal Republic of Nigeria and families of all those who lost their lives

in that unfortunate crash. May their souls rest in peace.

That presentation will now be made on Friday. Out of the remaining

N22bn, I have authorized several payments to enable these contractors

not just to move back to Yenagoa but also to begin construction.

When the cheques are presented, we will also make a transparency

report by announcing to you people the amounts that will be paid to

each and every one of them. I assure you that the journey of restoration

is on course. The only contract that we are not going to mobilize

immediately out of the three senatorial roads, is that of the

Nembe/Brass road, which you know was recently revoked.

Thank you very much for your kind a�ention and for working with us

to create the enabling environment without which no development,

either private or public can take place.


ACCOUNTABILITY IS THE FULCRUM OF GOOD

GOVERNANCE

Address at the monthly transparency initiative press briefing for the month

of June 2012

You are all welcome to our transparency briefing. You know it is a

monthly ritual because we feel that the people have a right to know all

about the activities of government and to call their leaders to account.

That is the essence of democracy. Without respect for the right of the

people to know, there is no accountability. And that is exactly what we

promised Bayelsans and that is what weʹve been delivering since we

came on board. And that is what we will continue to do throughout our

tenure.

My dear Bayelsans, it has now been four months since we all started on

this restoration journey. Let me use this opportunity to thank you all for

your support and abiding solidarity and most importantly for your

prayers. Let me give you an account of our finances, that is, between the

last time we had the press briefing and now and then I will make one or

two policy statements.

For the month of June, the total inflow was N13, 045,649,174.09k. And


the deductions are as follows:

Bond deduction – N1, 241,107,428.57

Loan deduction – N15, 156,361.46k

There was another repayment of N509, 813,020.90k.

They said the state account was overpaid and we are repaying. I think

this is the twentieth instalmental deduction. They deducted N187,

836,410. There was also another deduction of N372, 885,383.52k.

When you add all these amounts deducted at source for servicing the

bond facility and other liabilities of the state, you have a total deduction

of N2, 346,798,605.11k.

That is money we did not see at all as it was deducted as source. Now,

that leaves us with a balance of N10, 698,850,568.98k. That is the

amount that came to us a�er all the deductions I highlighted above.

Our internally generated revenue has remained very low. I have always

Commissioner of Works, Engr. Lawrence Erudjakpo (right) briefing the press about his

Ministries achievements during the press briefing


said we must work hard at it so that we can build it up and now it has

risen to N324, 842,201.82k as IGR for the month. So, total funds

available came up to over N11bn.

Outflow:

Federal Inland Revenue deduction gulped N200 million. That is

another obligation we serviced in terms of repayment of loans. The first

ones I talked about were those deducted at source. So in addition to

that, our government inherited loans we have to service and those

payments took N923 million.

Now, payment of salaries of civil servants, which you know has been a

problem. But I am thankful to the people of this state for their support. I

am also thankful to our hardworking and patriotic civil servants for

their understanding. And with the measures we have put in place, we

have been able to reduce the wage bill gradually. And so far this month

we spent N3.985 billion. Remember when we started, it was over 5

billion, in fact almost 6 billion naira. But now it is N3.9 billion, which to

us is still not good enough. So work on it is in progress and very soon, I

will brief you about additional measures that we have taken.

Just yesterday I sent a bill to the House of Assembly to criminalize all

forms of payroll fraud in this state. While we are taking administrative

measures as a government founded on the rule of law and I being a man

of the law through and through both in its making and interpretation,

we believe that our society should be regulated only through the

instrumentality of the law.

Just as we sent a bill to the House to criminalize cultism, yesterday I

forwarded another bill to criminalize all forms of payroll fraud and

sharp practices associated with emoluments and allowances and

salaries in the public sector.

I expect that the House of Assembly will as usual, give expeditious


consideration to that bill and others I forwarded to them. Let me

therefore use this opportunity to serve notice to all civil servants and

particularly the few bad ones who still have not realized this that the

days of payroll fraud and selfenrichment at the expense of the

common good are over.

They and their collaborators are yet to come to terms with that. What

they donʹt know is that we are fully on top of the situation and that I

have reports daily as to what is going on in all departments of the public

service. We have deliberately slowed down because we want a special

law to deal with those fraudulent people.

We donʹt want to apply the regular provisions in the criminal code. We

want a special law and this bill that I have just sent to the House of

Assembly, when passed and assented to law, will mean that anybody

found guilty will serve ten years in prison without an option of fine.

And so, to the few of you who are thinking you are smart, let me tell you

that you cannot outsmart this system. The system will catch each and

every one of you with your collaborators. Those of you falsifying your

age declaration and retirement dates, grade levels and steps, we will

catch you.

And let me put you on notice that we donʹt want to touch you until we

have this law in place. Once this law is in place, you will see what will

happen. But you still have time to change and join the majority of our

people who are commi�ed to the restoration of this great land.

Still on salaries, let us move to the political appointeesʹ salaries. When

we started some people were complaining that, “a government that is

talking about cu�ing cost, you are appointing too many people”.

But they took for granted the commitment and patriotism of the

restoration team, which is made up of very commi�ed people. Let me

thank all appointees for their understanding and support because we


reduced 15 percent of your salaries and emoluments.

That is the sacrifice you have been making. And I also know that you

work like private sector workers. Those who have encountered you

from within and outside the state will a�est to that. So let me say again

as I have said always that I am proud having you all in Team

Restoration.

The amount paid as salaries of political appointees cu�ing across all

cadres is far less than what it used to be. It was 400 to 500 million naira

every month, but now all of you put together with all you are doing, this

month we spent N131 million.

Overhead liabilities of the state have remained at less than a billion

Naira against the over two billion Naira, which used to be the case. And

our overhead responsibility even with all the things we are doing like

security investment and all that is N904 million as against over two

billion Naira.

So, a�er servicing all the liabilities most of which we inherited and

were clearly spurious, we were le� with N4.72 billion. But we bear the

responsibility because government is a continuum. And until those

liabilities are formally and legally challenged and impugned, youʹve

got to satisfy them as a responsible government. That is exactly what

we are doing.

You know that we have been making savings since we came. In the

course of our transparency briefing last month, I made it clear that the

real business of restoration was to go on.

And a few days a�er the statement you saw what happened, how we

started making payments to our major contractors and development

partners. Let me use this occasion also to thank the management and

staff of Julius Berger Plc for promptly moving to site to commence the

business of restoration in Bayelsa.


Let me also thank the management and officials of Setraco for being

alive to their contractual obligations as well as the leadership and staff

of the Chinese Civil Engineering and Construction Company

(CCECC). They were the companies we paid and as you all know they

are undertaking various projects.

Several other construction projects have been awarded, some

contractors are being mobilized to site and work is on going while for

others, mobilization is in progress.

Last month I reported a balance of over twenty billion Naira. But you

know we had to pay the contractors out of that amount. So, the brief I

have here is that all the capital payments we made came up to N9,

333,922,339.69.

If you take this from the balance I announced last month before we

made the payments, we now have a balance of N17, 784,836,668.41k.

From this, we are making our monthly mandatory savings, which is,

the Bayelsa Strategic Reserves. I have ordered the transfer of the sum of

N250 million as our compulsory savings for this month.

And so, ladies and gentlemen, this in summary is the financial position

of the state. I have directed the Ministry of Finance and the Auditor

General of the state to produce quarterly audited accounts of the state.

And this report when produced should be available to members of the

public.

So any person who wants to know how much every ministry has spent

for each month and for what project and to whom, should go there and

get the audited accounts because it is your right.

There is no free lunch any more in Bayelsa


We have commi�ed ourselves in an MOU with the Chinese Company,

which Iʹm told is one of the three largest construction companies. And

we have told them to help us do the surveys, carry out preliminary

studies and start work on the NembeBrass road.

We have also arranged with them to begin studies so that we can

consequently award contract for the construction of the road from

Ekeremor to Agge to them. But because we must prepare the state for

the future especially now that we know that Brass is going to be the oil

and gas hub not only in Nigeria but of the entire subregion and with

the plans we have for the deep seaport Agge, we know that we will need

to diversify the mode of transportation.

Still on this MOU with the Chinese Construction Company, we will also

construct a rail line from Yenagoa to Brass and from Yenagoa to Agge

and connect them with possibly the airport that we will construct.

So, the airport, our state capital, Yenagoa and the deep seaport at Agge

as well as the oil and gas hub in Brass will not only be connected by road

but also by rail. That is the arrangement we have made. Now, you will

agree that this is a very ambitious infrastructural agenda. But we know

that with the discipline and transparency that we have brought to

government and with your support and prayers we will get there.

Once they are through with the designs and we have determined the

total cost, our obligation is to pay between 20% and 30% and the

Chinese company (with the financial muscle of their supporting

government) will now source for funding for the remaining 70% or 80%

whatever the case may be. That is the agreement we have just signed in

the MOU.

As they conclude the preliminary designs and studies and by the time

we complete detailed negotiations, we shall brief you on the next step

we will take. But for now it is an MOU.


And those living in these areas of NembeBrass and Sagbama

Ekeremor and Agee should expect to see the Chinese working in your

territory very soon. I want to use this opportunity to call on you to

extend our usual support and cooperation to them. They are our friends

and partners in development.

Let me particularly call on our law abiding youths who have been very

supportive with their conduct ever since we came on board to

cooperate with companies handling these jobs so that we can create

more jobs for you.

For the traditional institutions, I want to say that this is a major

challenge. But I know that you are going to live up to it and I will

personally interact with most of the traditional rulers and opinion

leaders in the affected areas before our partners move to site which, will

not be more than 2 or 3 weeks from today.

Let me also announce to you that I inaugurated the state commi�ee on

HIV/AIDS yesterday. I want to use every public forum and

opportunity to begin to caution our people and let them know that

there is a future. The statistics that I have been given are not

encouraging. The situation is very distressing.

We want to be known for more positive things in this country. We want

to turn our people around to be an army of champions. The fact that we

are among the top ten states in terms of the prevalence rate, is a very

serious ma�er.

I want to use this opportunity to call on religious, opinion and political

leaders and indeed all of us not to leave that job only to the commi�ee

that I inaugurated yesterday. Of course, because of the seriousness I

a�ach to this, I sent a bill to the House of Assembly.

And the House as usual gave expeditious passage to the law that has

created the agency.


While we build the roads, bridges, schools and hospitals, all of these

will be nothing if we do not have a healthy population and workforce.

And that is why this issue of HIV/AIDS should be taken with all

seriousness.

We have also noticed with sadness the rate of accidents particularly on

the streets of Yenagoa that are associated with commercial motorcycle

riders in this state. And so we are going to introduce a policy to ensure

that at the end of this month, we are going to ban them in Yenagoa.

Everyday our people are maimed and killed for no fault of theirs. We

would have announced this policy earlier but I want to leave this

window between now and the end of the month to do two things.

Firstly, to let all road users and riders know that there is now a

paradigm shi�.

Secondly, it is to also give them an opportunity to begin to prepare for

the transition. I donʹt want to apply the style we are used to “with

immediate effect”. No, that will be a wrong policy because we must

provide an alternative.

These motorcycle operators in Bayelsa who can afford tricycles like the

keke NAPEP and buses should begin to look in that direction. Your

government will between now and the end of the month also provide a

system by which those who are certified drivers will get registered with

the Ministry of Transport.

For those who cannot afford to procure keke NAPEP, government will

provide and give to them. But we will not give everybody. Secondly,

they must have the requisite skills to operate the vehicles and thirdly

they must be registered. Now let me tell you this, there is no free lunch

again in Bayelsa.

That means the keke NAPEP and other forms of transport that we will

provide will be paid for by the allotees. It will not be business as usual


because I have seen reports where the Bayelsa Stimulus Scheme was

be�er known for displaying photographs than for anything else.

In this system, you must pay and get people to serve as guarantors.

What we will do as a state is to make a collective arrangement and

where possible, make bulk purchase so that the price will be lower and

then work out a system with the banks so that as you get it, you pay

yourself.

So for those of you who will benefit donʹt ever think it is free

government thing again. We are only coming in to bridge the gap and

support you.

But we will also do something in addition; we are working very hard to

finish the driving school in this state so that all of you who want to learn

how to drive will do so free of charge in that school. We want to also

expand the roads.

Between now and next year, you will see good roads with streets lights

in this state. So, between now and that time, I want to plead with

commercial motorcycle riders to take it easy; abstain from alcohol and

other things that intoxicate most of you.

And if you have not taken special lessons in driving or riding, please

hold on and a�end our driving school. We will teach you how to do it

and donʹt get our people killed on the roads. Finally, I thank you for

finding time to a�end this briefing. And let me again assure you all that

your future is guaranteed and safe in our hands and that the restoration

process is on course. Thank you and God bless you all.


et me welcome you all to the 5th transparency briefing of this

Ladministration. Today the format will change slightly. Today

we want to again lead the way in demonstrating that top

government officials must work together and must at all times be in the

know of policies and decisions of the government.

In our government we work as a team and that was what we were

elected to do. Accordingly my brother and ally, His Excellency the

Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah retired but

still serving will render the transparency briefing for this month. In this

new Bayelsa state the account of the government of Bayelsa state will

cease to be a closely guarded secret between a Governor, his

AccountantGeneral and Commissioner for Finance. And that is what

we are demonstrating to the people of the state. Let me also remind you

that today is Ijaw cultural day. As you know every Friday is our

traditional day and that is part of cultural revival that this government

is pursuing. We cannot be ashamed of our culture or run away from our

Address at the transparency press briefing for the month of July on

Saturday August 17, 2012

WE ARE TRANSPARENT FOR ALL TO SEE


history. We are determined to promote our identity. I want to thank all

of you and those who are compliant.

Funds reserves as the balance for June 2012 is N12, 805,644,485.

Strategic Savings account is N3bn. Subsidy reinvestment account is N1,

979,192,122. The balance brought forward from June 2012 is N17,

784,836. Recurrent expenditure provision for June was N1.5bn. That

brought the balance to N19, 284,836,698. Certain payments and

transfers were made and the actual recurrent payment is N2,

419,122,642. There was an additional overhead of N32m. This brought

our balance down to N16, 833,966. There was also capital payment in

July of N2, 146,187,179. So the balance a�er capital payment was N14,

687,596,786. The following is the statement a�er allocation from the

federal account:

Statutory allocation N2, 390,305,479

Derivation account N7, 740,175,466

VAT N545, 766,343

BAYELSA STATE GOVERNOR, HON. SERIAKE DICKSON (CENTRE) HIS DEPUTY, REAR ADMIRAL

GBORIBIOGHA JOHN JONAH RTD, (LEFT) AND THE SPEAKER OF THE STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY,

RT. HON. KOMBOWE BENSON AT THE PRESS BRIEFING.


Subsidy reinvestment program N1, 018,581,053

NNPCN refund N311, 669,246

Gross inflow N12, 006,437,589

Total deduction of loans/bond from source N3, 210,952,255

BREAK DOWN OF DEDUCTION

Bond N1, 141,107,428

Loan/FG recovery: N15, 156,361

Refund of excess crude payment account: N509, 813,020

Refund of 13% derivation from August 2008 – December 2009: N 1 8 7 ,

830,410

Repayment of 13% derivation indices from November 2006 to June

2010: N392, 885,383

Refund of overhead: N864, 163,649

Net inflow from FAAC: N8, 795,475,334

IGR June 2012: N362, 904,540

Account balance brought forward is N95, 266,859

Total funds available then N9, 063,133,053

OUTFLOW

Bank loan repayment: N923m

FIRS deduction: N200m

Civil servants salaries: N3, 894,069,705

Salaries for political appointees: N215, 900,080

Overhead: N936, 133,000

Monthly standing approvals: N91, 397,000

Monthly revenue Consultancy: N30m

Gratuity for retiring civil servants July 2012: N227, 410495

Gratuity for retiring primary school teachers in July 2012: N169, 453,534


COT: N32, 096,550

Balance from July Federal Allocation Account Commi�ee including

subsidy reinvestment fund is therefore N2, 143,662,649

Recurrent payments made a�er 28 July 2012 which amounts to N 4 5 2 ,

395,458

Capital payments made 20 July 2012 amounts to N970, 500,000

Transfer SUBEB: N1, 018,581,063

Transfer to strategic savings: N250m

So when you sum up that you have N2, 693,476,512

This brings the deficit of N549, 813,863

There were some special funds, one of which amounted to N5,

111,512,494

SUREP N1, 018,581,050

Strategic savings N250, 000,000

Net fund including special funds N5, 830,279,683

When you add net fund including special fund and capital balance a�er

payments in June the balance in our favour in July is N20, 517,876,469.

This is the account statement of the state as at the end of July 31st 2012.

We have identified human capacity building as the single

most important challenge of our time in this State and

have intensified efforts in that direction.


Bayelsa state monthly transparency initiative press briefing by Hon.

Henry Seriake Dickson, governor of Bayelsa State, for the month of

November and held on December 24 2012.

EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT MUST BE HELD

TO ACCOUNT

oday, we are here gathered for the last monthly transparency

Tbriefing for year 2012. We have been very faithful to our

promise to run a transparent and accountable system backed

by law with very dire consequences for failure in a bill proposed by us.

We have been complying and I like to thank you all for finding time to

be part of this.

This is our statement of account as at the end of November. We will give

the account of December by January 2013.

Statutory Allocation from the FAAC _________N2,194, 025.461

13% Derivation________________________________N9,57,278,450,44

VAT___________________________________________N625,316,631,61

Disbursements on account of SUREP________#1,65,666,656,47

Refund in favour of Bayelsa State_____________N311,669,296,40

Gross Inflow________________________________N13,453,956,496,43


DEDUCTIONS:

Total Deductions at source____________________N2,385,690,315,96

Breakdown of the deductions is as follows:

Bonds_______________________________________N1,241,107,428,57

Refund on savings from Excess Crude Account_____N509,813,20

Deduction on overpayment_______________________N187,836,110

Other statutory deductions __________________N292,885,383,62

IGR For November______________________________N413m

Donation For Flood Victims____________________N7m

NET OUTFLOWS

Bank Loans______________________________________N1,23m

FIRS Deduction__________________________________N200m

Salaries Of Civil Servants______________________N3.768bn

Salaries Of Political Appointees_______________N327m

BAYELSA STATE GOVERNOR, HON. SERIAKE DICKSON (2NDLEFT) HIS DEPUTY, REAR ADMIRAL

GBORIBIOGHA JOHN JONAH RTD, (2NDLEFT) SPEAKER OF THE STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY.

RT. HON. KOMBOWE BENSON (LEFT) AND THE FINANCE COMMISSIONER, MR.DUATE IYABI

(RIGHT) DURING THE MONTHLY TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVE PRESS BRIEFING FOR THE

MONTHS OF SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER 2012 IN YENAGOA


Overhead Payment_____________________________N1.6bn

Gratuit ies/Pensions (funds so far set aside for ret irees)

____________________________N750m

Balance brought forward from October_________N23,572,937,105,68

Recurrent Expenditure__________________________N2bn

Capital Expenditure______________________________N9bn

Balance Of Funds Available____________________N20,809,108,172,38

The details of all capital and recurrent expenditures are here; this is a

release from the AccountantGeneralʹs office. I have directed the office

to make details of the monthly earnings and expenditures available for

people to look at.

For example, for Ministry of Works alone, we have awarded a contract

for the dualization of Igbogene junction to the Gloryland Drive and we

have paid a mobilization of N222, 844bn as well as construction of a

dualized road amounting to N531m which has been paid; construction

of road 13 and the one around the 5 Star Hotel and so on are all in the

statement of account.

In the Ministry of Energy, there was a transfer of N1.63bn; we also paid

counterpart fund to the World Bank N150m and in the Ministry of

Education we have paid N1.3bn for the construction of model

secondary schools in the state.

There is also going to be construction of administrative block and

hostels at St. Judeʹs Secondary School, which we intend to transform to

be our elite girlsʹ school and we have set aside N196m.

Construction of classrooms and ICT blocks and car park at the College

of Education amount to N569m and all other details are in the

document ministry by ministry.

Now that the year has come to an end, the state AuditorGeneral and

others will conclude their work so that the audited accounts of the


Government of Bayelsa State will also be made available to the public.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is what we have done, your development is

on course and your future is assured. I know that because of the robust

nature of our agenda and the commitment and enthusiasm that we all

have to see it through some concern has been expressed as to whether

we are not doing too much.

The truth is that people find it difficult to believe that all this is possible.

Of course it is possible with commitment and dedication and prudent

management of scarce resources, a lot more can be done and we want to

even do more.

We should not be discouraged and we cannot be discouraged. There is

so much out there waiting to be done. I take that actually as a

compliment. I would have been worried if the concern was that nothing

was going on but if they say, within this short period, so much work is

going on that they canʹt believe it is true; they canʹt believe it is possible,

then, Iʹm very happy with that. It means we are on the right track.

Let me say that those concerns are legitimate; there are people who

wish us well. There is no project that we have started that has not

received adequate funding. None. All projects are well funded and

work is going on.

We have our savings; there are not many states that have this type of

arrangement where, before you go to another month, you have this

type of robust savings that is more than your three monthly income.

I assure you all that all projects would continue to receive adequate

funding as well as several other projects that we have taken over

because government is a continuum; we wonʹt allow any project

initiated by any previous regime that is meant to address any problem

to be abandoned. All those ones will receive equal a�ention.

By next year, we will show more commitment and you will see more

results in some other areas because of the need for investment in human


capacity building. You have seen massive investments in education.

You have also seen massive investment in infrastructure this year even

though the flood came and took us back but work has started again. The

Hon. Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure will also list the road

contracts to be awarded. This whole state will be turned into a massive

construction site for our people.

Let me thank the people of this state, that I appreciate the problems

associated with the traffic congestion in Yenagoa, the state capital. They

should bear with us; that is what they voted for. They voted for

development and construction and more construction work.

They should know that in this life, they cannot have their cake and eat

it. For you to have omelet, you must first break eggs. Now, we are at the

stage of breaking the eggs. We assure you that as soon as the on going

construction works which, by the way are being handled by reputable

companies, are completed, traffic congestion will be a thing of the past.

The culture of stealing from the people and appearing to be a Father

Christmas must stop. We are not stealing money to give to boys and

girls. We know that the elites also encourage that mentality; instead of

telling the young ones the truth that they must take responsibility for

their lives, instead of working hard to set up the framework, that will

enable the young ones live independent lives, we have a formation of

armies of unemployed youths.

Until recently, people were even given drugs and AK47 guns and

assisting them to be cult leaders and giving them peanuts. So we have a

whole generation growing up with this mentality of entitlement; this

mentality that they must get something or everything for nothing.

We are not going to steal from our people to sustain that tradition so let

me use this opportunity to call on the youths and people of this state to

rise to the occasion. We are proud Ijaw men and women; we are not

known for being slaves. They should discard their slavish mentality.


We want a modern state capital for our people and that is why, in spite

of the road projects that we have on going, we cannot resist the

temptation of awarding work for the construction of strategic roads in

Yenagoa, to prepare the city for expansion that is inevitable.

One of the roads that we will look at, is the expansion of the road from

Gloryland drive at Igbogene to the Bayelsa Palm road; then our city will

be free from traffic. Next year, we will look at how we can complete the

Gateway road linking Onopa.

In our budget for next year, the Ministry of Transport will work towards

addressing the culture of parking vehicles indiscriminately along the

very narrow roads in Yenagoa.

We want to have neighbourhood parks equipped with some amenities

like car wash, security police post with a capacity of 300 vehicles.

Vehicles will be parked for a fee. There is no free lunch in this state

anymore. We will also use that to empower people.

We should work hard to a�ack the dependency syndrome in this state

that enslaves our people; that makes it impossible for them to take

responsibility for their own lives. They are prepared to hold companies

responsible; they are prepared to hold government responsible; they

are prepared to hold their elder brothers responsible; yet they

themselves are not responsible for their own lives.

Other people are responsible for feeding their children, for clothing

them, doing marriage for them, for training their children, for paying

their hotel bills, hospital bills and buying and maintaining cars for

them. That is a life of slavery and we want to end that dependency

syndrome and culture of irresponsibility.

We are working hard to create the necessary framework and institution

by which we will encourage our people to indicate interest in doing

something for a living. A few days ago, I inaugurated the

entrepreneurial capacity building commi�ee and we are working with


the Bank of Industry. As I speak, N2bn investible fund is ready. We have

no free money to give to people in this state.

The culture of stealing from the people and appearing to

be a Father Christmas must stop. We are not stealing

money to give to boys and girls. We know that the elites

also encourage that mentality; instead of telling the

young ones the truth that they must take responsibility

for their lives, instead of working hard to set up the

framework, that will enable the young ones live

independent lives, we have a formation of armies of

unemployed youths.

Until recently, people were even given drugs and AK47

guns and assisting them to be cult leaders and giving

them peanuts. So we have a whole generation growing up

with this mentality of entitlement; this mentality that

they must get something or everything for nothing.

We are not going to steal from our people to sustain that

tradition so let me use this opportunity to call on the

youths and people of this state to rise to the occasion. We

are proud Ijaw men and women; we are not known for

being slaves. They should discard their slavish mentality.

Anybody who wants to keep you as a boy or girl for you to say, “Iʹm

loyal sir”, that person is an enemy; that is not a friend. So next year, we

are going to aggressively engage in the empowerment of our people.

We are going to identify people particularly the youths and the

hardworking women.

In next yearʹs budget (2013) we have provided over N1 billion for the


Ministry of Women Affairs. While you are clapping, let me also remind

you that all those who will benefit from it that this money is not free.

It is not a dash, so before you think of using it to buy George wrapper or

buy the latest car in town, let me remind you that we will develop the

structures that will enable us train you, first to be a good entrepreneur,

to take responsibility for your life and livelihood and then have the

means by which you can pay back.

This money is supposed to be a revolving loan facility. For the women, I

can speak for them because they are hardworking. Most of them are

already breadwinners in their various families and I look forward to

seeing Bayelsa women go and carry on their lives with honour and

dignity.

I want the leaders to start the process of identifying these people so that

the commi�ee that has been set up will begin the process of

entrepreneurial training. We are working with the Central Bank of

Nigeria and the Bank of Industry as well as other agencies to do this.

Now, before we round off, I will like to announce our new policy on

local government administration. As you are aware, we have just

concluded the local government primaries in our party and I

congratulate all those who emerged victorious. I also like to salute the

commitment of those who could not be flag bearers but generally we

had a very peaceful exercise with some complaints here and there,

which are to be expected in a political contest.

Generally, we did it in a way that we did not violate our commitment to

peace and stability and I want to thank the chairman of our party and all

the officers of our great party.

I want to thank the stakeholders for the deliberate policy on the 35%

Affirmative Action, which for the first time in this state, saw the

emergence of a large number of female councillorship candidates and


five female chairmanship candidates.

The women, I think should do be�er next time so that they can also

emerge chairpersons of councils and you can be sure that you have our

support. The leadership of your party is gender sensitive. I want to also

plead with the men, some of them who felt they could have won, please

bear with us because we need to support our women.

Remember that when we talk about women empowerment and

development such women are our mothers, wives, sisters and

daughters so I want to thank you for your understanding.

For those who thought their participation was an investment to reap

selfish returns, too bad for you, because you have lost your investment.

It was a bad investment but I know that generally good care was taken

in the selection. Not only have we demonstrated that in this state you do

not have to be a cult leader or gangster to be in any position of authority.

We have also clearly shown that we should pay greater respect to the

quality of leadership at that critical level. They are the closest to our

people at the grassroots.

We will try our best as a state government; we also want local

government leaders that can work with us as partners to link

developmental efforts at the state and local government levels. I know

that there was a Supreme Court judgment, which as a lawabiding

party and government, we have complied with, however we feel about

it.

It was a product of forgery, lies and a lot of things that were wrong and it

did not represent the truth. Again it was a failure of leadership of those

who were in charge of the government at that time.

Those who were affected also know that this state has moved beyond

criminality and violence and corruption and this state will not allow

any local government to return to those dark days of brutality,


primitivity and corruption.

Those who have benefi�ed from that judgment, which ever way they

got it, they have a responsibility now to conform to the high standard

and demand of the restoration government.

They should know that the allocation to the local government is not

personal money anymore and they are not going to have access to it and

use it the way they would have loved to. Things have changed. This

state has moved beyond that and it is not prepared to return to those

days anymore.

Accordingly I have instructed the Deputy Governor, who oversees

local government administration and has been doing very well in that

regard, with the commissioner in charge of local government

administration to ensure that, with effect from this month, no one Naira

will be released to any chairman of council in this state unless it is

supported by an appropriation from the council with a clear road map

for investment in development projects.

With effect from this month, monies will be remi�ed only for payment

of salaries directly by the ministry of local government.

Whatever is le�, will actually go to the development of local

government areas.

Secondly, the Deputy Governor and the Local Government

Commission and the Ministry will ensure that no council is allowed to

borrow one Naira in the name of any local government anymore..

We do not want Chairmen of councils to suffer the fate we are managing

where those who are outgoing will go and heap up liabilities and loans

and bonds knowing that succeeding governments are bound to honor

them, that those who come a�er them will shoulder that responsibility

while they smile to the banks with stolen funds. That will not be

tolerated so banks, you be�er beware of this policy. If you are in the


habit of giving loans to fraudulent chairmen and other officials in this

state, you should know that you do so at your own peril. We will also

review all facilities that are standing to the credit or liabilities in all our

councils. This is not only for this transition period; this is the system we

are going to adopt even when new chairmen are elected.

And that is why I said, for those who may have invested money into

sponsoring one candidate or the other it is really a bad investment

because it will not yield any returns. We will hold every level of

government accountable to our own standards; nothing less is

acceptable.

For the new chairmen whose antecedents are very well known, let me

use this opportunity to warn them publicly, that they should know

there is a new system. If they have been thriving and surviving on

thuggery, hooliganism and disrespect for the laws, the rules, they

should that know there are consequences and the law will at any time,

take its course. Having said that, I also welcome them as partners. They

have an opportunity to work with the restoration government and to be

part of the government if they show compliance with the standard set

by law.

Let me on this note thank you all, particularly appointees who have

been working under extreme conditions, for your understanding and

dedication. Let me also commend the dedication of the leadership of

the bureaucracy of the public service, the Head of Service and the

permanent secretaries.

As I always say, you are the instrument through which any government

works. Let me thank you, wonderful citizens of Bayelsa state for your

understanding. We have come to the end of 2012 with all its challenges

and trials and tribulations. I want to thank you for standing with us in

prayers and solidarity all the way.


OUR TRANSPARENT REGIME IS FIRMLY IN PLACE

Transparency briefing for the months of February and March 2013 delivered

on April 19, 2013

et me welcome you all to this edition of our transparency

Lbriefing. Today, like we have done for some months in the past,

we are going to do the briefing for the months of February and

March.

We have taken two months briefing together as you all know as a result

of exigencies of state. So I begin with the briefing for the month of

February.

For the month of February, the inflow into the state was as follows:

Statutory Allocation: N2, 370, 597, 763. 74

Derivation, which is where the bulk of our inflow comes from we got,

N10, 42,555,170.56.

From VAT, we got N648, 58,310. 71

From the SUREP programme, we got N1, 137, 755,885.5


There was some augmentation paid and the Finance Commissioner

will explain what all of this means. But some augmentation was paid by

the Federation Account Commi�ee and what we got from that heading

was N113, 452,170.83.

Now for the month of February, there was a disbursement from the so

called Excess Crude Account, and what came to us was N5,

30,673,522.63

There was also an NNPC refund and all these are all concepts known to

the members of the FAC. What we got was N311, 669,296.40

Now if you add up all of these, the total inflow to our state for the month

of February was N19, 654, 762,119.92

On the outflow, we begin with deductions by the Federal authorities

themselves based on existing obligations and liabilities of the state

prior to the commencement of our government. And you are all aware

of what we are talking about.

BAYELSA STATE GOVERNOR, HON. SERIAKE DICKSON (2NDLEFT) HIS

DEPUTY, REAR ADMIRAL GBORIBIOGHA JOHN JONAH (LEFT) AMAYANABO

OF TWON BRASS, HIS MAJESTY, KING ALFRED DIETE SPIFF (RIGHT) AND THE

FINANCE COMMISSIONER, MR. DUATE IYABI (2NDRIGHT) DURING THE

MONTHLY TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVE PRESS BRIEFING FOR THE MONTH

OF MAY 2013 IN YENAGOA


FAC deductions came to N2, 384,427,708.40

I will give you the breakdown of this.

The Bond deduction. There is an existing Bond liability entered into by

the previous government and of course you know government is to

continue in the interest of the integrity of the state. We have to go with it

however much we disagree with it. And that deduction was N1,

241,107,428.57 that was taken at source.

Foreign loans and other loan liabilities; N11m.

There was a refund of over payment to the previous administration that

we have been paying back. And this is in three different categories; first

is refund on Domestic Excess Crude –N509, 813,20.00, the second is

N187, 836,410.00 while the third is N392, 885,383.00.

Now the commercial agricultural loans that were taken, which we are

of course servicing monthly as part of the inherited liabilities is N41m.

So the total deductions taken at source is N2, 384,427,708.40. These are

the liabilities. The net inflow from FAC therefore is N17, 270,334,411.62.

On the outflows, you have the banks, the payments which we are again

servicing, contingent liabilities entered into by the previous

administration, came to N1.993b. That is almost N2b went for servicing

of bank loans entered into by the previous administration.

There was also the fast, like you know and we say this every month the

previous administration did not pay certain deductions back to Federal

Inland Revenue Service.

You know the tax administration system is such that when you collect

federal taxes arising from contracts and other things, you remit.

We are now paying back every month what they should have paid, so

we pay N200, 000,000 every month. That is standard until we clear the


backlog.

Talking about salaries, you know we have all been working together on

this subject ma�er, reducing the overhead cost and eliminating fraud in

our payroll system.

You know the several steps we have taken, but this is work in progress.

Now when we started, our wage bill was close to N6b but with all that

we have done together, we have been able to bring it down to, at least

for the month of February, N3, 817, 632,116.00.

Now, let me be very frank with you, this is still way too high. And we are

working hard as you all know to continuously monitor this.

Genuine civil servants will be paid, no problem. But the ghost names

and all fraudulent and criminal things going on in the payroll system

we will continue to flush out and hold the culprits accountable to the

law of the state.

And you all know that in this regard, we have even passed a payroll

fraud law working with the House of Assembly. So all these are

measures in addition to the public enlightenment going on and the

verification team that are working, going round visiting every ministry

and making reports to me on a weekly basis.

We want to pay existing human beings salaries of civil

servants not ghost names. We cannot continue to fund

criminality and fraud and call it “carrying people along.”

That is not the way we want to go.


So for civil servants salaries, we spent N3, 817,632,116.00.

Now salaries of political appointees, my appointees came to N335, 202,

233.26.

The monthly overhead payment. Government is a massive

bureaucracy and you know when we started, the overhead of

Government House alone was almost N2b but you know the steps we

have all taken to reduce that.

The overhead cost of running our government for the month of

February is N1, 121, 133, 000.00. Again, this is an area that we should

keep an eye on.

Now, Standing Approvals:

There are some statutory approvals that we make. The Commissioner

of Finance can give further details on that. That came to N230m.

You are all aware that every month, as a result of our emphasis on

prudence and to encourage the culture of saving for tomorrow because

these oil wells will dry up one day, part of what we are doing is to put

aside a portion of our earnings every month as it were, keep it aside for

the rainy day and the House of Assembly, working with us, enacted the

legislation.

So we have created an institutional framework that will support this

even beyond the life of our government, that is the State Compulsory

Savings Law. And in pursuance of that law, we set aside N250m in that

account. You also know that our government inherited a massive

backlog of unpaid pensions and gratuities of civil servants who have

served and retired.

When I came and set up a commi�ee, the report was staggering. We

needed about N3.5b, close to N4b to clear the backlog.

And this was incurred between 2007 till when we came in. It is very sad,


people served and retired and gratuity is not paid: a lot of them die

while waiting for their gratuity, which is very unfortunate.

I use this opportunity to apologize to all those who are affected, it

should not have happened, it should not have been allowed to happen.

It is a failure of leadership.

Arising from the outcome of that recommendation, what we have done

is to every month religiously set aside the sum of N250m to service that

liability.

I am pleased to report to you that the account today stands at N1, 25b. I

have also set up a commi�ee chaired by the Head Of Service to

commence the payment of the old gratuities a�er verification and I

know that I have released about N1b to the commi�ee to undertake

those liabilities.

Then Niger Delta University salary arrears: Our lecturers in NDU are

doing well. We are paying them instalmentally because we do not want

to owe people and you all know we do not even owe contractors in this

state anymore.

So we are paying them N100m every month. As a result of these several

transactions, the banks took N53m for COT charges. If you add up all of

these and cross check with the January report that I gave, we had a

balance of N17, 22, 000, 000.

Now if you check all the outflows that I gave earlier, you will have N8,

351,581,903.15. That is the outflows that I have enumerated. If you want

to know all the money spent, you add the over N2b that was paid or

deducted at source, and then you add the N8b and some fractions and

then deduct it from the total sum that came, you will get the Gross

Inflow.

Going forward, linking it with the previous briefing, the actual

recurrent payment that we made is N2.5b because of all these bills we


offset.

The capital payments made to service the various contracts that we

have, came to N10b and now the balance available for the month of

February, if you add it up with the balance for the month of January is

N19, 686,830,179.56.

Now the release from the office of the Accountant General of the state

meant for the construction of the tourism Island payment, the flyovers;

N3b, was paid to Julius Berger. All of it is here.

Those who want to get details of this can do so and I will also call up the

Commissioner for Finance to make some remarks and answer some of

the questions that may arise.

We are doing this because as we have always said the cornerstone of

any democracy is the right of the people to know and that is what we are

fulfilling.

Let me go to the briefing for the month of March.

For the month of March, the Statutory Allocation to the state was N2,

297,717,365.90.

Derivation reduced a li�le, and we got N9, 454, 83, 256. 52.

VAT : N658, 230, 000, SUREP: N1, 68, 194, 562. 62. Now there was again

another augmentation. So we got an augmentation of N10, 310, 264,

237.

There was no money from the Excess Crude Account for that month.

However we got an NNPC refund of N311, 669,296.40. In other words

for the month of March, our Gross Inflow was N24, 100, 159, 145. 73.

Now again, for the month of March you go through the FAC deductions

and all the Bond payments. The FAC deductions came to N2, 384, 000,

000. 00.


The break down is there. Bond deduction, foreign loans, repayment to

NNPC and FAC overpayment to previous administration.

And for the month of March, our salary obligation for civil servants was

N3, 795, 483, 311. 55. Remember I authorized recruitment of science and

computer teachers in this state, I think about 300 of them. I believe that

accounts for the difference.

And we are going to do more. We have need for teachers in this state.

You know we are also advertising for recruitment of engineers,

surveyors etc.

What has happened in the state is that with our massive investment in

infrastructure, the bureaucracy does not have the capacity to monitor

and supervise these jobs going on in the state. So we have established a

need and I have instructed the Head of Service and Civil Service

Commission, so qualified graduates and those with relevant

qualifications should apply.

I hope that process will be speedily completed. Now again, we paid the

bank liabilities a�er servicing the federation liabilities, bond and so on.

As a result of the local loans that were taken, we still paid N1.899b to

service those liabilities.

I have told you how much we paid for salaries for the month of March.

Political appointees N307m. Overhead was N1.121b, Standing

Approvals N230m. Transfer to Strategic Savings Account of the state

came up to N250m.

For the month of March, as we do every month, we transferred a

minimum of N250m to save for the rainy day and for posterity.

Transfer to Land Acquisition Account N250m. For the month of March,

I directed the Accountant Generalʹs office and the Ministry of Finance to

establish a sub account that we will be transferring funds to, to pay for


acquisition of land.

We have a very ambitious programme of development and that means

we are going to do a lot of acquisition. The Ministry of Lands and the

State Capital Development Authority are going to do a lot of acquisition

and we know that landowners in this state have a right to fair and

adequate compensation.

And we have said they must receive their compensation unlike in the

past where government will just make pronouncement and go into

peopleʹs private properties without paying compensation.

We already have many cases like that. So we have directed the

establishment of a special account, into which we will be making

monthly contributions.

By the way, I have set up the Land Use and Allocation Commi�ee

working with the Ministry of Lands and Survey, I expect them to use the

proceeds of that account to pay compensation for any land that the

government intends to use for our development.

So for that reason, we transferred N250m to that account. And again,

the cost of IGR collection N80m. COT provisions N71m. Now the

balance for March FAC including SUREP came to N18, 910, 942, 584.

75.

If you add up everything, the balance available to our state with all the

payments we have made and we are not owing any contractor, came to

N28, 972, 919, 215. 13. That is the balance standing to the credit of the

government and people of Bayelsa State as at the end of March 2013.

I am sure in the next one or two weeks, we will be able to give the

briefing for the month of April. These briefings are made a�er the

receipt of accruals at the end of the month.

I want to thank you all for having faith in the government. As you are


aware, we have a very ambitious programme of development, of

security and I am very pleased that we have the massive support,

cooperation and solidarity of the government, leaders and the good

people of this state.

We have transformed our state to be one of the safest havens for

investment in this country. Now I want to publicly commend the

workers in the public sector because it is not easy when you are dealing

with a mindset that has been there for so long. I know that a number of

people misunderstood me when I said that, in this state, part of the

things we must get right is paying the regular and adequate tax as and

when due.

We did not impose any new taxation policy. In consultation with the

leadership of organized labor we discussed and said that the existing

Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,

which is a federal enactment, should be applied and complied with in

this state.

And I am pleased that with the cooperation of all workers in our public

sector, our revenue that comes through tax has increased from a sum of

less than N50m or so from when we took over to N300m on a monthly

basis.

Now at the end of March period covered by this account, our PAYE

report has a balance of N508m in it.

I have told the Ministry of Finance not to touch N1 out of that account

yet because we want to use the tax that is paid to do things that those

who are paying the tax will see the result themselves.

Part of what has happened in this country not just in this state, is a

national disease. People hardly pay tax; they run away from tax

responsibilities and that is what makes you a responsible citizen. Very

soon, when we are through with this reform, in fact we will also think of


how to get the private sector people to pay their fair share of tax because

we have the collective responsibility to develop this state for ourselves

and for posterity.

Now our internal revenue has hit N1b every month. Let me tell you that

we have just started. This is to put all citizens, corporate as well as

individuals on notice.

As you know, we are working hard to promote a favorable

environment for businesses to thrive; we want to create wealth and

jobs; we want to work with everybody, but multinational corporations,

individual business people who enjoy the benefit of our investment in

security, our investment in human capacity development, our massive

investment in provision of health care, must contribute their own

quota.

But I can assure you it will not be done arbitrarily. We have put in place

mechanisms to ensure that everybody is carried along. As you know, I

just reconstituted the board of Inland Revenue Service.

I have also just set up the Technical Commi�ee chaired by my Deputy

Governor himself. That should underline the seriousness of this

assignment because unless we are able to beef up our IGR such that it

should be able to meet our recurrent liabilities as a state; unless we get

to that point, we cannot be said to be independent.

We cannot project any sustainable development plans, we cannot as a

state or even as a nation continue to build our hopes and plans and

development on oil earnings that are based on variables that are

beyond our control.

And that is why it is important that we all create a safe, stable and

peaceful environment for businesses to thrive, for tourism to flourish,

so that people can live here and invest and then pay their fair share of

taxes to us.


But I assure you, with the mechanism we have put in place to ensure

openness, transparency, and accountability all the taxes and so on will

be judiciously and properly utilized.

We are going to embark on a programme of investing more in the public

sector. We will soon open the Public Service Training Institute to ensure

capacity building so that we can get the best from the public sector.

Ladies and gentlemen, I want to thank you all for your support. For

those who are here for the first time, like the crew from Channels, and

like some of our friends here, let me use this opportunity to welcome

you all to Bayelsa.

We call this place the Glory of All Lands and here we have a saying that,

“all good human beings are Bayelsans, all good things start from

Bayelsa”.

That is why the first oil well was discovered in Bayelsa. Why we say so

is because we want to work with everybody, all wellmeaning people in

this country and outside this country.

We want to work together and make this place a haven of peace,

prosperity and development. And it is to that new Bayelsa of endless

potentials and possibilities, where we work with everybody, within

and outside to make this place a haven of peace and prosperity that I

invite you all to participate.


AGENCIES SET

UP TO DELIVER

RESULTS


Remarks at the inauguration of board of the Bayelsa State construction &

dredging company

ACTUALIZING OUR DEVELOPMENTDRIVEN AGENDA

his is the first time we will be se�ing up a state construction

Tcompany of this nature. And I donʹt think there are many states

in this country that also have this concept, so itʹs another first

for us. That means a lot of the burden is on the shoulders of those to be

given the responsibility to actualize the vision of our government in

this direction.

You are all aware of the very ambitious development agenda of our

government and we thought since much of our development cannot be

driven by the state government alone, we will necessarily have to begin

to lay the foundation, the groundwork, for effective collaboration with

the organised private sector. This model has worked in several other

countries. The Asian Tigers; most of the companies from China are

actually state companies, and I see no reason why our own state

company cannot be a major construction company.

So this is the experiment and it will be the duty and responsibility of the

chairman, the M.D and members of this board to actualize it.


This company will function as a parastatal of the Ministry of Works. In

addition to that, wherever there is any construction job that we as a

government feel that this company should participate in just like we

award contracts to other companies, we will also award contracts to this

company. So it is the duty of this company to acquire the expertise in

terms of personnel and machinery because my government intends to

give you people a lot of responsibilities. Let it be said that when people

are looking at roads and the other things they will say that this Bayelsa

state company has done well. You have to function the way these other

popular companies do. We know Rome was not built in a day. Now

Rome is even too far; they say Dubai was not built in a day, I just

returned from Dubai and DSP and others took me around a li�le so a lot

of things are coming.

We want Bayelsa to be the Dubai of Africa. And this company should be

a major catalyst of that process. We took great care in selecting this

board. You are to make profit and at the end of the year declare

dividend to the people of Bayelsa state. So this is an experiment. I have

done my own and I will continue to stand by you and support you but

the rest is le� for you people to do. I donʹt expect politics on this board

even though a number of you are political people; I expect you to work

together as one board, one family.

The M.D is going to have the responsibility for running the daytoday

activities, under the direction of the board. You are actually also in

addition to what I have said the direct labour agency of the

government. And we expect you when I give certain jobs, the aim may

not be just to make money. We want to engage our boys and girls. We

want you to play a role in developing critical middle level manpower

and even very senior technical manpower and also to have a liaison and

effective relationship with the Niger Delta University. You can then

provide the needed practical experience for our engineering students

because you are going to be very busy constructing roads, constructing

low cost houses. I know that your rates will be lower. You are the direct

labour agency of our government.


Remarks on the occasion of the presentation of cheques for NECO and

WAEC fees and inauguration of education inspection commission

EDUCATION AS THE TOUCHSTONE OF OUR PROGRESS

here is no doubt that we have entered for the past one year a

Tnew phase in our quest to lay a solid foundation for our

development and for our future, and that is why education

continues to be a cornerstone of our Restoration Government and so

will it be till the end of our stay in government. Because education is the

most powerful tool for changing our society, we are determined to

invest in it until we succeed in turning it around completely.

Part of the reason standards have gone down apart from insufficient

government a�ention and investment is the absence of reliable and

credible inspectorate mechanisms and we want to address that.

Today we are formally presenting cheques totaling N301, 951, 000 to

offset the registration fee of all WAEC AND NECO candidates of

Bayelsa, and for the supply of all science materials that are needed for

the conduct of May/June WAEC and national technical examination.

We are making this public presentation in addition to the several other


things we are doing quietly so that the teachers and principals and

school administrators as well as parents and guardians and the general

public will know that the government is commi�ed to this sector. I donʹt

want any guardian or parent to be cajoled by anybody to go and spend

money and that is why we are doing this public presentation. I expect

that the ministry of education and the various education officials will

judiciously apply these funds. I expect that the students will also do

their own part by working very hard, study hard to ensure that they

come out with flying colours. That is the only way they can justify the

massive investment in this sector.

We have decided to set up a commi�ee that will interface with all

critical sectors in education, teachers at all levels, principals,

educational practitioners at all levels, administrators and non academic

staff. In those days we all remember when inspectors would come to

school and everybody would sit up.

GOV. SERIAKE DICKSON (L), PRESENTING A CHEQUE OF 312M, TO EDUCATION COMM. HON.

SALO ADIKUMO (2ND L), & HIS PERM SEC, FOR THE PAYMENT OF NECOWAEC FEES FOR

BYS SECONDARY STUDENTS


Part of the reason standards have gone down apart from

insufficient government a�ention and investment is the

absence of reliable and credible inspectorate mechanisms

and we want to address that.

That is why we have set up a commi�ee which is actually made up of a

lot of our partners who are the teachers and the headmasters as well as

the Nigeria Union of Teachers that can now exercise an oversight on all

our schools, on all our institutions. This government will rely on the

outcome of your report; we expect you to work full time, nonstop. You

are not just going to give us a report in terms of observance of policies,

you are also going to let us know from time to time how the projects and

the various contracts that have been awarded in the education sectors

are implemented.

In one year alone, we have built 400 plus primary schools and quarters,

and countless contracts have been awarded for secondary schools

across the length and breadth of this state. Now we have awarded

contracts for secondary schools, 25 of them, a lot of them boarding

institutions.

Now we need to reboot the inspectorate division to support the work of

the Ministry of Education and that is why we have come up with the

commi�ee. I need to be briefed on the state of our infrastructure in

secondary schools and the primary schools we need to reconstruct

because there are primary schools we were unable to capture in this

exercise. We need to know exactly what these communities need in

order of preference. This is one commi�ee I will not allow to rest. Apart

from infrastructural oversight, you have to inspect the schools to

ensure that the teachers go to work and that the curriculum is right and

that teachers are commi�ed to do and have the skills to impart

knowledge. The work of this commi�ee will also expose other

problems we have not yet able to identify. It is from this work that we


will know what those problems are and perhaps reason together on

how to solve them. That is why I deliberately made all the critical

stakeholders to be in this commi�ee.

The Nigerian Union of Teachers is here because you are an umbrella

association of teachers. The Association of Principals is also here.

So where Principals have challenges and issues on implementation of

most our programmes and policies, we need to know through this

commi�ee of which you are a part. Same for headmasters, we need to

know what your views are on various issues.

So now with your inclusion in this commi�ee, you have again been

given further stake in the formulation and execution of our policies and

education.


Remarks at the inauguration of the commi�ee on Youth Development And

Empowerment

WE WILL NOT REST UNTIL WE CREATE JOBS

This inauguration represents a milestone in the determination of our

government to expand the range of opportunities open to our teeming

population of young, unemployed people in this state. One problem

that this government and other governments in this region and in this

country generally have is that of large number of unemployed people.

This is why this administration has vowed to take steps to tackle this

problem, but there is li�le we can do however without first gathering a

reliable empirical data of the number of unemployed young people in

this state. We as you all know are very serious about capacity building

but you need to have the basis upon which you can move forward. You

need to plan, you need to get data collated before you can go about

implementation.

The inauguration of this commi�ee therefore signals the preparedness

of this government to implement our various programmes aimed at

creating employment and generally empowering our people, the

young people in this state. We will not rest until we create jobs, build


skills and create wealth and give them a chance, for some of them a

second chance, and that is why we are having appointees in this

government that are vested with the responsibility of dealing with

rehabilitation issues. You have all been carefully selected because of

your official designations and responsibilities, to come together to first

of all identify all the unemployed young people in this state. Let us

know who they are and what they can do before we move to the next

stage of offering them opportunities.

We have several opportunities in ICT Training; we are creating and

establishing a sports academy that will also take a lot of young people.

The various skills acquisition programmes will come on stream very

soon. And there is a school established for vocational training, and this

is also in addition to the robust policy and scholarship awards and

grants. And for this year, we have announced scholarships for all

postgraduate students in Bayelsa anywhere in Nigeria or outside. We

have voted the sum of one billion naira for this project. But we know

that it is not all young people that will take advantage of scholarships

and grants. We also want to look for other ways of creating jobs,

building skills, for these other categories of young people who strictly

GOV. SERIAKE DICKSON AND MEMBERS OF THE STATE COMMITTEE ON

ENTRPRENEURIAL CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT POSE AFTER THE INAUGURATION


speaking cannot fit into the formal educational structure.

This commi�ee has been put together to enable us develop a database

of all unemployed young people in this state. Let us also know the type

of training they need, the opportunities and the various vocations and

other interests that they have and then government will be be�er

advised to work with that data, to be able to give them skills, to be able

to give them gainful and meaningful employment. This is why this

interministerial commi�ee is set up.

The members of this commi�ee have already been announced. The two

chairmen; the Hon. Commissioner for Youths and the Hon.

Commissioner for manpower and employment will cochair this

commi�ee. Then, the secretariat of this commi�ee will be domiciled

with the Special Adviser Youth, Training and Mobilization

Empowerment. We expect that as soon as possible you will swing into

action so that all the teeming young people in Bayelsa as well as girls

who are in need of training, who are in need of various skills can troop

to that office to be registered and documented appropriately so that

government can begin to swing into action to create jobs and give them

opportunities.

That is why this government is developing the robust policy on

expanding the base of our economy by focusing on tourism and

focusing on agriculture. A number of them may also find formal places

in the structure of government, a number may be taught different skills

by which they will go into small and medium scale enterprises and

again that is why we are working with various development partners

and recently we signed an MOU with the Bank of Industry. A number

will also be involved properly at the end of this exercise in assisting in

the maintenance of law and order. We already have an outfit called

Bayelsa Volunteers. So at the end of this exercise, we expect that those

who will be part of that, who will be identified and screened by this

commi�ee as fit and proper persons to assist in providing communal


intelligence, will also be sorted out and then put in that structure.

The commi�ee is an ad hoc one but we will give you enough time

because the job is very serious. How well this government will perform

in the area of job creation, in the area of creating skills depends in a large

part on this commi�ee but we donʹt want to rush into programmes.

And that is why we want first to have data. That way we will be able to

have a benchmark on our achievements so that we can determine how

far we can go and what is le� to be done.

Gentlemen I want to welcome you onboard, it is a very special, very

important commi�ee. You have my support all the way through and I

like to give you people in the first instance one month to be able to do

this very serious assignment. I expect that your report will also help us

in identifying who the persons actually are, which community they are

from, which local governments they are from, how do we contact them,

who are their guarantors, how do we reach them, people who can come

and sign on their behalf and things like that. We want to have a total

picture, develop a robust data bank that will help us going forward.

I like to thank all of you and congratulate you because you have my

support. I am myself an official part of this commi�ee because of the

importance a�ached to it. So donʹt be surprised if in the course of your

work you see me there a couple of times to know how you people are

doing. Let me use this opportunity to call on all our teeming

unemployed young people, boys as well as girls, to take advantage of

this opportunity to come out, interact with this commi�ee, visit the

secretariat and document yourself. Your government is there for you,

your government cares for you, your government wants the best for

you. We are creating institutions. There is a school to be set up for

tourism and hotel management. We want people to come in identify

their interest and then be part of the legitimate economy of the state.


Address at the inauguration of the Pensions and Gratuity commi�ee on

May 31, 2012.

RETIREES MUST GET THEIR DUE

he public service is critical to service delivery and we are

Tcommi�ed to everything that is necessary and proper in terms

of assisting it to be at its optimal performance.

And that is why we have put together this commi�ee to look into the

reasons why over the past couple of years this state has joined,

unfortunately, the list of states that are unable to meet their obligations

to retiring public officers. That is not good for the morale of the public

service and that is not good for optimal performance that we expect

from the public service.

We are doing this to let the civil servants in this state know that we mean

well for them. As I have said time and time again, we will not trifle with

their welfare, just as we will insist on the best from them.

Happily, the chairman and members of this commi�ee are very

experienced, tested and seasoned public servants, some of them still

serving and who know the problems of this sector. We do not want a


situation where people serve the state with all their lives and when they

retire they are not sure of when they will get their gratuities.

I am told that there are people, even permanent secretaries

unfortunately who these days retire without receiving their gratuities,

civil servants who a�er serving thirtyfive years and retiring, do not

receive their pension until they die. This is not acceptable.

So we want to bring an end to this disturbing trend. We intend to work

with the report of the commi�ee and see how government can clear the

backlog. This is to enable us go back to the ideal state of affairs which is

that, before a public officer retires, he or she is sure of at least receiving

the gratuity.

So this commi�ee has been put together to look into the situation and

advise us on the way forward with the following specific terms of

reference:

1. You are to identify the actual amount of the backlog of arrears and

cause of delay of the payment of gratuities.

2. You are to ascertain the exact number of pensioners being owed

their gratuities.

BAYELSA STATE GOV. HON. SERIAKE DICKSON AND HIS DEP. REAR ADMIRAL GBORIBIOGHYA

JON JONAH POSE WITH MEMBERS OF THE PENSION AND GRATUITY COMMITTEE


3. You are to advise government on the modalities for the payment

of the backlog.

4. You are to advise government on the modalities for prompt

payment of gratuities and ways to avert any future backlog.

5. You are also to undertake a verification to identify the best

practices that have been observed in the compilation of the list of

those said to have retired or who are due for gratuity payments.

6. Generally, you are to look at any other ma�ers concerning the

payment of gratuity and pension that government needs to

address.

I am told that there are people, even permanent

secretaries unfortunately who these days retire without

receiving their gratuities, civil servants who a�er serving

thirtyfive years and retiring, do not receive their pension

until they die. This is not acceptable.

We want to begin the process of paying off the backlog of all the

accumulated gratuities and pensions that are due our hard working

civil servants in the state.


Address at the inauguration of 12member board of the Bayelsa state

agricultural development company on October 16, 2012

AGRICULTURE MUST DRIVE OUR DEVELOPMENT

e are here to formally inaugurate the board of the Bayelsa

WState Agricultural Company Limited, which is one of the

companies this government incorporated in our a�empt

to expand the base of our economy beyond oil.

As you all know, agriculture is very dear to us in the restoration agenda

because we are keen to provide an alternative base of our economy

beyond oil in two critical ways: promoting tourism and encouraging

investments generally and then more specifically investing in

agriculture.

Even before the discovery of crude oil, this area was known as the Oil

Rivers Protectorate. The oil that people talked about was not crude oil at

the time but palm kernel oil and the various derivatives.

There are countries that live up till now wholly on palm oil and so this is

a way of sounding a clarion call to all our people and indeed for all

levels of government in Bayelsa to go back to the foundation and the


foundation is agriculture.

Yesterday, I witnessed the signing of an historic agreement between

this company backed by the government of Bayelsa State and some

foreign technical partners, by which very soon you will all see the

existence of the biggest cassava plantation in this country here in

Bayelsa State.

A number of people do not know that we have vast arable land that can

support massive investments in agriculture. When a lot of people hear

about Bayelsa state, they only think of oil and nothing more. They

forget that we are actually an agrarian people.

We are engaged in fishing which is part of engagement in agriculture

and have large expanse of land that can support investments in

agriculture. We are serious about turning around this state to become

number one in agriculture once again and this is a practical move in that

direction.

As I said earlier, very soon a 300hectare cassava farm will spring up

complete with the processing plant that will process the cassava both

for local consumption and use and principally for export. We are also

GOV. SERIAKE DICKSON POSE WITH MEMBERS OF THE NEWLY INAUGURATED

12 MEMBER BOARD OF THE STATE AGRICULTURAL DEV. COMPANY LTD.


going into massive production of plantain. This is the headquarters of

plantain for Godʹs sake.

Our plantain, banana and rice are second to none. So for us investing

massively in rice production is something we must do and in the

shortest possible time. I will like this board to develop a blueprint on

how we can go into massive food production especially rice, banana

and even livestock.

In the next one year, we intend to let everybody in this country know

that when you are talking about agriculture in Nigeria, Bayelsa is the

place to go and that is our objective. And that was what informed the

incorporation of this company.

When a lot of people hear about Bayelsa state, they only

think of oil and nothing more. They forget that we are

actually an agrarian people.

We will also like to have a number of subsidiaries of the company and

part of what we expect the board and management of this company to

do is not just to drive farming, but you are also to devise a way by which

we can create capacity to store, process and export our produce because

you are going to be involved in the entire value chain business of it.

In the next one year, I want to see the largest fish farms in Bayelsa state.

Unless we do that we would not be able to reach and showcase our

potential.

Now Bayelsa has a government that understands that priority must be

given to agriculture and food production not just for purposes of

securing our food sufficiency but to enable us use agriculture as a tool

for creating jobs for our people and also earning foreign exchange.


And that is why we are passionate about having an airport: we want to

open up this place to the country and the rest of the world. And most of

what you are going to produce and the bulk of what will be processed,

would be exported directly from our airport.

I will meet with members of the board on the design of a large

warehouse that is second to none, located by the airport. Members of

the board will be working closely with the Ministry of Agriculture,

which is going to oversee the board, work out the channels to get

certification from international bodies and countries where we intend

to export our produce.

I am planning a trip to Israel, Thailand and Vietnam to see their farms

and get technical partners and establish the structures here. I also want

to see proposals on how we can have storage facilities in places like

Brass, Nembe and Ekeremor where a lot of fishing takes place. We

actually intend to encourage more fishing in such areas.

In fact every local government area should have a storage facility

because the board is expected to support the company and its

subsidiaries to buy produce from farmers at reasonable and

competitive prices.

You have all been carefully selected and if there is one company that I

will keenly monitor, in terms of what they do almost on a daily basis, to

see what can be done be�er, this is it.

If this company succeeds the way we think it should, then we would

have succeeded in producing food for our people, creating wealth and

jobs. I want to see Peremabiri, Abobiri and Isampou Rice Farms take

off; I canʹt wait to see an equivalent of the Songhai Farms replicated

here; I canʹt wait to see Dr. Ebinimi Ansa supervise a major fish farm

project here.


Now Bayelsa has a government that understands that

priority must be given to agriculture and food production

not just for purposes of securing our food sufficiency but

to enable us use agriculture as a tool for creating jobs for

our people and also earning foreign exchange.

The biggest fish farm should be found in Bayelsa and nowhere else.

That is our dream and that is what is good enough for this state. Let me

assure you of our support because this company is very precious to us.

If we succeed with this company then we have succeeded in a lot of

ways.

A lot of time has been wasted, a lot of dillydallying. Up till now we

donʹt have a good place where we can train our young farmers, we donʹt

even have a fish farm to show to people and yet we are fishermen.

So I want you as quickly as possible get cracking because funds have

been provided for you to work with and I will like to meet with you to

discuss concrete proposals. We will even be willing to talk to private

financiers because if agricultural proposals are well thought out, they

should as commercial ventures, fly on their own.

Going forward, we want to see major farms in almost every local

government area. The Commissioner for Agriculture already knows

our direction, and he is going to brief you because his Ministry is going

to supervise your activities.

This company has to be run essentially as a business enterprise; it just

happens to be owned by government and it has to make commercially

viable decisions and commercial investments. The government aspect

of it arises when we meet and then see how we can create jobs.

This company will be part of what will form the subsidiary of the


Bayelsa State Development Corporation and the chairman is expected

to sit on that board because of the importance we a�ach to this

company. We will also make some appointments in the various

subsidiaries but all of them will report to this board and would be

overseen by this board.


t is with great pleasure and delight that I inaugurate this SEEFOR

Icommi�ee, which is to oversee the implementation of the State

Empowerment and Expenditure For Result Projects financed by

the World Bank. As part of our restoration agenda, there has been a lot

of confidence building. This is why a lot of international donors and

agencies, are more than ever before willing to come and invest and

partner with us in moving the state forward.

The willingness of the World Bank to assist the state is therefore a

demonstration of this confidence. Through the SEEFOR project, the

World Bank is expected to assist this state which with grants from the

European Union makes a total investment of 57.74 million US dollars

for a period of 5 years.

The state government has approved 150 million naira as counterpart

fund for this project for the 2012 fiscal year as a demonstration of our

resolve. The commi�ee overseeing this project will convene every

quarter to do the following:

1. To review the implementation of the components of this programme

WE HAVE RESTORED PURPOSE TO GOVERNMENT

Address at the inauguration of the State Empowerment and

Expenditure for Result Projects, (SEEFOR) commi�ee on November 6,

2012


and forward its analysis and conclusions to the National Project

Coordinating Unit.

2. Approve the annual work plans, budget and procurement plans for

the state project.

3. Ensure that the agreed performance and timelines for state projects

are met.

4. Address critical issues that could hinder the implementation of the

project commi�ee in this state. Again they are to track performance

progressively using approved key performance indicators for these key

result areas.

You are also to ensure effective communication and access to

information and lastly they are to monitor feedback and grievance

redress mechanisms. It is important to note at this juncture that the

commi�ee would not be involved in the day to day management of this

project but will provide a strategic guideline and monitoring

mechanism to the project team.

It is instructive to note that the objectives of this project are very much in

line with the aspiration and targets we have set for ourselves as an

administration. It is therefore my pleasure to inaugurate you.

GOV. SERIAKE DICKSON POSED WITH MEMBERS OF THE NEWLY INAUGURATED

EMPOWERMENT AND EXPENDITURE FOR RESULT PROJECT.


Address at the inauguration of the Bayelsa State commi�ee on

entrepreneurial capacity development on December 7, 2012.

MY MESSAGE TO ALL BAYELSANS: NONE BUT OURSELVES

We have said time and time again that we can not develop unless the

average youth and average woman and the average Bayelsan generally

has acquired the capacity to live life to its fullest. And we want to

address particularly the economic empowerment of our people by the

creation of this commi�ee.

I am aware that most of the people appointed were selected just for this

programme. A number of you were not appointed for political

considerations. We have a Senior Special Assistant, Youth

Development and that of Women Development.

There is no way we will allow our youths and women to be available

and willing tools to achieve blatantly political or nefarious ends. If we

give them the skills that they need, the skills that will give them

independence of thought and of action, we will be building a stable and

prosperous Bayelsa State. We want to put to an end to a situation where

our youths are only remembered during elections. We want our women

and youths to be remembered at all times.


This commi�ee is the first major step to demonstrate our determination

to assist them get on their feet. There is no government, no ma�er how

well intentioned, no ma�er the resources at its disposal, that can pay

school fees for all the children in the state. No government can pay

house rent for everybody in the state. No government can pay hotel

bills, hospital bills, buy cars and build houses for everybody.

What a reasonable government can do, which we are doing, is to

develop a framework for engaging our people, for the training and

enlightenment of our people. A framework that will also enable them

tap into the available resources within and outside the system. You

have seen a short while ago, how we demonstrated this by the

presentation of a one billion Naira dra� to the Bank of Industry.

Under this collaboration, we will have N2 billion available for the

empowerment of the people of this state. We have made our own fi�y

percent contribution and the Bank of Industry also is expected to match

that contribution towards developing a pool of two billion Naira which

would be used primarily for training of our people to acquire

entrepreneurial skills and se�ing them up in various skills and

businesses.

GOV. SERIAKE DICKSON AND MEMBERS OF THE STATE COMMITTEE ON

ENTRPRENEURIAL CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT POSE AFTER THE INAUGURATION


And this is going to be a challenging responsibility because the

prevailing a�itude is not in support of entrepreneurship. The

prevailing mental a�itude is one of complacency; is one of servitude;

itʹs an a�itude that holds everybody responsible for the lives of

everybody.

Itʹs an a�itude where our people, the young ones particularly, do not

take responsibility for their own lives. They marry and have children

but they donʹt prepare for the consequences and responsibilities that

life throws at every living human being.

There is no way we will allow our youths and women to

be available and willing tools to achieve blatantly

political or nefarious ends. If we give them the skills that

they need, the skills that will give them independence of

thought and of action, we will be building a stable and

prosperous Bayelsa State.

You can build all the roads, you can do everything, but any time they

get hungry, they look for scapegoats; any time their rents are due they

look for people to abuse and they thereby become willing tools to be

used by desperate politicians.

Now while we preach zero tolerance to crime and criminality, while we

are willing to apply the law, we shall continue to do that without fear or

favour to help people to be economically independent. It is sad that

everything we consume in this state is brought in from outside the state.

Apart from the loss of taxable revenue, you all saw what happened

when the flood cut off the EastWest road; we didnʹt have anything to

live on. Simple things like eggs, sachet water come from outside the

state.


At the capacity building level we donʹt have artisans, the vulcanisers,

mechanics, bricklayers and carpenters that are important for keeping

the economy going. I doubt if we have up to even 5% of the number of

these artisans contributing to the economy of this state.

The picture I have painted which you all know shows that we are not

yet serious, we are not in control of our economy and that is not good

enough for this state.

We want to take charge of our economy and of our lives

and by this programme we will help the young people of

this state to get on their feet and take responsibility for

their lives.

They should take responsibility for their children and wives and house

rents because that is what responsible adulthood entails. Iʹm not one to

fla�er anyone on these issues. We have to face the truth as it is. I know

that there are a number of people out there who for several reasons will

incite jobless youths to say terrible things about people who are trying

their best or to do senseless things and get them to feel that government

at every level has not done enough about their empowerment.

The truth must be told which is that the only culture that we know in

this state is the culture of begging among most of our youths and the

culture of giving handouts by the elites. The elites have not been helpful

in this ma�er; they would rather allow the youths to roam around

without skills, moral support and encouragement. This is because they

want a ready army to be used to misinform and create crisis. This is the

reason why we are se�ing up this commi�ee because we want a

grassroots approach to the problem of job creation and wealth

generation. There are so many stories told of billionaires today both

within and outside this country who started business with less than one


million Naira.

Members of this commi�ee have been carefully selected; you have

representatives from all parts of our society. A number of you have

specific skills which are germane to the issue of empowerment.

Your responsibility is to turn our jobless youths and our helpless

women into an army of confident employers of labour so that we can all

say goodbye to the days of “Iʹm loyal sir” in this state.

Iʹm not saying we should not give handouts or you should not ask for

handouts. Iʹm saying that itʹs not an Ijaw culture to live on handouts

when you are an ablebodied man or woman and when you can do

something to change your life and contribute to the development of

your society.

It is on this note that I hereby inaugurate this commi�ee, the Bayelsa

State Commi�ee on Entrepreneurial Capacity Development targeted

particularly at women and youths with a mandate to identify women

and youths who can be trained to manage businesses on their own. It

will be the responsibility of this commi�ee working with the

appropriate agencies to see how it can also instill a culture of discipline,

in terms of paying back facilities.

Let me say this clearly: this is not politics. This is a very serious issue of

development and I will not tolerate the situation whereby anybody

involved in the selection of beneficiaries under this programme plays

politics with it. This programme is for all Bayelsans. It is not for

supporters of any candidate or political party.

More women should benefit from this programme. I want to see a

minimum of 70% for women. So I want the commi�ee to select the

women and youths dispassionately not based on any political

consideration. If any beneficiary under this programme wants to play

pranks, I will also not hesitate in using the available resources of


government to be part of any recovery effort.

Any beneficiary who treats this money as government largesse is in

trouble with us because you will not ʹchopʹ that money and live in

peace. I will look for you and deal with you according to the law

because this money is seed money that is meant to grow so that other

people can benefit. When the commi�ee finishes its work and I have the

list of the beneficiaries and unknown to members of the commi�ee, I

will set the security people on the beneficiaries and ensure that we

monitor what you do with the money.

And anybody who does not pay back and anybody who takes the

money to go and buy wrapper at Aba market and tie and make ́ yangaʹ;

or takes the money to go and marry new wife; or uses our money to go

and buy vehicles and becomes the next big man on the streets of

Yenagoa; we will catch you and you will pay for it and you will also pay

for the cost of making you to pay back.


want to welcome you to this very brief but significant historic

Iceremony, which is the inauguration of the Governing Council of

our only stateowned university, appropriately named the Niger

Delta University, because we are at the centre of gravity of the Niger

Delta.

I want to on behalf of the Government and people of Bayelsa State,

congratulate the ProChancellor designate and other distinguished

members of Council that are about to be inaugurated for their well

deserved nominations and appointments. These appointments were

carefully made.

As you may recall, this government had set up a visitation panel, the

first of such panels since the establishment of this university, some

years back. We have received the report, which has clearly highlighted

several problems and also pointed out the potentials of our university.

So we decided to carefully select persons not only of proven integrity

but patriotism and commitment for the most challenging responsibility

CHARGE TO NIGER DELTA UNIVERSITY: BE THE BEST

Address at the inauguration of the governing council of the Niger Delta

University, Amassoma, in Bayelsa State, on December 11, 2012.


of our time, which is the challenge of manpower development.

We have also taken into cognizance, their backgrounds and experiences

in this very specialized area. As you all know, our ProChancellor

designate was the one who set up what Chief Melford Okilo at the time,

called our “Potopoto” school, which is now the Rivers State University

of Science and Technology. And if it wasnʹt for what they did, a large

number of us, myself inclusive and I can see several of my

commissioners nodding in agreement, we would not be where we are

today.

And let me therefore pay fi�ing tribute to the man who saw the need to

establish this university, the first Executive Governor of Bayelsa State,

His Excellency, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and those who served

in that team.

And today, we are assembled because the time has come to build on that

foundation. Our vision for the Niger Delta University is for it to become

a worldclass institution of learning.

And one of the members of my team, who incidentally taught me in my

primary school and my aunt also, rightly referred to that university as

GOVERNOR SERIAKE DICKSON POSE WITH THE NEWLY INAUGURATED MEMBERS

OF THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF NIGER DELTA UNIVERSITY


“our foremost human resource production factory” and that is what it

is. We want to take it to the next level.

The charge therefore, to members of the council is to come up with the

right policies and programmes that will ensure that in no distant time,

with the support and backing of this government, the Niger Delta

University will become one of the best universities in this country.

Being one of the best universities in Nigeria is not our

ultimate ambition for the Niger Delta University; we

would like it to be one of the best universities in the

world.

You will say that is a very tall dream but that is what restoration is all

about.

I therefore direct the Secretary to Government and the Ministry of

Education to make available to the Council, the findings and

recommendations of the Visitation Panel. I have gone through the

executive summary for work that was painstakingly done and I like to

also use this opportunity to thank our brothers and sisters who were

called upon to do that job.

As a ma�er of fact I have directed the inclusion of the Chairman of that

Panel in the Council. Iʹm aware that by the rules, we are enlarging the

membership. I will sign into law, a bill that will accommodate this

expansion.

I like to call on Chairman and ProChancellor and members of Council

to live up to the very high expectations that we all have of you. Turn that

university around and also examine ways by which the university can


exercise autonomy as an institution of learning and research. We will

like the university to be autonomous in a lot of ways, not only in

financial and administrative ma�ers.

I will like the university to see how it can be run like most other

universities without much governmentʹs support. I know we may not

get there in the immediate but I think that it should be part of the long

term ambition for it to be truly sustainable.

As it is, any drop or shortfall in the stateʹs revenues will also affect our

plans and projections for that university which I donʹt think is good

enough going forward. On our own part, I will like the university to

play more critical roles particularly in rendering consultancy services

to the state government and its agencies and parastatals.

I will like the departments of the university to be supported that way

with lots of consultants and let me also use this opportunity to call on

members of the Executive Council who have need for consultancy

services to begin to look inwards.

I will need to get the various departments of the faculties of the

university to do consultancy services and earn income thereby. By so

doing they will be earning money and most importantly, they will also

be developing their skills, which is what the university is there to

render in the first place. That to me is a more realistic and sustainable

approach to funding of our tertiary institution.

From the report on the university, that you will soon read, the

institution is in a situation where you have a lot of staff that you donʹt

really need. Perhaps the reason is that, the university employs but the

university does not pay and then the burden is passed on to the state.

We will all look for ways of engaging people whose services are not

needed in the public service. There is a major reform coming and the

university will not be le� out.


BOOSTING

TOURISM


BAYELSA NOW THE PLACE TO BE

AMAA awards fundraising dinner in Abuja on April 20, 2013

n behalf of the government and the good people of this great

Ostate, I have the honour and privilege to welcome you all to

this 9TH edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards

(AMAA), holding here in Yenagoa, the state capital of our dear state,

that we call the Glory of All Lands.

I am elated as everyone else at this event tonight. In our new Bayelsa,

we have a popular saying, that every good human being in our midst is

a good Bayelsan. You are all wonderful people assembled here tonight

and you are all therefore quintessentially Bayelsans. Beyond the

glamour and fun of this event, it should remind us of the importance of

AMAA as a brand for projecting our potentials in tourism and the

entertainment industry.

My government is serious about broadening the economic base of our

state beyond oil and gas by investing consciously in tourism,

agriculture and manufacturing. This event is one clear way of


preparing our dear state for life without oil, which is inevitable. In that

regard we are working on several projects aimed at maximizing our

tourism potentials.

We are working for example, on a PGA rated Golf Course where major

tournaments will be sponsored. We are constructing a world class Polo

facility. We are investing in several highclass hotels, cinemas and other

entertainment facilities in this state. Some of these projects will be

completed this year.

As a result of the expected boom in the tourism and entertainment

industry in this great state, we are also collaborating on the building of

an airport, which has already started so when you are coming to

Bayelsa you will not go through these hassles again.

We are also training middle level manpower in the tourism industry.

We have established a tourism and entertainment training school and I

believe that the school will start by September. We have also

undertaken a review of all the tourist sites in our state and these

facilities are being upgraded for preservation. Before the end of this

year, visitors to our state will experience these additional benefits.

GOV. SERIAKE DICKSON (L) PRESENTING SILVERBIRD UNIQUE PERSONALITY

AWARDS TO MRS. OMOTOLA JALADE EKEINDE(C) DURING AMAA, WHILE THE

CHAIRMAN SILVERBIRD GROUP, MR BEN MURRAYBRUCE (R) LOOKS ON


We are determined to project Bayelsa as a major tourism

and investment destination and haven.

I want to therefore, urge the young people of this state, the Niger Delta

and indeed the people of our great country to take advantage of the

facilities that will be provided in that film city.

As our own way of supporting and recognizing the contributions of

Nollywood, we will also make available plots of land to deserving

Nollywood stars who will be required to develop befi�ing residential

accommodation and live here in Yenagoa so that the Film and

Entertainment City will become like the Beverly Hills of Nigeria and

Africa.

My dear brothers and sisters, you have all witnessed, not just the

ambitious development projects going on in an accelerated pace. You

have also witnessed the serenity and security that the new Bayelsa

offers investors, tourists and indeed all visitors.

With the support of the citizenry and the active collaboration of the law

For those who have gone round, you would have seen the massive

investments we are making in infrastructure. We are not deterred by

the astronomical cost of road construction in our very difficult terrain

because we believe that those who are visiting; those that will be

a�racted to invest here deserve worldclass facilities.

In the course of events leading to the AMAA Award tonight, I had cause

to lay the foundation stone for the construction of the Yenagoa Film and

Entertainment City which will serve as a catalyst for producing and

promoting films and cinema, train practitioners and equip them with

facilities that will project our culture as well as market our state and our

nation and continent.


enforcement agencies, our government has put in place, a robust

security infrastructure such that Bayelsa, within the past one year that I

have been in office, is now being rated as one of the most peaceful and

secure state in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

We have Operation Doo Akpor, which translated, means, “Operation

Peace”. That outfit is made up of officers and men who are specially

trained, equipped and motivated to provide efficient and civil and

professional services to all our people round the clock. Consequently,

nightlife has since returned to Yenagoa and we have succeeded in

providing security for all households, businesses and persons in

Yenagoa; even with all this, we are investing more.

In the next couple of months, our programme of electronic surveillance

probably the first that will be rolled out by any state in this country will

be activated.

With all these investments in security and tourism, our dream is to

package Bayelsa as a foremost tourism and investment destination. We

are open to the private sector in developing our tourism potentials. Let

me therefore use this opportunity to invite all of you investors to

partner with us to take advantage of our numerous opportunities in the

tourism sector.

We thank all former governors of Bayelsa for collaborating to sustain

this relationship with AMAA. Let me use this opportunity also to

express our gratitude and appreciation to our President who as you all

know is doing a wonderful job and especially for the initiative in

making a trust fund available for the development of the movie and

entertainment industry.

Tonight, I like to announce the establishment of the Bayelsa Indigenous

Movie Trust Fund with an initial donation of the sum of N250 million.

This fund is dedicated to the use and development of our budding

talents and I will make appointments of people from within and


outside the state who will manage the fund and it will not be

governmentcontrolled.

There is no doubt that entertainment and Nollywood in particular in

this country is a major employer of labour and a medium for cross

cultural exchange as well as a tool for branding our country and

continent.

To underscore how our country has come of age, one of our own,

Omotola Jalade Ekeinde has just been named as one of the one hundred

most influential personalities in the world by an equally influential

medium, TIME Magazine. I like to congratulate you all, Nollywood

practitioners for this feat. This is a stamp of approval and confidence in

the movie industry in this country. And I know that in no distant time,

there will be many more such influential endorsements, awards and

recognitions for others who are equally deserving.

As you are all gathered here tonight, I enjoin you all to relax and enjoy

the hospitality that our new Bayelsa offers us all. As you go back to your

various destinations, I urge you all to spread the gospel of the new

Bayelsa and spread the story of our endless potentials and possibilities

as well as the determination of our government to make a difference.

For the nominees and winners tonight, let me on behalf of government

and the good people of this state, congratulate you all and I like to also

commend the organizers who worked within a very short time frame to

put this together. I like to thank the captains of industry who invested

their resources by donating generously to fund this event.

And I have said that from now on, AMAA in this state will be a private

sector enterprise. To this end, let me also appreciate the chairman of the

Fund Raising Dinner, Alhaji Sayu Dantata and all those who gave

generously, who are too numerous to mention. And very soon, you will

get our le�er of appreciation. For those who still desire to donate, our

doors or do I say our pockets as well are still open. I thank the wife of


President, Dame Patience Jonathan as well as the wife of the Vice

President, Hajiya Amina Sambo and all those on the First Ladyʹs

entourage to the fund raising dinner. I specially thank the family of the

President of Malawi for taking time to be with us tonight. Let me also

express our profound appreciation and the fatherly support that we

have always enjoyed from the President of the Republic of South Africa,

Jacob Zuma. We pray that God will grant you all journey mercies to

your various destinations. Once again, let me thank you all for gracing

this event tonight and please share in the fun and every moment of the

goodness of AMAA 2013 and I invite you all to partake in the

possibilities of the new Bayelsa.

Beyond the glamour is the essential value of AMAA which has in the

last nine years made Bayelsa State the traditional home of the awards

and indeed demonstrated our shared interest in the greater good

accruable to AMAA in the future.

In this regard, I want to appreciate the initiators of this idea, the AMAA

Annual Awards, for their vision, tenacity and commitment so far and I

can only admonish everyone involved never to rest on their oars. There

is so much to come and I can assure you all that the Bayelsa State

Government will remain a dependable ally in the promotion and

development of the African Movie Academy Awards.

As you must have realized, this yearʹs edition of AMAA has a

significant input of the private sector and I believe this is the way

forward. I want to note here that AMAA has now go�en to a stage

where there is the need for massive injection of greater creativity and

ideas to li� the awards to the desired height continentally and even

globally. A major issue in this regard is funding and through the fund

raising we held for this edition, we could see that the involvement of the

private sector will go a long way in meeting the lo�y ideals for which

AMAA was founded. AMAA has now come a long way and it is time to

give it the necessary fillip to elevate the brand to become Africaʹs


OSCAR to the world. On our part, the Bayelsa State Government will

continue to support and leverage the AMAA brand as a strategic

platform to drive the stateʹs tourism potentials and promote our rich

culture. We are steadily investing in tourism to make Bayelsa State a

tourism destination of choice in the nearest future.

We want to really thank all those who participated at the fund raising

for their generous donations. We would continue to be in the fore front

of this kind of partnership and I am convinced beyond doubt that such

relationship can only help to expand the scope and value of the awards

in the future, giving it the right visibility, popularity and acceptability

across board. This is critical in properly branding AMAA as a global

brand from the African continent.

I believe that when we have this kind of class and clout for the awards, it

will also rub off on the quality and creativity in the industry which is a

good thing.

Already, African films are well accepted in many homes and

NOLLYWOOD in particular is a favourite, globally accepted in spite of

the technical challenges of production and other limitations. We can

overcome some of these challenges when there is massive injection of

funds to develop and promote ideas, talents, skills and creativity in the

industry. Just two days ago, our own Omotola JoladeEkeinde (Omo

Sexy) was named as one of the 100 Most Influential Personalities in the

world by the equally influential TIME Magazine. This tells me that

something greater could come out of NOLLYWOOD beyond the

current exciting development in the film industry in Nigeria and Africa

which we are celebrating here tonight. There is more to come but we

must work for it by sharing roles and networking for overall

development.

To all the nominees gathered here tonight, I wish you all good luck and

those who eventually emerge as winners should endeavor to keep up

the good work.


BAYELSA THE BEAUTIFUL

A speech at the 2013 speech edition of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria

Award

n behalf of the Government and good people of Bayelsa

OState, the glory of all lands and Jerusalem of the Ijaw nation, I

welcome you all the organizers, contestants and invited

guests and friends of Bayelsa to this event, which is the first of its kind in

our great state. I want to thank the organizer, Silverbird Group for

collaborating with the state government to host the Most Beautiful Girl

in Nigeria pageant here in Yenagoa.

Silverbird Group, pioneers of showbusiness promotion in Nigeria, is

one of the finest in the world. They are wonderful ambassadors of our

great state and country and have over the decades demonstrated the

quintessential resilience as well as other unique positive a�ributes of

Bayelsans!

This evening, I want to specially pay tribute to Ben Murray Bruce, His

brother, Guy and the entire Silverbird group for this pioneering spirit of

excellence which is typical of Bayelsans. I like to commend the


dedication of our young contestants, who have been in Bayelsa for the

past two weeks. You have been in Bayelsa for this long visiting

historical sites such as the first oil well at Oloibiri, the White Manʹs

grave at Akassa and other tourism sites which showcase the unrivalled

beauty of our state and the spirit of its people.

Just a few days ago, you joined me on a historic “Run for Life”

programme designed to promote HIV/AIDS awareness as well as to

promote a healthy life style amongst our people. You were also with me

at our monthly transparency briefing, a programme designed to give

our people an account of our financial stewardship.

In these past two weeks, these ladies have not only proved to be true

representatives of their families and worthy ambassadors of their

respective states, they have also espoused the iconic virtues of true

African womanhood. Once more, I welcome you to this event your

event. Like every other contest, only one winner will emerge. We trust

in the impartiality of the panel of judges, painstakingly selected for

tonight. For us, all of you contestants are winners. Indeed, you are all

GOV.SERIAKE DICKSON CONGRATULATES WINNER OF THE 26TH EDITION OF

MBGN MISS, ANNA EBIERE BANNER OF BAYELSA STATE.


Our objective is to make Bayelsa the tourism destination of our nation

and continent at large. Accordingly, we have developed a tourism

calendar, which will be unveiled to members of the investing public,

investors and tourists from across the globe.

As you all are aware, the New Bayelsa has become one of the safest

places you can be. For us, your security and well being is our priority.

This event will take place annually. Since it is the first of its kind in the

state, the winner will in addition to what the organizers have packaged

for her be a cultural ambassador of Bayelsa State and my Honorary

Special Assistant on Culture and Tourism.

In September this year, the State will host the centenary pageant. Let me

assure you that Bayelsa is safe. Bayelsa is ready for investment and

tourism.

Distinguished Ladies and gentlemen, Your Excellencies, welcome to

Bayelsa and let the show begin!

very beautiful and elegant ladies in your own right, representing the

best of mother Africa.

Silverbird Group has produced several winners who have represented

Nigeria with outstanding results. One of them, Agbani Darego, a proud

daughter of Ijaw land went further to become Miss World. I hope that

the winner of this event will follow the same trajectory.

Events such as the most beautiful girl in Nigeria pageant

help to serve as a veritable platform for promoting

tourism because we are serious about broadening the

base of our economy beyond oil and gas.


Remarks at the inauguration of the newly elected Ijaw National Congress

(I.N.C) Executive Council

AN ĲAW RESTORATION

Let me congratulate our brand new president of the Ijaw National

Congress, the very distinguished and eminent Senator Tari. J. Sekibo

Oduabaji and members of his executive council on their resounding

victory at the recent elections.

I like to also use this opportunity to formally thank the chairman and

members of the exco and then my brother in whom we are very pleased,

the former acting president who worked tirelessly with the various

leaders of the zones and chairmen of various commi�ees and leaders

and traditional rulers, the chairman and secretary and all of you who

worked tirelessly to ensure that this process ended without acrimony.

I think we have produced an elected leadership taking over from one

set of leaders without acrimony and following the provisions of our

constitution. I want to congratulate all of you. I want to commend the

selfless dedication of all of you for the various roles and parts you

played. I want to also thank the understanding of all the delegates who


came from far and near even from outside of this country to participate

in our renewal process.

Now, the way forward. We have a lot to say to each other. We have a lot

to consult about and most importantly we have a lot to tell the rest of

this country and everybody else. You are all aware of where we stand in

Ijaw National Congress, you are all aware that this government is I.N.C

government; this government is your government.

LR; GOV. SERIAKE DICKSON, THEN PRESIDENT, INC, LATE CHIEF(SEN.) TARI SEKIBO, AND

ELDER STATESMAN, CHIEF EDWIN CLARK @ THE INAUGURATION OF THE NATIONAL

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE INC, IN YENAGOA.

This government will continue to stand by what is in the

Ijaw fundamental national interest.

And also this is a clarion call to duty. We will get cracking. Our joy, our

happiness is that you are a man with the right experience and pedigree,

you are a man with the right understanding, and you are a man who has

sufficient exposure in the course of your several years of service at the

political, traditional and cultural levels.

You understand what the imperatives are and so today, as the governor


of you Jerusalem state, let me charge you that even though you are

aware of what your challenges are, your duty is to first consolidate the

Ijaw movement everywhere. Your duty is to mobilize our people and

harness our resources everywhere. Your duty is to work with all of us to

build bridges of understanding with our brothers in other groups; your

duty is to cultivate alliances so that people can be�er understand and

appreciate the Ijaw position.

You are all aware my brothers and sisters and my leaders that we live in

very trying times, because of the blessings God has continued to bestow

on us. You know that there are so many challenges associated with that.

And so, my charge toy you all will be to go back and mobilize and

continue to pray for the success of our President.


Remarks at the state banquet to mark Major Adaka Boro Day, in Yenagoa

on May 16, 2013

CELEBRATING THE EXAMPLE OF ISAAC BORO

irst of all I would like to on behalf of the government and the

Fgood people of Bayelsa to welcome our leaders; the leaders of the

Ijaw nation most sincerely to this 46TH anniversary of Isaac

Adaka Boro.

A lot has already been said all through the a�ernoon about Boro our

great hero, but because of the seriousness of the issues that the life and

times of Boro inspired, I was not surprised this evening that we still got a

lot of serious issues raised. This is a necessary dialogue and engagement

that we need to have in this country.

But tonight is just our way of showing our usual Bayelsa hospitality; the

Ijaw hospitality.

Ladies and gentlemen, my dear wife and the staff of Government House

put this evening together to enable us relax a�er a very busy day and

very serious discussions that we had this a�ernoon. So I am not going to

make any long speeches; the night is already far gone. I just want to

welcome you all to the new Bayelsa and the possibilities that it offers.


When I finish my presentations I will invite you to dinner because if we

are not careful our dinner will be turned to breakfast and it is on this note,

ladies and gentlemen, that I thank you all for your support,

encouragement and solidarity which you have demonstrated by your

fellowship tonight and all through this event.

I also look forward to working with you because we talked about

building bridges of understanding and cooperation. I also look forward

to joining all of you in remaking our dear nation.

On this note, I like to invite the Reverend Jesse Jackson Snr. to please step

forward as I present to him a certificate of an honorary citizenship of this

great state of Bayelsa. And he is dressed as the quintessential Ijaw man

that he is.

Going forward, we hope and believe that wherever he goes, he would

espouse the potentials, values and ideals of the new Bayelsa, of the Ijaw

nation of our great country, Nigeria and Africa that he has supported all

through his life.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am going to make two presentations to him. I

will present a plaque to him and to some of our dignitaries and friends

and compatriots who are also here on behalf of government and the good

GOV. SERIAKE DICKSON LAYING A WREATH AT THE BOROʹS TOMB DURING 2013 ISAAC

BORO DAY CELEBRATIONS IN KAIAMA


people of Bayelsa State, the Glory of All Lands, which we also call the

Jerusalem of Ijaw nation.

It is my honour and singular privilege to confer on you, Reverend Jesse

Jackson Snr., this certificate of Honorary Citizen of this great state of

Bayelsa.

Now, that makes you a Bayelsan, an Ijaw man and that makes you a

Nigerian as well. The chiefs and elders of this state and our leaders have

also decided, a�er extensive consultations to also give you an Ijaw name.

And your name henceforth, shall be “Izontariowei.”

And while we continue to work on your skills in our language, which is a

cardinal part of our culture; which our government is promoting in the

state, the respect for our culture and history; allow me to explain the

meaning of your new name.

Izontariowei means, “he who loves the Ijaw people.” So you are he who

loves the Ijaw people and Ijaw nation. Ladies and gentlemen, this is in

appreciation of the fellowship and solidarity that you have come to offer

and the encouragement and inspiration, that we and all the oppressed

people of the world have drawn from your activities and the

collaboration that came out of your work with the late leader of the civil

rights movement, Dr. Martin Luther King Jnr.

And particularly for supporting and inspiring us, it is my singular

honour and privilege to present this token of our appreciation of your

fellowship and solidarity to you tonight.

This is the plaque that contains the sacred crest of the people of Ijaw

nation, the government of Bayelsa State, with all its rich history and

cultural symbolism.

Now, having become a Bayelsan, it is my honour to also give you this

crest containing the colours of our state with the inscription, “Proudly

Bayelsan,” and each of you will get one. We also have cuff links designed


in the colours of Bayelsa.

We also invite to the podium to receive a plaque, the Founder and

President of the Odua Peoples Congress, Dr. Fredrick Fasheun, former

Special Adviser on National Assembly, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai and other

guest speakers, Dr. Emeka Enejere, Professor G.G Darah as well as

representative of the Ijaws in the diaspora, Dr. David Ogola.


OURS IS A GOVERNMENT OF THE ĲAW NATION

I am delighted to be here on this occasion less than a week a�er I was

thrust onto the leadership of this great state.

I ran down from Abuja yesterday night. I said to myself that I must be

here because this is a gathering of the Ijaw nation, and this gathering

means a lot to all of us, especially people like me, who are products of

the Ijaw struggle.

I want to, on behalf of the government and good people of Bayelsa,

congratulate the Ijaw nation, on all our achievements so far. You will

agree with me that God has been merciful to us, on the journey so far.

Even though a lot still has to be done, even though the challenges ahead

are enormous, we can congratulate ourselves.

Let me welcome you all to Yenagoa, the capital of our great state.

Bayelsa is the New Jerusalem, the Jerusalem of all Ijaws, no ma�er

where you reside. This is home to all Ijaws both at home and abroad.

And in saying so, I am treading on a familiar turf. I am not a pioneer in

Address on the occasion of the 2012 World Ijaw Day celebration in Yenagoa

on February 23, 2012.


this respect; that was what my leader, Chief D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha did

and that is what I am following: the tradition of service to the Ijaw

Nation and the vision of our founding fathers who thought this state

should not just be like any other state. This state is an ethnic nationality;

this is where the Ijaw, the fourth largest ethnic nationality, has as its

home.

On occasions like this, I donʹt like to make any pretence about where we

stand on Ijaw mobilisation, on Ijaw integration and the Ijaw

fundamental interests, no ma�er what they are. Let it be known that

this government is an I.N.C. government. This administration is a

government not just of Bayelsa State but a government of the Ijaw

nation.

And so, let me welcome you all to my very first interaction with our

leaders and let me serve notice at the same time that we are going to

have many more interactive sessions like this. That was the tradition

set by our founding fathers; that was what our leader, Chief

Alamieyeseigha did when he was here. And of course, that was what

our brother, our leader, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan also followed when he

was here as Governor and that is what I am set to do.

GOV. SERIAKE DICKSON (R) IN A DISCURSION WITH THE FORMER INC PRESIDENT

MR. BERNAMAISIA DURING THE 2012 ĲAW DAY CELEBRATION


And very soon therefore, in consultation with all the organs of our

people, all the organs of the I.N.C. and affiliate bodies, we are going to

have a major interaction. And I was actually looking forward to that

even in the process of managing a nottootidy transition hurdle. I

thought I should get through with that before I was informed by the Ag.

President of the I.N.C. that Ijaw Day would be today and I said I must

come.

So, my dear leaders, we have a lot to talk about, we have a lot of self

examination to do but also a lot to congratulate ourselves about. Today,

God has been very kind to us. God blessed the efforts of the founding

fathers of this state and today we have a Bayelsa we can call our own.

It could have been worse and because we have Bayelsa, and because of

the prayers and support you have all given to the leaders of this state,

look at Yenagoa that was just a local government headquarters is now a

beautiful city and we intend to build on that.

Today, with all the support and prayers, God in His infinite wisdom

and mercy, made it possible for one of us to become the President of the

Federal Republic of Nigeria. And I like to congratulate you all, I like to

congratulate the proud, great people of the Ijaw nation. Irrepressible in

spirit, we are a people that are second to none in this country. Our

interests are not subordinate to any other interests.

We are out to prove that leadership is legitimised by

service

Let me thank you all for the support and prayers you have been giving

to the President. I know that even in the recent past, a couple of weeks

ago, when we had this unfortunate fuel subsidy riots all over, it was

very clear where every Ijaw man, woman or child stood. I want to thank


you for that support and solidarity that you all showed. I will like to use

this opportunity to remind you as your governor that, that was the right

thing to do and that you should continue to give him your support.

For us in Bayelsa, a new dawn has indeed arrived and from my

background as a product of the Ijaw struggle, we are going to show

service, which is the mo�o of the I.N.C., and this is one opportunity we

have to prove that leadership is legitimised by service.

As I said earlier, very soon we shall interact robustly with the I.N.C.

and with the Ijaw Youth Council (I.Y.C.) to see how we can mobilise the

Ijaw nation as we are used to doing, to protect our vested interest in this

country. We will be consulting and meeting regularly with our Ijaw

leaders from the east and west and we will be mobilising massively,

using all the organs of this body, to drum up support for our President,

to drum up support for our leaders and above all, to fashion an agenda

for the way forward.

Let me therefore say that it is our desire that, in consultation with the

I.N.C. leadership, we intend to support an Ijaw political commi�ee,

which will be carefully chosen to provide necessary support and advice

that will assist us in giving necessary support to our other interests. For

now the most important political interest that we have is the support

and protection of the Presidency, precisely the President, in service and

out of service. Or, isnʹt that so? And that is what we are going to do, to

work with all our organs to achieve that aim.

In my inaugural speech, I sounded notice of tough decisions in Bayelsa

that need to be taken. We have so many problems in the Ijaw nation but

if we donʹt fix Bayelsa, there is no way the Ijaw nation can make

progress. I do not know how many people will agree with me but that is

our assessment of the situation. This state is central. If Bayelsa fails, the

Ijaw nation fails.

In Bayelsa, we all know how we got to where we are. Certain things are


not too right and we all need to resolve to begin to do things differently.

Let me use this opportunity to call on all of you, the leaders in Bayelsa

and the leaders in all the Ijaw nation; and even those, who, because of

the machinations of the Nigerian state are balkanised into several other

states where they have no voice of their own, Bayelsa is their state.

Therefore, it is legitimate for them to follow with keen interest, things

that go on in Bayelsa and that is why I am using this forum to highlight

some of our goals.

The greatest crisis facing our people, not just in Bayelsa

but the entire Ijaw nation, is the crisis of development.

The most critical aspect of this development is the

development of the human resource base that is fast

dwindling. We are in grave trouble; we are actually si�ing

on a time bomb.

And that is why, very soon, you will hear statements from me reducing

the cost of governance, beginning with myself, beginning from

Government House, at all levels, from the allocation for maintenance,

to the security votes and to other sundry expenses.

The Ijaw nation needs development and the leaders as well as those

who serve must recognise that and be prepared to make the necessary

adjustments. I know that those decisions will be painful. I know that it

is difficult for people to adjust because they are already used to a

particular pa�ern of doing things, but my duty to the Ijaw Nation is to

make those decisions that are painful but which are necessary for our

development and for our survival.

And because these decisions are going to be painful, that is why I am


mentioning it here. People are certainly going to complain and when

they do, please talk to them, that the survival of the Ijaw nation is more

important than anybodyʹs personal comfort.

So, from next week, you are going to see, you will hear of decisions in

that respect. And I promise myself that if there is going to be any state

where the government should be slim, where the government should

be transparent, where there should be greater emphasis on education,

on human capacity building, on how to create jobs and skills, how to

generate an economy that can create wealth, it should be Bayelsa.

This will enable us free the resources and plough them in areas where

they are most needed, such as schools, training of our teachers,

building of a nimble civil service; efficient, motivated and highly

professional civil service rather than a bogus civil service; and then

bringing about a situation where our people become active participants

in our economy. If not, this society will collapse right before our very

eyes, and I want to pledge that under our watch, that will not happen.

So, soon, you will see massive investment in education, massive

investment in healthcare delivery. We have the highest infant and

maternal mortality rate in this country, and that is not good enough for

the Ijaw nation. You will soon see how we shall plough resources for the

rehabilitation of the health sector. Every local government

headquarters in the state must have a functional General Hospital, at

least, and I assure you that it is achievable. Fortunately, some work has

been done in that area.

For instance, there is the 500bed hospital started by Chief

Alamieyeseigha. If we complete these projects and put them to use and

be prudent about the management of these projects and not what we

are used to, you will see that even that hospital will a�ract Nigerians

from everywhere to Yenagoa. So, this is the direction your government

is going.


And just as I said, we will interact regularly and I will be giving

periodic reports of our activities to our leaders, because you need to

know what we are doing so that you can buy into our vision, so you can

help and advise on the way forward.

We are going to place emphasis on the propagation of Ijaw ideals, what

we stand for as a people, the Ijaw ideology and here I must commend

Chief Alamieyeseigha again because he started the I.N.C. national

secretariat then, about seven years ago but that project has still not been

completed and put to use.

I canʹt wait to go there with Chief Alamieyeseigha, the President of the

I.N.C. and other Ijaw leaders to commission that project and put it to

use, because it is symbolic. And not only that, we are making

arrangements as a government, to expand the space, to acquire the

adjoining areas, so that we can give it a very befi�ing look.

Let me draw your a�ention to one silent area of our slow death, well,

actually two. One has to do with the scourge of HIV/AIDS. With the

statistics given to me in the course of my initial interaction with health

officials, I think we the leaders need to say more about this because

while we are working hard in the communities, local governments, to

secure the future of all those children, all our efforts will come to nought

if we donʹt protect them. And so, I like to use this opportunity to draw

a�ention to the HIV/AIDS scourge that is silently decimating a very

productive section of our population.

I intend to do more, I intend to have a robust policy of enlightenment

and prevention.

I want to also draw a�ention to a silent aspect of us which is gradually

dying away, which fortunately we can reverse, unlike the first one, and

that has to do with the erosion of our values, our culture, our history

and most importantly, our language. The Ijaw language is in grave

danger of being lost and we are not alone in this.


We need to do something about this, and I must note that the

administration of Chief Alamieyeseigha did something about this just

as Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, when he was governor. I am also passionate

about this. We seriously need to do something about the preservation of

our essential values, because these are the things that make us who we

are. We need to preserve them, improve upon them and pass them on as

part of our heritage. We sincerely plan to do something in that direction

and I am pleased that in this audience, we have our leader, an author, a

foremost poet, Dr. Gabriel Okara.

And you can see how brave we are as a people; we are a great and proud

people. In every area of human endeavor, we have people who have

excelled. Let us make sure that the generation that is coming will still be

able to produce the Dr. Gabriel Okaras, Prof Alagoas and Ambassador

Lawrence Ekpebus, who went to Havard. Let us produce children that

will be greater than we are.

Two other issues. Donʹt be surprised that in the appointments that

would be made, the Ijaws, sons and daughters from states within the

Ijaw nation will be involved to play one role or the other in this

government, because we have a responsibility in this state to give

leadership, to be the voice of our voiceless from other states, because

that is what Chief Alamieyeseigha taught us and that is what we are

going to do.

And I was going to say that as part of this policy of integration of the

Ijaw nation for which we donʹt have any apologies to anybody, we will

also, once our educational programmes come on stream, have free

education for the children of Bayelsa State. Primary schools will be

built, while others will be renovated, science education will be

enhanced, computer literacy will be made mandatory to prepare the

youth for the challenges of tomorrow.

I know that some of my leaders are concerned about how I am going to


get money to fund all this. We are going to do that by cu�ing costs, by

blocking all wastages and leakages, by curbing corruption.

So when as your governor, as a product of the Ijaw system, we take

those painful decisions, please stand by me and tell them that what the

governor is doing is right.

When the free education comes on stream, the I.N.C. will be called to

play a role; we will give some scholarship slots to the I.N.C. for bright

Ijaw boys and girls from other states. We will even give them admission

places into these free schools as Chief Alamieyeseigha did, as Goodluck

Jonathan did. Who is going to take care of our children, who for no fault

of theirs, are balkanised into states where they have no voice, some

donʹt even have local governments to call their own? The Bayelsa State

government must stand for them.


Address at an interactive meeting with leaders of the Ijaw nation in the

state on August 23, 2012.

BAYELSA STATE IS OUR JERUSALEM

et me on behalf of your grateful people appreciate you all for

Lyour individual and collective years of untiring service to this

great nation in different capacities and above all, to the cause of

your people, the Ijaw people, to the cause of our state.

As we have always said time and time again, Bayelsa State is our

Jerusalem, the Jerusalem of all Ijaw people and that was why during my

inaugural address, I made it clear that this government was going to

promote, within the confines and within the context of the laws and the

constitution of this country, Ijaw integration; we will promote, project

and defend Ijaw strategic interests.

But like I said, this is within the confines and the context of a united,

egalitarian, democratic and peaceful Nigeria and that was why your

government laid the foundation for what was to come by establishing

the Ministry of Culture and Ijaw National Affairs for the first time in

this state.


GOVERNOR SERIAKE DICKSON OF BAYELSA STATE (LEFT) AND HIS AMIABLE WIFE, DR. (MRS.)

RACHAEL DICKSON (MIDDLE) BEING PRESENTED WITH THE PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS AS

ʹJERUSALEM AMBASSADORʹ AND ʹMOTHER IN ISRAELʹ RESPECTIVELY BY THE ISRAEL

AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA, MR. URIEL PALTI, DURING A CEREMONY TAGGED ʹCELEBRATING

ISRAEL IN BAYELSAʹ AT THE BANQUET HALL, GOVERNMENT HOUSE, YENAGOA.

And we also followed it up by appointing a worthy son who some say is

not from Bayelsa. As a member of the cabinet, this is first time that has

happened in this state. We have also appointed a number of other

worthy Ijaw sons and daughters.

A number of them will still be coming into one office or the other. This is

because the government of Bayelsa state must at all times provide a

rallying point for all Ijaws who due to no fault of theirs are living in

relative obscurity and are dealing with various disadvantages.

We cannot do that alone. We will work with all the organs of the Ijaw

nation, weʹll work with all the leaders opinion, political, traditional and

otherwise so that we can at all times formulate the best policies that will

guarantee our prosperity and will protect our development.

And it is in furtherance of these general principles and to demonstrate

the fact that this state belongs to all Ijaws, and all Ijaws have a stake in

the development of this state, that all Ijaws must be rallied together by

the government of Bayelsa state so that we can discuss the solutions to


our myriad problems.

I think that is why we have this interactive session. That is why we

thought it necessary to constitute this Advisory Commi�ee on Ijaw

National Affairs. We intend to meet quite regularly with this body from

time to time and discuss various issues as they arise.

It is on this general note that I would like to welcome you all, my dear

leaders, leaders in whom we are all pleased, leaders whose

contributions in this country we are all proud of, leaders who are

though retired in some sense, but certainly not tired of volunteering

yourselves for service. So I want to thank you for all the support and

encouragement this government has received from you all individually

and collectively.

I also want to thank you for all the support, prayers and sacrifices that

you have all continued to make, in service of this country and

particularly all the support you have been giving to the President.

I have said it on several occasions and let me repeat it here,

that to the best of my understanding, the singular most

important interest for the Ijaw nation for now remains the

protection of the presidency.

It is on this note, my leaders, gentlemen and ladies of the press, that I

formally inaugurate this commi�ee and then weʹll go into a business

session. May God bless all of you, may God bless the Ijaw nation.


At the commissioning of IzonWari in the state on October 2, 2012.

TO THE ĲAW NATION WE WILL BE FAITHFUL

oday is historic, but it is not a day for long political speeches.

TBecause ma�ers for the Ijaw nationality are not things we play

politics with. They come straight from the heart, and I have no

apologies for that. I said at the beginning of my inaugural address that

this government is going to be INC [Ijaw National Congress]

government.

This government will be faithful to the fundamental

interests of the Ijaw nation.

That is the right thing to do. And as a result of that, we started hi�ing the

ground running in all areas, including the establishment of the separate

ministry, which we called, the Ministry of Culture and Ijaw National

Affairs


We looked for a suitable person all the way from Ibeno in the eastern

flank of the Ijaw nation to Arubgo in the west to man that ministry and

we found that person in Dr. Felix Toudolo.

You all know his background and so you know where we are headed. I

want to thank firstly, my leader, the first civilian Governor, whom we

still call GovernorGeneral, Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha and President

Kimse Okoko, my worthy president who instituted this idea of having

a permanent headquarters of our great INC, of which I was privileged

to be National Legal Adviser.

I also want to thank the contractor who completed the work. I want to

thank them for their vision, I thank Chief Alamieyeseigha for what he

did by giving approval for this wonderful edifice and giving it to

somebody who will not just see this as routine business, but will have

the commitment and a�achment to having this completed. He looked

and found no other person than Chief Joshua Fumudoh, life president

of Ijaw. It is on this note that I hereby commission this edifice to the

glory of God, for the good of the Ijaw nation and of all mankind. God

bless you all.


AGENDA FOR

DEVELOPMENT


Address at the launch of the new transport scheme in the state on August

31, 2012.

OUR GOAL IS TO DELIVER A WORLDCLASS

TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

got a deluge of lots of calls when I announced the ban on

Icommercial motorcycles. Cynics said that there had been a

previous ban by the previous government and that it was not

followed through and they suspected that our policy would suffer the

same fate. Well Iʹve been on the saddle for about six months and I

believe that people should know the difference and the difference is

that when we say something, we mean it and we do it.

So today we are here to launch our new transportation policy in this

state. We want a transportation system that is second to none. This is

because very soon people will be trooping here for tourism, investment

and even to live here.

While we are investing in security to make Yenagoa and our state safe,

while we are investing on infrastructure to deliver worldclass

infrastructure, we also must provide worldclass transportation

system.


This is why your government is very serious about having an airport

and very soon work will commence on that, to open up this state in

collaboration with the federal authorities. That is why we are working

to have a deepsea port so that the state will be opened up to the country

and the rest of the world.

But that is not enough; we must provide worldclass road

transportation for our people and not only road transportation, very

soon boats will also be procured. I know and trust and believe that

sooner than later you will all see the restoration buses going round

everywhere in Yenagoa.

For us to provide for this, our policy is that in the course of the

expansion of the major roads in Yenagoa our great city, we are going to

make provisions for standard bus stops that will be part of the

construction and design of all our major roads in Yenagoa, so that once

the expansion starts you will see where the bus stops will be.

Now these restoration cabs that you all have seen, are good and going

to be quite comfortable and safe for our people. I want to first of all

address commercial motorcycle riders. On my way I saw a number of

them leaving our city, as a ma�er of fact in droves. And I said well, we

RESTORATION CABS. PROVIDING DECENT AND EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION

IN YENAGOE AND ITS ENVIRONS


didnʹt say they should leave.

What I said is that people should stay here and do business in

conformity with our policies and the laws of this state. But obviously

Iʹm sure they are returning their motorcycles to where they can be

useful.

As you all know, the ban on motorcycles is an act of the law itself,

because the House of Assembly passed a bill which I also signed into

law. So in addition to being our policy, it is also backed up by law.

I can understand that a lot of them are moving out their instruments of

trade, which do not fit our own concept of a new Bayelsa so I wish them

the best and pray that they come back soon enough to join us, to

contribute to our economy in more acceptable ways and manner.

Now my second message will be to those who are already beneficiaries

of our restoration cabs. As you know to whom much is given, much is

certainly expected. Your government has made this move; weʹve spent

about N600 million in all.

When you add all the gadgets and facilities that we have procured and

the insurance that has been provided, weʹve spent quite some money

and this is a test scheme. So use these vehicles well and donʹt discourage

us.

These vehicles are not intended to be private vehicles for your use as the

newest ʹbig menʹ in the state. You are not to sit down at the back and

relax and be chaufferdriven in these vehicles, you are not to park them

in your houses, you are to actually put them to use with effect from

today. Once these vehicles are handed over to you, we expect to see

them plying the streets and all the roads of Yenagoa; that will be your

contribution to our economy.

My happiness is that a lot of care has been taken in the selection of the

beneficiaries. On behalf of your government, I like to congratulate you


and this is what we mean by creating job opportunities, this is what we

mean by fighting and alleviating poverty, this is what we mean by

expanding our economy.

I know that majority of those who were operating commercial

motorcycles were actually not even from Bayelsa as you also know.

Now you have an opportunity to own these vehicles. Use them well and

then create a livelihood for yourself and your families.

You are expected to be our eyes and our ears, you are expected to report

to appropriate authorities, anything you see, anything you hear in the

course of this business that will help the work of the authorities. We

want to keep Yenagoa safe; we donʹt want criminality in Yenagoa.

Anything you observe, anything you hear or that you think is unusual,

itʹs your duty as agents of the new Bayelsa state, as our partners to let

the appropriate authorities know. Iʹm sure you will get more of such

instructions from the appropriate agencies, as you go on.

Now the second thing I would like to tell you is that, you are now our

ambassadors. A lot of tourists will come in, people are streaming into

Yenagoa to do business, to relax and enjoy their lives. That is what we

want to see in Bayelsa. So I enjoin you all to ply your trade with

decorum. Be cheerful and try to be as professional as possible.

For most of you, you are going to be the first point of contact with those

who are visiting our dear state. Even before they see me, or they see

other officers of government, people visiting here are going to see you,

meet you and interact with you.

You are expected to be public relations agents of the new Bayelsa. We

are honest and hard working, cheerful people who mind our business.

So I would like to enjoin you all to exhibit these traits as you carry on

with your job.

We are out to ensure that our own transportation system would be just


like that of the London taxi scheme whereby a�er some time, you may

even not be carrying cash to pay in Bayelsa and in Yenagoa in particular.

We want to prepare our transportation system to be able to carry the

weight of our vision.

Now to commuters, I would like to thank you all for your

understanding, I know that initially, like anything new, we will all learn

to adapt. There may be some slight inconveniences, but I believe that

with the training that the ministry and the transport corporation have

given to these drivers, I donʹt think that these will last for long.

I want you all to exercise some patience and understanding. This policy

is for your good. I expect that we will all understand and work with the

drivers and if you have any complaints, please donʹt hesitate to let the

ministry of transport and the corporation know so that we can continue

to perfect the system.

And so ladies and gentlemen, I would like to congratulate you all. I

would like to thank the officers who have brought this into fruition. I

have been told that before the end of next week, all the 200 taxicabs

would have been delivered.

For those who have been itching to see the colors of Bayelsa, let me

thank you honorable commissioner and the GM of the transportation

corporation for picking the Bayelsa colors.

These vehicles, are symbolic, when you see these vehicles, you have

seen Bayelsa. So I want to thank you for your creativity, your ingenuity

and your commitment. For the beneficiaries, I congratulate you all.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is on this note that I would like to dedicate

these vehicles for the use of humanity. it is on this note that I

commission these vehicles and several others that will come as part of

the restoration transport policy, for the use and service of our good

people and to the glory of God Almighty.


Address at a 3day conference of the Nigerian Content Development and

Monitoring Board (NCDMB), on November 20, 2012.

THE OIL INDUSTRY MUST EMPOWER THE LOCAL PEOPLE

Let me remind you all again that the story of Nigeria and oil exploration

and exploitation started right here at Oloibiri, in Bayelsa State just

about 5 minutes away from here in 1956.

Let me therefore say welcome to the home of oil and gas in Nigeria. I

like to thank my good friend, Engr. Ernest Nwapa and other

stakeholders for deciding on Yenagoa, to host this conference, because

as you know, you cannot talk about oil and gas without mentioning

Bayelsa.

Let me also use this opportunity to thank the Federal Government for

locating the headquarters of the local content board here in Yenagoa.

Let me also say that Bayelsa State Government has a partnership

arrangement with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring

Board and it does not end with this conference because we want to open

our doors to the board, which has given us the honour of hosting this

event.


Let me declare that our government is willing to work with you to host

this conference on an annual basis.

This should be our li�le contribution to underscore our interest in

maintaining a robust relationship with all stakeholders, particularly

the International Oil Companies (IOCs) who we see once in a blue

moon and today, we have a blue moon.

I believe that this conference will stimulate a robust discourse on the

various challenges that the local content issue has thrown up.

And as you all know, this local content ma�er is dear to us because we

are confronted with issues of creating jobs, wealth and encouraging

greater participation of our people in an industry that more or less

ought to be our own.

You are all aware of the challenges the oilbearing communities and oil

bearing states face.

If you take statistics of the number of people who are involved in the

Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson (2ndle�) speaking during the opening ceremony of the 2nd

Practical Nigerian Content Conference in Yenagoa, while the state Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral

Gboribiogha John Jonh rtd, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Amb. Abdulkadir

Musa (2ndright) and the Executive Secretary Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Engr.

Ernest Nwapa (right) look on.


various activities in oil and gas, both in the downstream and upstream

sector, well the Department of Petroleum Resources is here and you

will bear me out and oil majors are also here, you will discover that

there is a very low percentage involvement of the people of the oil

producing areas.

And so while we are talking of Nigerian content, thatʹs well and good,

we are not opposed to that, but I think we should also be talking of sub

Nigerian content, which is the involvement in all sectors of the industry

by people in the areas where these activities really take place.

There are some aspects of the Nigerian content that should strictly

speaking, be local. If you look at what we go through here in Bayelsa, I

have just reminded you about what you all know as a historical fact,

which is that, oil and gas exploitation started here. The first oil well

here, when you look at it, you will see that it presents a metaphor of

what it is today and what it is likely to be tomorrow: the story of neglect;

some people call it, “use and dump”.

Now if you take a census of those who are doing business in the oil

sector; who have oil wells and oil blocs and licenses to li� oil, including

those who do the mega businesses and deals in the oil companies, you

will see that they do not have offices here.

The people of the oil producing areas are not involved so we end up

creating wealth at our own detriment. So the local content instrument is

a veritable platform for promoting participation of indigenous oil

producing areas.

They stay in mega cities and do the mega deals and carry out the mega

businesses; they get richer, they become billionaires and you create

more militants and disgruntled elements. Some states smile to the

banks in billions every month because of the taxes and levies paid by

the companies and boosting the economies of such areas where they

reside.


We do not begrudge anybody for whatever they get, no that is not the

point I am making. All I am saying is that, while others are also

benefi�ing we should also not be le� out. And that in looking at the

local content, all stakeholders should make deliberate efforts to

promote the involvement of local, indigenous participation in states

that produce oil and gas.

I cannot frankly, think of anybody in Bayelsa who carries on big time

businesses in both upstream and downstream sectors. I am not saying

that it is totally the fault of the oil companies and other stakeholders.

What I am saying is that, that is a scenario that is not really acceptable;

that is something that we really need to improve upon.

While talking about local content today, we should spare some thought

on how the IOCs need to encourage people from the oil producing

areas, not just to build classroom blocks and doing deworming

contracts, no.

We need to get them the skills that will enable them to participate more

robustly in all aspects of the oil and gas industry. A�er all, this is an

activity that takes place within this area.

And I was telling someone a few days ago that, what you guys si�ing

down in Abuja; it used to be si�ing down in Lagos but now it is Abuja,

what you guys in the Department of Petroleum Resources call, “oil

bloc”, is actually somebodyʹs ancestral land. Thatʹs the truth.

When you look at it, its very convenient as an oil bloc. I have not seen an

oil bloc by the way, I do not know what it looks like. But I know that the

reality of it is that, itʹs somebodyʹs ancestral heritage that is being

partitioned. We are not opposed to that.

So let me use the opportunity to remind us all that as a government we

have a lot of challenges as do all my colleagues in the Niger Delta,

confronted with mounting unemployment rates; confronted with low


capacity of our people; confronted with a need to massively increase

wealth creation and generate involvement of our people in activities

that can sustain them.

I just want to remind us all of our responsibilities to our operating

environment. For us in Bayelsa, we have a very ambitious programme

of infrastructural turn around. We are investing massively in human

capacity building.

These last couple of months, this state has become one of the safest

states in the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Yenagoa, our capital city

has clearly become one of the safest cities in this country. But this is just

the beginning.

And so while we do our best, while we continue to do what we as a

government can do, I urge you all to join us and robustly collaborate to

ensure that we create jobs, create wealth, increase the capacity of our

people to fend for themselves and have a meaningful future.


Address to Bayelsa State civil servants on November 26, 2012

THE CIVIL SERVICE MUST ANCHOR OUR RESTORATION

his being our first interaction, I want to thank you all for the

Tsupport that I know you all gave during the course of the

campaigns and elections. Let me also thank you for the

support, prayers and the solidarity our government has enjoyed from

you all hard working, commi�ed, dedicated and selfless civil servants

of this state. Now, today is for us to talk on serious issues moving

forward.

We have said it repeatedly and you have also heard your Head of

Service repeating it, that the civil servants are the engine room of

government. You are like the owners of the house; we the political

leaders even those that I appoint and send to your ministries as your

commissioners, we are all temporary masters; you are the permanent

occupants of that house. We are tenants in our own case; the

constitution says four years and then if it pleases God and you the

people, another four years.

So the most that a Governor, a Deputy Governor can stay working with


you is eight years. So you see, there are only two people who have

limited tenure, myself and my Deputy Governor, but you, your tenures

are 35 years or sixty years, whichever is earlier, so you can see what we

mean when we say you are the engine room of government.

It is you and you alone who will determine whether this state moves

forward or changes for the be�er. All Iʹm expected to do and which I

have been doing is to dream the big dream, come up with the big idea

and then mobilise the resources to achieve that dream. You are the

instruments and it is your house and as they say, as you make your bed,

so shall you lie on it.

Today we are going to talk on how to make our bed, your own bed, the

new Bayelsa State. I wont be able to achieve anything in this

government, unless two things happen.

You need to understand our vision, you need to understand what

motivated me to run for election, to take all the personal risks, to take it

upon myself to lead a team of commi�ed people who at a time did

BAYELSA STATE GOVERNOR, HON. SERIAKE DICKSON ADDRESSING CIVIL SERVANTS DURING

HIS MAIDEN INTERACTIVE SESSION WITH THEM IN YENAGOA


things that seem like we wanted to commit group suicide, just to protect

our vision and chart a new course of action and destiny of our people.

You need to understand that it is not enough to just work on dry files

and read or give dry minutes without emotional a�achment, without

sentiments, and feel you have done your job; no that is not enough; you

need to know the things that have motivated us to do what we are

doing. We are doing the same thing serving the public, but in different

ways.

So I thought today, we should share some of these things and I have

brought to you all, the vision of service, service to society and to one self

the least; service that says if you serve human beings well, you serve

God well too. Itʹs not only by going to church and by clapping or going

for night vigils or speaking in tongues, which is all good, and most of

you do all of these, but if you donʹt have a culture of serving, selflessly,

your fellow human beings, I am not sure how far those prayers can go.

So what motivates me, you should know today is, service to humanity

and to oneʹs self the least, because service to man is service to God. You

are very important in what we want to do in serving our people.

You have seen me take a few decisions about the public service of the

state. You saw how in the second week or so, contracts were coming up

for construction of new secretariat complexes so that our civil servants

and appointees, who are also public servants can have befi�ing places

to stay and work.

For a long time we have never bothered about providing the spaces and

it is sad. Iʹve rented over 20 apartments and buildings to accommodate

public servants. That should not have happened. You have heard me

talk about the public service training school and I want to deliver on

that as quickly as possible. Let me say to you all and particularly to the

Chairman of the Civil Service Commission and the Head of Service, this

should be the last time I should talk about this as a statement of intent.


Try and get a place for which I can approve money for construction or

for outright purchase so that we can begin the process as soon as

possible. Next year we can begin the process of pu�ing our civil

servants through that training programme. If you bring a memo even

tomorrow, I will approve it. That is how serious I am on this ma�er, but I

cannot generate a memo for you.

You have also seen me take decisions about restoring the authority of

senior civil servants, how Iʹve said permanent secretaries and directors

should take responsibility for preparing payrolls and determine who is

allowed to be on our payrolls. If somebody is not coming to work, if

somebody somehow by the civil service rules, does not deserve to be on

our payroll, ladies and gentlemen you have my authority to stop them.

I have now given you that authority which before now, was in one

unknown unit in the Treasury. Now permanent secretaries and senior

officers have that power and iʹm sure that you now are in a be�er

position to exercise discipline. You have also seen how I exercised my

judgment in the appointment of permanent secretaries. But by and

large you know how I appointed secretaries based on seniority. I didnʹt

know any of them, none of them knew they were to be appointed, none

lobbied, and that is part of professionalising your service.

You have also seen the judgment I exercised in the new appointment

Iʹve made of your Head of Service, which is to say that henceforth we

want a depoliticized civil service, we want a civil service where the

traditions of respect for seniority will be upheld; we want a civil service

where you donʹt need to lobby the chief executive of a state or anybody

for that ma�er to be able to get your due.

I believe that at the end of the tenure of the current Head of Service,

there should be certainty about the transition because the civil service is

not a political organization. That is the tradition Iʹve tried to bring back

to your service and I hope that in all the decisions that you take and


what you do, you also follow suit so that we can leave behind for this

state, a professional, respectable civil service.

Civil servants are people some of us respect a lot because of the

discipline you go through. A civil servant will have the discipline to get

up early, go to work daily irrespective of distractions.

Look at what you do as civil servants; you process memos with cost

implications running into millions, hundreds of thousands and billions

of naira. And for most of you, you go back home and you still have bills

unpaid, children crying and relations that need a�ention and support.

So civil servants are people I respect a lot, and because they do this for a

long period, they accumulate a lot of knowledge about human beings,

they know more people than you will ever know, and they know how to

deal with situations and deal with people and manage situations.

Now we need to therefore talk of how we can bring back the lost

traditions, the wri�en ones and the unwri�en traditions, discipline and

honor and integrity of your service. I will serve out my tenure,

whatever time God decrees and the people determine because I believe

power comes from God and Iʹll leave, but youʹll remain just as

somebody le�, and I came in.

But one thing I want to leave behind if you will all support me is that, I

would like you to be be�er civil servants so that whoever comes a�er

me will meet a be�er civil service than I have met. That I think is

basically the thrust of this interaction and because of where we want to

take our state to and the civil service in particular, you have seen the

judgment I have exercised in composing your Civil Service

Commission, those that will look at your ma�ers, those that will take

decisions that will affect you and affect your career.

You have seen how I le� out the politicians, you have seen how we went

to bring a man, unarguably one of our best, your former Head of


Service, who served with honor and dignity and retired there and was

doing well representing us in Abuja. I had to bring him, he didnʹt lobby

for it, I had to bring him to help reshape our service and he is here,

Deacon Bob Ozaka, the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission.

We are determined to reposition the service and we need your

cooperation. By this we simply mean that we should be disciplined. I

feel sad when it is said that in Bayelsa State the only rich people are civil

servants. I have heard it severally that those who own hotels and those

who own the flashy cars in Yenagoa are the civil servants.

Since we want to move forward we have to have the ability to examine

ourselves because that is critical to selfdevelopment. When you want

to do be�er, you must have the ability to examine yourself. I am not the

one who said those things; I am only saying those are prevailing

sentiments and impressions out there, maybe real, maybe true, maybe

not quite true, but in this business, sometimes impressions could even

be more important than the truth or the reality. All I am saying is that

there is an impression out there which I pray is not true or which we all

need to work hard at changing.

When you look at this state as small as it is, and you have about the

highest wage bill in the Federal Republic of Nigeria that should tell you

that things are not quite right.

Each time I relate with the senior civil servants of this state, I am proud

of their all round development and dedication. What I am not sure of

most times is what happens down the ladder.

I am very satisfied with the quality of leadership at the top level but that

tells us why we need to constantly remind ourselves to improve down

the ladder. So those are the problems we have. Therefore, my dear civil

servants, you have to join us particularly now that you have a

government that has a clear vision of where our state is going.


I thought I was having a meeting with all civil servants of the state but I

am not quite sure if the a�endance here is what I am paying 4 billion

naira as salaries every month for.

So we have major challenges. No single civil servant will say that your

Governor, the Hon Dickson has given one instruction that is intended

to enrich himself or any body close to him and you will never hear that

as long as I am Governor. So now I am throwing a public challenge. We

have an opportunity to reshape our destiny now so I invite you all on

board. Let us show more commitment in the decisions and actions that

we take, show more discipline.

What I want to do is to see how we can support you and take much of

the burden off you.

We are planning on how civil servants will get low cost houses and the

provision of transport buses; in addition to that, school buses have been

made available for children to and from school. There is a plan to

introduce a health insurance system for our public service, which I am

sure would be emulated by other states in the country.

We want to introduce it as a contributory arrangement but with most of

it funded by the state. We will have a world class Diagnostic Centre and

other facilities.

The Head of Service and the leadership of the civil service should help

the government to reduce corruption in the civil service and every

saving we make on that score means that one more civil servant has

decided to do the right thing.

We cannot afford an inefficient bureaucracy, we cannot

afford a bureaucracy that exists only on pay day, or on

verification day, or on a day the Governor intends to

interact with civil servants.


We have reduced the wage bill from close to 6 billion naira to about 3.7

billion naira. It does not mean that people will be sacked for us to spend

less on payment of salaries; it only means that we want to identify the

real workers and all civil servants should be part of that. The most

sacred obligation of a civil servant is to be loyal to constituted authority,

make your point firmly, fairly and clearly.

Our duty is to create the environment that will enable civil servants to

be their best and that is why we have taken some decisions to

depoliticize the civil service. There will be a clear distinction in the state

between those who want to be politicians and those who want to be civil

servants doing the work of the civil service.

The commission is in safe hands and I am giving them total support to

ensure that discipline and order are restored; same for the Head of

Service who is one of our professional best.

We have discovered, that as a state we have, one of the least internally

generated revenue in this country and yet you all want development in

this state. If there is fraud in every file or memo, you canʹt see

development and at the end of the day it would be unfair to say, so and

so governor did not perform, because a�er all you yourself did not

perform.

You made the governor not to perform by commi�ing fraud, going late

to work, by wrong a�itude and now, by not paying appropriate tax. We

have a situation where a lot of people are undertaxed.

I am not proposing a new law. It is a national law and this state is not

following that law. The right thing has to be done, beginning with me

and all my political appointees.

Because of the flood and other things, the remaining months are the

months of grace but from January 1st, next year we must pay proper

tax. Even the ordinary people on the street, we have to tax ourselves.


That is what gives us rights as citizens. It is not to claim to be a citizen

and be abusing everybody, but you donʹt have a stake because you donʹt

pay tax, yours is that everybody owes you everything and you donʹt

owe anybody anything: that a�itude must stop.

One other thing I want to say is that Iʹm not happy with the plight of

retired civil servants in this state. It is a very sad thing that a�er serving

the state for 35 years or a�er working until you clock 60 years, just at the

time the state should say thank you, most of the retirees are le�

hopeless and helpless and le� to fend for themselves.

I have been briefed that since 2005 till date retired public officers who

gave their best have not been paid their pensions. I have been informed

that this state is owing li�le or no gratuity payment at all but we are

owing pensions and that should not be.

I set up a commi�ee and it studied the situation and brought a report to

me, which shocked me that the sum of N3.5 billion is the outstanding

arrears of pension payment to the extent that permanent secretaries

served and retired without pensions. Some have died without

receiving their pensions and up until now they have not been paid. This

is not acceptable.

When I got the report I made a commitment that we were going to look

for a way to verify this claim to begin payment. Since making that

pledge we have set aside N750 million just for payment of pensions. So I

announce a commi�ee right now, which will be made up of the Hon.

Commissioner for Finance, the Head of Service, leadership of the NLC

and nominations from the Pensions Office. Secretary to Government

will inaugurate them in the course of the week, to begin the process of

verifying who these pensioners are and how much they are entitled to.

Let me turn to the gentlemen who call themselves the National Union of

Pensioners who allow themselves to be part of misguided political

move to discredit this government. Let me ask them: if for 5 years of the


last administration, pension was not paid, how many times they took to

the streets or resorted to blackmail.

Here we are inheriting a mess and making the best out of a bad

situation. Pensioners are very senior officers. I expect them not to be

part of any calculated a�empt to discredit a government that

everybody knows is trying its best. We are here to do what is right; once

the verification is completed payment would be made.

GOVERNOR OF BAYELSA STATE, HON. SERIAKE DICKSON (RIGHT) DOING HIS FINGER PRINT

SHORTLY AFTER BEING VERIFIED BY MRS. CHINWE UZAKA (LEFT) AT THE ONGOING

VERIFICATION EXERCISE OF CIVIL SERVANTS AND ALL POLITICAL OFFICE HOLDERS AT THE

EGOVERNANCE AND DUE PROCESS OFFICE IN YENAGOA, WHILE HIS DEPUTY, REAR ADMIRAL

GBORIBIOGHA JOHN JONAH RTD, (2NDRIGHT) LOOKS ON.


Address at a retreat organised by government in conjunction with ASCON

for permanent secretaries in Yenagoa on March 4, 2013

et me say that when the Head of Service came to me with the

Lrequest for this training exercise, I had no difficulty approving

that application because training, retraining and interactions

like this are what I am actually enthusiastic about to assist the public

service.

It is through this training that you can sharpen your edges, update your

knowledge and rededicate yourselves to your service and then to the

service of the state. I look forward to many more training sessions. We

have started with permanent secretaries. Very soon I expect a request

for training of the Directorate cadre as well so that at the end of the day,

all the principal functionaries of our bureaucracy will live up to their

duties and responsibilities. They all need to update their knowledge

and skills as to how to man our bureaucracy.

I have always said that we the leaders, whether elected or appointed,

are all temporary officials in government, while you the public

servants are the permanent landlords. By the rules of the civil service,

A DILIGENT WORKFORCE IS KEY TO DEVELOPMENT


you have sixty years of service, that is, you are allowed to serve until

you are sixty years old or you serve thirtyfive years, which ever is

earlier.

But for those of us who are elected, the constitution has a specified

tenure for us and that tenure is known to all of you. Appointees are even

worse; they have no tenure. If you look at this room, those who have

opportunities to serve for long are by so doing affecting the destiny of

our people. Our duty therefore at all times, is to support you, give you

the political support you need to reposition your service and dedicate

yourselves to the service of our state.

The bureaucracy you all represent is the instrument through which any

government achieves its objectives. And that is why an essential aspect

of our reform process has to necessarily involve repositioning the

public service through you. Now, let me therefore, thank the Head Of

Service and the permanent secretaries for the show of support,

solidarity and understanding that my government has received from

the top leaders of our bureaucracy.

GOV.SERIAKE DICKSON (R) FELICITATING REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DG,ASCON, MR.MATHEW

ADEGBOLA DURING A RETREAT FOR PERMANENT SECTRETAIES


The agenda that we have set for our people is a tough one. And I know

that even at weekends and public holidays, I summon people. For some

political appointees, I pity them because that is their lot. But for most of

you, by your normal civil service way of doing things, once it is 3:30pm

or 4:00pm you close from work, but that culture is changing because

that is the spirit of the new Bayelsa we are poised to establish. I know

that in an a�empt to reposition your service, lots of decisions have been

taken and let me assure you that several more will be taken.

But in all of these, we expect that you people should be the first to

understand the reason why any government that means well must

invest in the public service and we must support the leadership of the

public service. When we announced the decision that permanent

secretaries should take responsibility for preparing vouchers and

authorising those that should be on our payroll, of course those who

have been cheating over the years did not like it. But we have a duty and

responsibility to take decisions that are in the best interest of the people.

When we came up with the decision that those who have their names on

our payroll that keep collecting salaries but do not work will be fished

out, we knew that the culprits will complain. While you are doing what

is right, people who are benefiting from doing wrong things will

complain. But that would not and should not deter us; it does not deter

me one inch from my commitment to do what is right and fair.

I want to urge you all also as leaders of the various ministries, not to be

deterred. The commi�ee that I set up has compiled a list of several

people whose names are to be taken out of our payroll as a result of

persistent absenteeism by which they qualify to be ghost workers as

well as those who do not stay in their offices. We have records and I

believe they are all aware that the commi�ee is closely monitoring what

our public servants are doing.

You are the people to implement all these actions, so I urge you all to


redeem the image of your service; it is your service. My duty is to give

you support, so that we do what is right, so that we bequeath together, a

public service that is efficient and respectable. What I say today and

always is this, do not fail to take decisions that are in the best interest of

your people.

When our state was created we knew that we had very few

top civil servants in the old Rivers State. Therefore a

culture of anything goes cropped in. It is your duty to stop

that culture.

If others have condoned it, our Restoration Government is saying no to

it. And you who are the owners of the bureaucracy have to take

advantage of our policy to ensure that you sanitise the public service.

Now for those who are doing what is right, playing by the rules and

doing your jobs diligently, let me assure you again today that your

government would continue to support and encourage you.

In my discussion with the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union

Congress, we all agreed to implement the risk law of this country and

by so doing, say byebye to discriminatory tax regime in this state. I

want to thank you all civil servants as well as political appointees for

your understanding.

Paying tax is a civic responsibility and not a favor to any government

and our government has not introduced any new tax regime. We are

only seeking the implementation of the Pay As You Earn, (PAYE) tax

which is the Personal Income Tax Act, (PITA). This is being

implemented everywhere in this country and Bayelsa cannot be an

exception.


Even people who are not in the public service, very soon we will see

how we would evolve a tax regime. The tax policy will include

everybody not just those in the civil service. This is because oil money,

free oil money has made our people lazy and I do not want our people

to be made irresponsible and when you talk of responsibility, it begins

with tax. That is the elementary spirit. Paying tax is a sign of civic

responsibility.

So the tax dragnet will be perfected and spread out to everybody in the

state so that they can all have a stake in the development of our state. I

want to thank you all for your understanding and support.

The Head of Service and permanent secretaries, let me assure you that

your government is now ready to roll out a set of measures that will

support and assist you all.

On this note, government will within a short time and I can only be

limited by the Surveyor Generalʹs office and Ministry of Lands, acquire

a 100 hectares of land for development of lowincome estate houses for

civil servants. I believe we will be laying the foundation stone of that

estate in the next two months.

But like I said, provisions have been made, finances set aside so I can

only be limited by the time that they will take to carry out survey work

and other modalities. It is going to be located at Agbura. Those of you

permanent secretaries, your own is going to be a very beautiful estate,

of which we will be laying the foundation soon opposite the five star

hotel complex.

The second policy announcement is that, we will acquire more buses.

We presently have six buses for transportation of civil servants. We will

acquire additional four so that we can have a mass transit system for all

our public servants and that scheme will kick off on or before the end of

this month. Government will fund it totally.


We are not through with reforms yet. There is an unhealthy practice in

this state. I do not know when it started, but it has been on and you all

know about it. Apart from this ghost workers syndrome, there are

people who are not entitled to special salaries, for example, some

categories of medical workers that are fraudulently earning the

Medical and Health Workers salary scale.

They do not get entitled to medical and health scale merely by

membership of the medical union. Whether you are to be on that scale

depends on your qualification. Reports at my disposal have shown a

fraudulent practice by which people without medical qualifications but

merely because they fill out membership forms of the Medical and

Health Workers Union, are paid medical and health workers scale.

That is not just wrong it is criminal. Today I direct the finance

commissioner, working with the head of service to set up a system

through which you will weed them all out. Stop paying medical and

health workers salaries to persons who do not have essential medical

and health qualifications. And I do not want to say what the

consequences will be because in this state, with the cooperation of the

House of Assembly, we have a law on payroll fraud that prescribes ten

years jail for anybody found wanting.

But I am not saying we will begin by prosecuting them, it is a practice

that has been on for a very long time but the Finance Commissioner,

working with the Head of Service and supported by my Special

Adviser on Treasury and Account Ma�ers will ensure that from this

month, salaries that will go out for March, no such persons should be

paid Medical and Health Workers scale.

There are other reforms that I have told the Head of Service to initiate.

These reforms will lead to the proper designations of the top leadership

of the civil service. If you are a permanent secretary and you are a

medical doctor, we need to properly streamline what your salaries and


allowances will be.

The Head of Service will set up a system and work out the details and

discuss with me. Concerning training, the Head of Service has

mentioned our commitment on the issue and this is about the third or

fourth time I am talking about the need for us to start our Civil Service

Training Institute. I believe the Head of Service will expedite action in

collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Works to enable you

finalise your plans.

This will enable us start the construction work because this type of

interaction ought to be taking place at the institute. An institute is a

place where every public servant should pass through. Going forward,

I do not see any reason why we should not have civil servants take a test

for promotion or progress in their career. So the institute is very

important. By this time next year, we should have gone very far.

I want to thank you all for your understanding. Just note that we are all

working for a be�er Bayelsa State in spite of the constraints. Just bear in

mind that all of us are working together to lay a foundation for a new

Bayelsa. So explain to your subordinates that because something has

been going on all these years, does not mean it is right. And people

should have the courage to stop it if it is not sustainable. That we are

doing so does not mean we are punishing civil servants but if we do not

do so, this state will be stuck. If we allow the impunity and illegalities to

continue merely because other administrations allowed them or did

not address them, this state will selfdestruct.


The mandate I have, which I share with you all is to

ensure that even when something is bi�er, once it is the

right thing, we as leaders, all of us must have the courage

to execute it. It is within your duties to explain these

policies to your subordinates and tell them the need for

them. Nobody prepares omelet without breaking eggs.

Now we have a sustainable way of funding welfare schemes for our

civil service. We have a way by which we fund development in the state.

You are seeing what is happening in the state not just in the state capital,

but in every local government area. Look at what is going on in health,

education, infrastructure, on housing, agriculture, women and youth

empowerment.

We need an efficient civil service not a political civil

service. A politicized and divided civil service cannot

deliver the agenda that we have. A civil service where you

turn yourselves to be critics of government or point

fingers at government cannot deliver.

So we must ensure that we work with you to ensure that you get the

right training and motivation to do your jobs in an efficient manner. I

want to thank you, the Head of Service and all Permanent Secretaries.

Let me also thank the Director General through his representative of

the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON). I am aware that

we have sent a lot of public servants to your institute for training and we

will continue to do so until our own institute is ready.

I expect those who will be in charge of that institute to continue to liaise


with ASCON so that you can sharpen the professional edges of the

service of the state.

Knowing you all and a number of you I appointed permanent as

secretaries and you saw how we went about it, no lobbying, no

influence. None of you knew you were to be appointed, none of you

came to talk about postings; that is the tradition of the civil service we

are returning to.

There will be no political interference with the career prospects of a

hardworking, diligent public officer. So I will like your support to

continue in that tradition so that at the end of the day, our state and the

public service will be be�er.


Address at a meeting with PDP stakeholders at the partyʹs secretariat in

Yenagoa on March 5, 2013

CHANGE HAS COME TO BAYELSA STATE

This government is your government; it is a Peoples Democratic Party

government and I consider myself as only a custodian of your mandate,

a mandate that was given to PDP. And you know, that place where you

people have kept me is one very big prison yard.

Sometimes government officials like us also want to come out so that

we can interact with you people. So today, and going forward, any day I

come is for party work. When you have challenges, present them to the

constituted authority at your level, ward chairman, L.G.A chairman.

Tell them the problems, they will collate them. If you are in the working

commi�ee, raise all the concerns that need to be raised. The state

chairman and working commi�ee will handle them. There are some

that will come in and see me because it is their government.

I want to make this clear: the state chairman of our party is of higher

status than a member of the cabinet of our government. So anything we

do not solve by those interactions, any day I come here, I want to listen


to them all from the grassroots. How are our people faring and their

priorities? What do they think of what we are doing in government

because it is your government. If the governor fails, it is you all that

have failed, it is PDP that would have failed.

Sometime ago, we had some people in charge and we saw how difficult

it was to sell our party in this state. People from nowhere came up with

Labour Party because the situation was very bad.

We are in government yet nobody was in government. It was a

government of only a few and we know how we fought hard, those of

us that were contesting elections. We know how difficult it was in every

community we went to. In one constituency because I was seeking re

election, the communities will tell me ʺehm, your party don die oh, we

donʹt like your party again but we like you, you are doing well, we will

support you.ʺ

I visited them all and they did not disappoint, all of them were at the

final elections and we worked. Now, you have to show more interest in

the affairs of

your government. If we are doing well, as people say we are and we

GOV.DICKSON (M), DISCUSSING WITH THE STATE PDP CHAIRMAN, COL. SAM INOKOBA (RTD)

(R), WHILE THE DEP. CHAIR, NYANAYO TUBO (L), LOOKS ON, DURING A MEETING WITH PDP

STAKEHOLDERS @ THE PDP SEC., YENAGOA.


believe we are, you are all doing well, take the credit for it. Go home, tell

them what your PDP government is doing.

The roads that are going on, the peace that has come to stay in our dear

state and will be with us forever, the love and solidarity, the unity that

has come to Bayelsa, the purposefulness that has returned to

government, the respect that Bayelsa state now enjoys all over this

country and even outside is because of you all. And most importantly,

your prayers.

As you know, when you are doing good things, there will be people

who are ashamed, that what they could not do in 5/6 years, we have

come to do, even more than that, in just one year. So you have to be on

guard. Actually, it is when you are making progress that you should be

more careful. Our Ijaw people say ʺit is good to be tall, it is good to do

well but when you stand out, you ought to be prepared for the priest.ʺ

No candidate in the history of this state has gone through more

litigations than me. That will take care of itself. Our concern is you.

Keep your focus. Your party is on course. Your state is on course. Do not

allow anybody to come and bamboozle you, because what they want to

do is show that even when you work hard for Bayelsa people, they do

not know good things and they would ask: So why are you working

hard for them?

But let me assure you, my faith and confidence in you the good people

of Bayelsa has never shaken and will not shake. You deserve the best we

can offer. Let me assure you, the best is yet to come. We have served for

only one year; a�er the second, third and as we get to the fourth year,

people will out of envy hide themselves in shame.

When we will go round and commission this dual carriageway we are

constructing, the flyovers that will spring up, the schools rebuilt, and

Bayelsa people have turned a new leaf and you have security in this

state, you are now the most secure state in the Federal Republic of


Nigeria, some people will remain envious and want to sponsor people

to cause crisis.

They are happy when bad things happen. That is how you know those

who donʹt mean well for their people.

Look at the story of Solomonʹs judgment of the two women who were

fighting over a baby. Let me urge you all, the people of Bayelsa, make

una shine una eyes, and open your ears, do not behave in a way that

your enemies will laugh at you people and let the world not say that

you Bayelsans do not even know what you want.

Now, people outside the state look at Bayelsa with respect

because they now believe that Bayelsa has changed for

good and is on the move.

We all know that is true. The world is watching to know whether when

you see something good, you know how to hold and protect it, and if

you do not know, people will laugh at you. But that is not your lot in

Jesus name.

I can never be discouraged nor deterred and I will continue to work for

it. God came down and helped us to make a difference in this state. If

you saw the way we campaigned and how we did our elections, you

will see the handwork of God. We went round, did elections without

problems. God maneuvered away all the obstacles that came our way;

that is the way it will continue to be. Not by our power, but by His grace.

So you should know that there is the hand of God in Bayelsa now; if we

do not appreciate this God gets upset and things will be hard on us. But

that is not our portion. I want to thank you, want to thank the state

chairman, all party leaders at all levels, and assure you that your


government is here for you. Sell the ideas and policies of our

government because this is your government. Where you have

concerns feel free to express them, respect and work with constituted

authorities at all levels and continue to support us in prayers.

Your chairman referred to me as leader of your party. But I have always

said in this state, the President is the leader of the party, I am the chief

commander here. You all working with me will work to ensure that the

state is kept safe so we do not allow the opponents and enemies of the

President, opponents of Ijaw nation, to bring things that will defile this

state. We want to focus on how we can give support to him at the federal

level. Work together in peace and harmony and we, your government,

will not let you down.

And please when you get back home, tell your people, in their

communities, towns, villages, wards, local governments, that change

has come to your state. That the PDP government will not fail them. Tell

them that their development, their prosperity and security is assured.


Address at the presentation of free school uniforms and other materials in

Yenagoa on April 30, 2013

OUR REVOLUTIONARY STEPS

IN EDUCATION ASSURE BAYELSAʹS FUTURE

am delighted and honored to be here for the flag off of

Ipresentation of school materials and uniforms to our students and

pupils in public schools in this state. You are aware that the first

policy statement I issued in the course of my inaugural was a

declaration of a state of emergency in the education sector. And I said

we were going to invest heavily in that sector because education is an

instrument of change for us, an instrument for promoting

development, prosperity and security.

Education is the means by which we can not only bring

about a be�er and prosperous tomorrow but it is the only

way we can guarantee and safeguard it.


We have wasted no time, no resources in pursuing that aspiration.

We said we are going to make schools very efficient; we are going to

build the school infrastructure which was comatose. But we know that

merely building beautiful school buildings is not all it takes to achieve

our goal. We are addressing the provision of teaching aids; we are

providing free facilities. It is part of what we are here to witness. But

above all, we are also addressing a very critical issue of training, and the

issue of welfare and morale of teachers, because the teacher is the most

important element in that system. You can have beautiful school

buildings and everything else installed and provided. But if the teacher

is not taught, or does not have the skills, the right knowledge to impart

or does not know how to impart the knowledge he has, then all that

investment will come to nothing.

So here in Bayelsa, we have a robust program of working with the

teachers, encouraging and supporting them, giving them the right

GOVERNOR OF BAYELSA STATE, HON. SERIAKE DICKSON (2ND LEFT) PRESENTING FREE

EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS TO GODSWILL BERNARD (3RD LEFT) OF ST. MATHIAS PRIMARY

SCHOOL DURING THE FLAGOFF CEREMONY FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF FREE EDUCATION

MATERIALS AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE YENAGOA, WHILE THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION,

MR. SALO ADIKUMO (LEFT), CHAIRMAN BRITISHAFRICAN ALLIANCE, MR. DAVID SMITH (2ND

RIGHT), MAYOWA OLAWALE OF BDGS (RIGHT) AND THANKGOD EKAMUGHA LOOK ON.


skills that they need. For you all teachers that are here, let me repeat

what I told you all last time I addressed you that for us in this

government, you are the most important section of our public

workforce, you are the most important workers we have because it is

only by working with you that we can realize our dream and

aspirations for a be�er and prosperous and secured tomorrow for the

state. And so I want to commend you all for what you are doing and I

have instructed the Ministry of Education to work out the date when I

will have the honor of si�ing and having dinner with you all in this state

and going forward, for me, that should be a yearly event; honorable

commissioner take note. Our head masters and principals need to

know that they mean so much to us. I look forward to that inaugural

dinner so that you will have a sense of your own importance and the

importance of the job that you are to do.

Now we are building as you all know, the teachers training institute

which is a department of the College of Education that is now ge�ing

ready for real business. We are working with the Canadians, the

Canadian Ambassador as you know was here and we have signed a

Memorandum of Understanding with a group from Canada and let me

also commend them for that partnership. Working with all our friends

and partners, we intend to have that as a world class teachers training

facility.

Now, the commissioner has told me what we are doing by providing

400 new primary schools across the length and breadth of this great

state. Most of them are almost completed. We have also started the

construction of about 400 teachers quarters for the first time because we

do not want to hear that teachers are posted to rural areas and they do

not have accommodation. That is part of supporting you teachers to be

the best you can be, that is real agents for change. So we are building 400

of those teacherʹs quarters and most of them are nearing completion.

Since we came on board, we have always paid WAEC, NECO and


JAMB fees for all our students in this state and that will be sustained

going forward. I want the young people of this state to take advantage

of all these new schools we are opening so that those who have what

they call deficiencies can go there, take advantage of the facilities we

have offered and remedy all those “so called deficiencies” and compete

for places in the tertiary system.

We have also reinvigorated by policy and deliberate investment, the

College of Education which in the next couple of months you will now

see as one of the best Colleges of Education in this country at Sagbama.

Now you know, as part of my campaign promises, we said we are going

to construct eight model secondary schools with modern facilities and

boarding. But when I came in and saw the rot in the system, we felt we

should do more. So right now, not only are we working on the eight

model secondary schools some of which will be ready before

September, we are actually constructing more secondary schools with

boarding facilities and I want to thank the Honorable speaker and

members of the house of Assembly for their understanding in

channeling their constituency projects to fund education for last year

and for this year. And as a result of that understanding and partnership,

we are presently constructing, working with the House of Assembly,

twentyfive new constituency secondary schools with boarding

facilities.

Going forward, gentlemen in this state, as soon as those schools are

completed by September, I hope, secondary school education will

primarily be by boarding schools. We will go back to those days when

we had good boarding schools because from the advice and outcome of

commi�ees and specialist agencies that I consulted, I have now come to

appreciate that part of the problem is that we are not incubating these

young minds enough. We are not keeping them together and

supervising them enough, we are not concentrating the available

manpower that we have enough, we are not deploying our resources


the way we ought to. And therefore, secondary education in this state

going forward is generally going to be in boarding schools. And to

underscore our commitment to funding education, by September when

those constituency secondary schools would have started, we will start

with compulsory senior secondary education as boarding.

All senior secondary students in Bayelsa from September will be in

those constituency secondary schools. And this is the good news: no

boarding fees will be paid! The government of Bayelsa state will take

responsibility for their training, feeding and maintenance. I am aware

that this is a revolutionary step.

I was told that I should exercise caution on this issue of free education

even before I announced it during my inaugural. I was advised

privately and publicly and my answer then and now remains the same:

education, that is human capacity development, is the single most

important challenge facing our generation. And there are really two

clear options: it is either we build prisons or remand homes everywhere

to prepare for the consequence of the inadequate investment in

education or we build schools.

And in this state, we have chosen to build schools and that is why our

restoration policy on transparent management of resources our focus

on prudence are important because the loopholes that bleed us dry, the

corrupt practices that take place in the small and big offices that make

us lose all the resources that we have is the problem we must address.

The solution is not to cut down on our investment on our future which

we will not accept anyway.

Our massive investment in education is on course. Today if you go to St.

Judeʹs, which is probably one of the oldest girlʹs schools in this state,

you will see the investment going on there. And the students from St.

Judeʹs, I want to thank you because I have heard a lot about the good

work that is going on there. We want St. Judeʹs to go back to the dreams


of its founding fathers, St. Judeʹs has to be brought up to a level where it

will play its role as the leading girlʹs training institute in this state.

In addition to these schools, we are also establishing two special

schools: the first is the gi�ed and talented children school sited at

Otuoke and is a tribute to my leader and elder brother, the President of

the Federal Republic of Nigeria who had that idea when he was

Governor and I had the honor of serving as the A�orney General at that

time. We are bringing back the school there and I believe that the

contractor by now ought to have moved to site because we have since

mobilized them. That school will take care of our talented and gi�ed

young people and give them the advantage of education and exposure

in areas beyond academics so that we can produce world class artists,

entertainers and so on. Already we have many of them of course;

people like Timi Dakolu, Dakore Egbuson, and we know that we have

such talents in abundance in this state. So what we want to do is

develop them here at Otuoke.

The second one is the Izionibe National College which is going to be a

school where we teach our young people not just our culture and

history, but we also prepare them for leadership. That secondary school

which will be boarding just like the Gi�ed and Talented School will be

in the community called ToruOrua. Contract has been awarded,

mobilization made. So when I said during my campaign and at my

inaugural that it was going to be ʹeducation, education, educationʹ this

is what I meant and we are actually having ʹeducation, educationʹ and

yet more education coming your way.


We have sent 250 of our young pupils to various leading private

institutions, private secondary schools, top range. This year, we will

select another number to add to it. That was a program started by our

President. But by the time we have invested in these our schools and

our schools are of high standard and are completed, we intend to now

select the very best amongst our young people and train them here.

And I am looking forward to that day when I will, as Governor, lead

other worthy leaders of this state and country and our friends who visit

us to go and talk to the young people and motivate them. I cannot wait

for when those schools will be completed.

And so this is a clarion call to all our contractors and partners handling

these projects that this is a passion for me, this is serious. I am not

prepared to play politics with our development as I have said several

times; I am not prepared to play politics with education, not prepared

to play politics with our security as you all know. So for those who are

handling these projects please failure and delay are not options in this

ma�er. I want these schools to be completed in record time so when our

friends come visiting we want to take them round to all these schools

and talk to these our young boys and girls because presently what has

I was told that I should exercise caution on this issue of

free education even before I announced it during my

inaugural. I was advised privately and publicly and my

answer then and now remains the same: education, that is

human capacity development, is the single most

important challenge facing our generation. And there are

really two clear options: it is either we build prisons or

remand homes everywhere to prepare for the

consequence of the inadequate investment in education

or we build schools.


happened in our country is that as a result of severe decay and

insufficient investment in education we are not quite sure whether we

are training human beings or people who are slightly be�er than

animals or lower than animal level. So whether it is social unrest or

insurgence in every part of this country if you look at it closely, the main

cause is insufficient investment in education and this is what we want

to address.

We want to stop a situation where in this state our young people do not

have role models to look up to or the role models they have are people

who carry AK47 rifles; that is very dangerous not just for this state and

this country but it is dangerous for humanity, it is dangerous for our

world. For our world to be safe, for our world to be prosperous, all of us

leaders and stakeholders must join hands to fight the ba�le of

education and give skills with which these young people can live their

lives in an increasingly competitive environment.

In addition to all these schools, and more schools are coming, very soon

we will have the tourism and catering school here to prepare our state

for the expected boom in tourism. We are going to have the school of

agriculture so that we can prepare middle level, competent agricultural

practitioners. Three weeks ago, here in this hall we assembled to send

off 500 young people to undergo agricultural training programs in

Benin Republic. Now when the school of agriculture is finished, we

want to do the training here. So under this restoration government, it is

going to be school, school, school, education, education, education.

And we believe that is the surest way of laying the foundation for a

prosperous and safe Bayelsa and Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Today, I want to specially recognize and honor our brother who sent a

message to me. I had not seen him before until last week. I didnʹt know

he existed, he has never been a contractor in this state. He sent a word to

me that he has read and heard about our modest effort in broadening

the frontiers of knowledge and that he wants to support us by donating


1000 bags and other items. I would like us to give him a round of

applause as a way of appreciation. Thank you very much on behalf of

the government and good people of Bayelsa State. We appreciate your

kind gesture. What you have done not only demonstrates that you are a

good Nigerian but let me also pronounce you a good Bayelsan this

a�ernoon.

Today we have about 100,000 pairs of various school uniforms. Let me

make it clear that we have adopted these uniforms as the only approved

uniforms in our schools. This does not apply to private schools. nursery,

primary or secondary. But for public schools, these are the approved

uniforms. We are not only prescribing it but we are also providing it.

Today, as part of this ceremony, I have directed that the sum of N5,

000,000 for six Local Governments be handed over to the Chairmen of

the various councils for them to use in providing these uniforms for the

several others who will not get because we have only 100,000 pairs to

give out now. We have another 100,000 on the way. But before those

ones come, we are giving five million naira to the six local government

areas to engage, as part of our empowerment program, competent

tailors in your local government areas, to now go to all these

communities and begin the process of providing these uniforms for our

students and pupils. Two other local governments will get N10, 000,000

each because of their population. The enrolment in those local

government areas is far higher. Yenagoa and Southern Ijaw Local

Government areas will get N10, 000, 000 each. All the other local

governments will get N5, 000, 000 each. This is only the first instalment.

Now there are also textbooks and note books. In this state free

education is not just about providing school uniforms, bags and

sandals. We do not want you to pay school fees, external exams, WAEC,

NECO and JAMB fees. We will pay and we will continue to do so. Even

the cost of science education, practicals and so on, this state pays for.

Parents and guardians do not pay.


I want to also commend the partnership that our government has

enjoyed from a great Nigerian and now a friend of Bayelsa. Well, I will

pronounce him a Bayelsan when he tells me the donation of books he is

going to make. I know it is coming, but it has not come. He is a very

good friend, Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi whose company has the contract of

providing the textbooks for primary schools that we are distributing

today. All kinds of books that we need for primary education, he is

providing them.

This a�ernoon, we are going to sign another contract with Dr. Ogunbiyi

and his company of about N500, 000, 000 to provide text books for

secondary schools in this state. And upon signing, we are going to

provide a down payment of N250, 000, 000 which is 50% so that within a

very short period of time, books for secondary school will be ready and

distributed.

Now, my dear good people of Bayelsa State, you have seen our

commitment to our future. You are the future of our state, the future of

Ijaw nation, you are the future of Nigeria. And what we are doing is to

Presentation of School. Uniforms etc


I like to enjoin you all to respect constituted authorities. That is where it

all begins. I want to use this opportunity as I have always done to urge

you to shun all negative behaviour such as cultism, drug addiction and

abuse, prostitution, whatever and focus on your bright future. As long

as you do your part, we here will do our part, work with your teachers,

support them. Encourage your parents and you can be sure your future

is assured. And you will agree with me when I said at my inaugural that

a�er my tenure, this state and the Ijaw nation will never be the same

again. We all have our roles to play in the revolution going on in this

state. A number of people stay out and do not know what is going on

here because we are not playing politics. But by the time all these things

begin to bear fruit, the new Bayelsa would have emerged and that is the

new Bayelsa we invite all of you to partake in as we lay the foundation

today.

We want to stop a situation where in this state our young

people do not have role models to look up to or the role

models they have are people who carry AK47 rifles; that is

very dangerous not just for this state and this country but

it is dangerous for humanity, it is dangerous for our

world. For our world to be safe, for our world to be

prosperous, all of us leaders and stakeholders must join

hands to fight the ba�le of education and give skills with

which these young people can live their lives in an

increasingly competitive environment.

midwife that future, equip you with the skills you need to navigate

your way in life and contribute your quota to the development of our

state, nation and for your own self development. You are seeing our

commitment amply demonstrated over and over again. We have done

ours; the rest is yours.


Address delivered to the national executive commi�ee meeting of the

Nigerian Bar Association in Yenagoa, on June 6, 2013

THE STATE OF BAYELSA TODAY:

OUR GREAT LEAP FORWARD

On behalf of the government and good people of Bayelsa State, it is my

honour and privilege to very warmly welcome you to Bayelsa, the

Glory of all Lands and Jerusalem of all Ijaw people.

As a member of the Bar, a former member of the National Executive

Commi�ee (NEC) representing Bayelsa State and one time A�orney

General of this State, I take particular delight in welcoming you all to

this NEC meeting holding in our great state at this time when I am

Governor.

For me, your visit at this time is a source of strength, encouragement

and solidarity. I want to thank the President and members of NEC for

the decision to hold this very important meeting of the highest decision

making organ of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) here in Yenagoa.

Let me also use this opportunity to thank members of the Bar generally

for their prayers and support throughout my tough electioneering

campaign and the a�endant litigations. I am not aware of any politician


in Nigeria today, who has had to contend with the number and type of

cases that I had in the buildup to my elections and therea�er, even up

until now. Through it all, I must admit that members of the Bar stood by

me resolutely. For this, I am truly grateful.

I also wish to place on record my immense gratitude to the judiciary at

all levels for being steadfast in upholding the tenets of justice. That I am

Governor today is an eloquent testimony of the capacity and maturity

of our judiciary as an apolitical arbiter in a political process. My

nomination and elections went through the judicial system up to the

Supreme Court in two different instances, both of which are well

documented in the law reports. And in both instances, I emerged

victorious. There are still several pending litigations making their way

through the judicial process and one even came up this morning even

a�er the Supreme Court had ruled on the issues twice. I want to call on

the Bar to devise ways by which our judiciary is insulated from cases

which raise mere political questions that is, disputes where the issues

and solutions are essentially political and where legal redress may be

tantamount to usurpation of the powers and function of the pertinent

GOV SERIAKE DICKSON (2ND L), THEN NBA PRESIDENT OKEY WALI (L), FMR NBA PRESIDENT,

OCJ OKOCHA (3RD R), & OTHERS @ THE NATL. EXEC. COMMITTEE OF NBA @ ĲAW HOUSE,

YENAGOA.


political actors. I also want to call on the Bar to support the effort of the

current Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) in sanitizing and repositioning

the judiciary to strengthen its credibility.

Let me further place on record my appreciation to the NBA for the

commendation given to me and the then Governor of Bayelsa State,

now President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Dr.

Goodluck Jonathan, in appreciation for the decision we took while I

was the A�orney General of this State in 2006, in ensuring that legal

practitioners exclusively undertake the prosecution of cases in

magistrate courts and other courts in the state. To implement this

policy, the then Governor approved my proposal to employ and deploy

over 30 young lawyers to take over the prosecution of cases in all

magistrate courts in the state.

In the last one year and four months I have been Governor we have

unfolded an ambitious agenda of development, security and

prosperity appropriately called The Restoration Agenda. This entails

the provision of adequate security, law and order as sine qua non for

development; massive investment in human capacity development

through the declaration of a state of emergency in the education sector;

upgrading and development of critical infrastructure to provide the

basis for our industrialization; diversification of the economic base of

the state through the promotion of tourism and agriculture; a�racting

investment through the Bayelsa Development and Investment

Corporation (BDIC); reform of the governance culture by promoting

transparency, accountability and prudence as well as strengthening the

judiciary as a truly independent arm of government.


In the last one year and four months I have been Governor

we have unfolded an ambitious agenda of development,

security and prosperity appropriately called The

Restoration Agenda. This entails the provision of

adequate security, law and order as sine qua non for

development; massive investment in human capacity

development through the declaration of a state of

emergency in the education sector; upgrading and

development of critical infrastructure to provide the basis

for our industrialization; diversification of the economic

base of the state through the promotion of tourism and

agriculture; a�racting investment through the Bayelsa

Development and Investment Corporation (BDIC);

reform of the governance culture by promoting

transparency, accountability and prudence as well as

strengthening the judiciary as a truly independent arm of

government.

Having had the privilege of being a member of the Bar as well as

A�orneyGeneral of the state and now Governor, coupled with our

governmentʹs commitment to build institutions rather than personal

power, we took the initiative to create legal backing for the autonomy of

the judiciary so that it would not be overruled by any administrative

fiat in future. By virtue of my background as a lawyer, I believe I have

been in a be�er position to provide the requirements of the Judiciary

towards improving the delivery of justice in the state.

With the signing into law of the Bayelsa State Judiciary Autonomy Bill

2012, which again turned out to be the first by any state government,

there signalled a new dawn in the history of the judiciary in Nigeria and


it indeed, helped to give clear expression to the confidence in the third

arm of government to manage its affairs, especially in financial ma�ers

in line with the rules of the public service.

This move by our government for a truly independent judicial arm of

government, we believe is critical as it is the last hope of the common

man.

Furthermore, it is my belief that our democracy is not safe and cannot

be secured; even our civil rights cannot be protected unless we

strengthen our judiciary which alone has the constitutional authority to

deepen our freedoms and protect our fundamental liberties.

With the signing into law of the Bayelsa State Judiciary

Autonomy Bill 2012, which again turned out to be the first

by any state government, there signalled a new dawn in

the history of the judiciary in Nigeria and it indeed,

helped to give clear expression to the confidence in the

third arm of government to manage its affairs, especially

in financial ma�ers in line with the rules of the public

service.

Beyond ensuring that the judiciary in the state enjoys full autonomy

and remains selfaccounting, we have also embarked on the

construction of multidoor courts and made substantial investment in

prisons and purchase of vehicles for the prison service to demonstrate

our commitment to the pursuit of justice.

With the hard work and commitment of the security personnel and the

cooperation of the people of this state, we have been able to transform

Yenagoa and Bayelsa State from the chaotic state of lawlessness,

violence and criminality we met it into the haven of peace that they


have now become to which you are all witnesses.

I want to thank the security agencies and our citizens in particular for

Operation Doo Akpo, meaning peaceful life, which has become a

household name in Bayelsa State. Let it be known that the response

time of Operation Doo Akpo, is like what obtains in advanced

countries, and ranges from one to three minutes from the moment a

distress call is received. In addition to law enforcement, Operation Doo

Akpo renders social services by conveying victims of accidents, sick

and pregnant women to hospital and providing other forms of support

to vulnerable persons in the course of their work. They have indeed

become friends and first line of support for people in distress.

As part of our ambitious security programme, several bills have been

passed into law including those on secret cultism, prohibition of

kidnapping, electronic surveillance etc. Pursuant to our resolve to

make Bayelsa safe for investment and tourism, the state executive

council has approved the award of a contract for camerabased

surveillance system which contract will be signed between now and

next week. These facilities will be in place in a ma�er of months. We

have concluded plans to roll out the maritime component of Operation

Doo Akpo. Accordingly, we have purchased gunboats for the security

forces. We are presently rolling out statewide security communication

to enable all service commanders have real time domain awareness in

all parts of the state for optimal command and control. This also

incorporates a modern security coordination center now being built as

an annex to my office where I can also have real time briefing on law

and order situation in any part of the state. As you would expect,

investments in these areas are sophisticated and expensive.


With the hard work and commitment of the security

personnel and the cooperation of the people of this state,

we have been able to transform Yenagoa and Bayelsa

State from the chaotic state of lawlessness, violence and

criminality we met it into the haven of peace that they

have now become to which you are all witnesses.

There is need for collaboration by all stakeholders especially the

multinational corporations and other stakeholders. Accordingly, we

have signed into law the state security trust fund, which provides a

framework for collaboration and partnership by all. We intend to

activate this mechanism very soon as I call on all stakeholders to be

prepared to share not only the benefits but also the obligations. The

overall aim of these policies and investment is to make Bayelsa a crime

free zone. This is the primary responsibility of every government.

In the area of human capacity development, our government declared a

state of emergency in my inaugural address and followed it up with

massive investment in the education sector. This I believe is the most

compelling imperative of our time. For in vain, do we build the roads

and bridges if we do not first invest in our most important resource the

human mind. Accordingly, we have spared no effort and resource in

this regard.

In one year we have built over 400 primary schools with teachersʹ

quarters all across the state along with ultramodern, model secondary

schools in each of the eight local government areas of the state with

boarding facilities.

In addition, we have started construction of 26 constituency boarding

secondary schools. We have also started the construction of two

specialized schools for gi�ed and talented children, one at Otuoke and


the Izon National College at ToruOrua while rebuilding the oldest

girls school in the state, St. Judeʹs, Amarata. All these are model

boarding schools with complete facilities. Boarding will be compulsory

and free for all students. Our policy is that when these schools are

completed, senior secondary education will be compulsorily boarding

to allow educators enough time to incubate and prepare these young

minds. And when these schools are completed, a number of deserving

Nigerians will be invited to come and give talks to inspire the young

minds as part of our mentorship programme.

On scholarships, we have unfolded a robust scholarship programme so

that in one year we have over 100 PhD scholarships, almost 300 masters

degree and several hundred undergraduate scholarships. We have also

revived the secondary special scholarship program by which 250 bright

pupils were given scholarships for learning in the leading private

secondary schools in the country.

Knowing the place of teachers, we are presently constructing a teachers

training institute and college of education to train and retrain our

teachers. We reestablished BYCAS, a remedial school to give young

people a second chance at tertiary education.

On health care, we are building referral health institutions in all LGAs.

We are also constructing a model and international diagnostic center to

promote medical tourism, in addition to the several health centers

across the state. A few days ago in partnership with the Dora Akinyuli

Foundation, we laid the foundation stone for the first Drug mart in

Africa where safe drugs will be warehoused, tested and distributed by

the manufacturers. In another few days from now, I will sign into law,

the Bayelsa State Health Services Scheme Law 2013. This is to increase

access to affordable healthcare services.

A cardinal premise of my campaign was the need for the reform of the

governance culture as a necessary imperative for enhancing


performance in government and also deepening democracy.

Accordingly, on assumption of office I sent an executive bill on

transparency, which has since been passed into law. This law obliges

me to make monthly declarations about the income and expenditure of

the state. It provides that failure to do so amounts to gross misconduct

and will be liable to dire consequences. It also compels the chairmen of

LGAs to do so. I have since then kept faith with this law. Citizens of the

state are now briefed on a monthly basis. This has increased the faith of

citizens in the government. The transparency briefing for last month

should have held today but due to this conference will now hold

tomorrow and I invite you all to this event. We also have in place the

Bayelsa State Compulsory Savings law which requires us to save a

given percentage of our revenue. Funds under this law can only be

accessed by the approval of 2/ 3rd majority of the State Assembly.

I go on to talk about the diversification of our economy, which informed

the se�ing up of Bayelsa Development Investment Corporation (BDIC),

to essentially drive investments, create skills and develop a robust

economic base that can withstand the shock that will come the day a�er

oil. That is why our administration is serious about investing in

agriculture and tourism, among others, as alternatives to oil and gas.

If the truth must be told, while government is building roads and

bridges, schools and so on, in vain do we do all of this, if these activities

do not translate to economic prosperity and opportunities for our

people. To this end, the strategic vehicle we have designed to convey us

to that destination of economic prosperity is the Bayelsa Development

and Investment Corporation (BDIC). We will like the BDIC to turn

Bayelsa to the Dubai of Africa and we can do it because we are a resilient

and resourceful people.

In the area of infrastructure, we are embarking on massive construction

of roads, bridges, airport and seaport as a basis for industrialization,

wealth creation and job creation. Believing that our treasure lies in the


ocean, we are hi�ing the Atlantic from three flanks and we have since

commenced the construction of the three senatorial roads. In total we

have already constructed over 350 km of roads, 15 bridges and over 50

public buildings, including four secretariat annexes, the ultra modern

NYSC orientation camps, new commissioners quarters, deputy

governorʹs lodge, visiting governorsʹ lodge and staff quarters at the

Boro institute, two fly overs and dualization of over 18 roads within

Yenagoa and outer ring roads.

CONSTRAINTS ON DEVELOPMENT

In the restoration government, we are not just known for saying the

right words we are also known for doing the right things. However, the

truth must be told that in our region, due to our peculiarly difficult

terrain, development takes a huge toll on our resources and takes

plenty of time too. Whereas many are quick to raise the issue of the

allocation that come to us by way of 13% derivation, they fail to

understand the challenges that go with it. To construct a road here costs

10 times more than what you will ordinarily have.

For instance, since completing the designs for EkeremorAgge 58km

road, we got 3 different firms to quote for the construction. The least bid

we got going by the preliminary designs provided, was N120 billion!

That road is very critical to our development given the fact that the road

is designed to enable us hit the Atlantic where our deepsea port will be

sited and for which we have concluded the survey of over 15,000

hectares of land.

We have also reviewed the road from NembeBrass. The least cost for

that road, which is 43km long is put at N83 billion! With the proposed

LNG in Brass, it makes sense to involve private partnership in the

construction of that road under a PPP arrangement, which will allow

the investor to toll it upon completion. We are confident that our PPP


law, which is before the House of Assembly will be passed soon, so that

we can firm up discussions with a number of investors that have

already shown interest.

We are determined to conquer the socalled difficult terrain and indeed

we are working with the resources available. We have already started

the clearing of the 38km road from Yenagoa to Oporoma at N31.2

billion that was abandoned several years ago and as we speak work is

going on.

Similarly, the contract has also been awarded for the construction of the

42km ToruOrua to Ekeremor road at a cost of N30.5billion and clearing

of that road is in progress as we speak.

It may seem like I am taking so much of your time to analyze the

situation but the reason is just to let you know the challenges of

development that we face in these parts. I am doing this to draw your

a�ention to the grave injustice the people of the Niger Delta suffer as a

result of the contradictions of the politics of the Nigerian state.

As you well know, oil was first discovered here in Bayelsa State at

Oloibiri in 1956, which is about 10 minutes drive from here. The first oil

well here, when you look at it, you will see that it presents a metaphor of

what it is today and what it is likely to be tomorrow.

Prior to the discovery of oil, there was respect for the sacred, legal and

constitutional ownership and title of land as belonging to the people

whose ancestral home bears this resource. With oil being the mainstay

of the federation, successive military governments passed several

decrees into law, to which the people never made an input, to limit the

exercise of their rights and privileges of ownership in a manner that is

contrary to their will. The climax of this legislative tyranny were the

Land Use Act, Petroleum Act and the constitution. For example, the

Willink Commission was set up essentially to address the fears of the

minorities whom they felt will become more aggravated when the


restraints are removed as against people from the other parts of the

country. These fears as expressed were genuine and portended great

apprehension for the future.

It also recommended what has become chapter 4 of the constitution to

protect the rights of the community. But chapter 4 gave rights to

property, which included the ownership of land. It created a capitalist

tendency and philosophy whereby those who own land do not own

anything beneath or above it.

You have a contradiction of a situation where land, which is one of the

factors of production and, probably some say the most important is the

only factor of production that is communalized by the state, while all

other factors of production remain in private hands.

What you call an oil bloc in Abuja, in Washington, in London is in fact

the ancestral property of the people of the Niger Delta.

And so in a country where we have a constitution that is meant to

protect our people like all other Nigerians, we still have contradictions

within that constitutional framework and also expressed in several

other legislations that are strictly speaking, expropriating the resources

of our people.

I therefore call on the bar to lead the fight for reestablishing the federal

principles in line with our federal structure, where federating units

should also have the right to exercise control and to seek greater

participation of our people in an industry that more or less ought to be

our own.

If you take a census of those who are doing business in the oil sector;

who have oil wells and oil blocs and licenses to li� oil, including those

who do the mega businesses and deals in the oil companies, you will see

that they do not have offices here. The people of the oil producing areas

are not involved so we end up creating wealth to our own detriment.


Those who control our resources stay in mega cities and do the mega

deals and carry out the mega businesses; they get richer, they become

billionaires and end up creating more militants and disgruntled

elements amongst us.

Some states smile to the bank in billions every month because of the

taxes and levies paid by the companies and boosting the economies of

such areas where they reside.

What you call an oil bloc in Abuja, in Washington, in

London is in fact the ancestral property of the people of

the Niger Delta.

We do not begrudge anybody for whatever they get; no that is not the

point I am making. All I am saying is that while others are also

benefi�ing we should also not be le� out. I cannot frankly, think of

anybody in Bayelsa who carries on big time businesses in both

upstream and downstream sectors.

I am not saying that it is totally the fault of the oil companies and other

stakeholders. What I am saying is that, what we have here is a scenario

that is not acceptable, which we really need to improve upon.

That is why our clamour for resource control is not only legitimate, it is

just and must be supported by all if we must make progress as a nation

going forward.

It is on this note that I declare this NEC meeting open and I look forward

to collaborating more with NEC and the NBA as a whole to see that at

least, once in a while, once in every year, the government of Bayelsa

State will work with you to host this kind of event.


If you take a census of those who are doing business in the

oil sector; who have oil wells and oil blocs and licenses to

li� oil, including those who do the mega businesses and

deals in the oil companies, you will see that they do not

have offices here. The people of the oil producing areas

are not involved so we end up creating wealth to our own

detriment. Those who control our resources stay in mega

cities and do the mega deals and carry out the mega

businesses; they get richer, they become billionaires and

end up creating more militants and disgruntled elements

amongst us.

I hope and trust that you will have a frank and robust and highly

rewarding conference and at the end of the day, the legal profession and

the entire nation will be be�er for it. Thank you and God bless you all.


HONOURING

BAYELSA’S BIRTH


Text of the radio broadcast to commemorate the 16th anniversary of the

creation of Bayelsa State.

BAYELSA IS RISING AGAIN

My good people of Bayelsa State, It is with pride and great joy that I

address you on a day like this to felicitate with you all on the occasion of

our 16th anniversary as a state, following its creation on the 1st of

October, 1996.

I would like to commence this broadcast by commending you on our

shared vision and commitment to a new Bayelsa and also thank you for

your support, solidarity and the prayers our administration has

enjoyed since assumption of office in the last six months.

It is also proper to remember on a day like this the founding fathers of

our state and all our leaders past and present for their years of sacrifice,

commitment and valuable service and contributions to the peace and

progress of the Ijaw nation.

Today marks exactly 16 years since we began this journey of statehood.

As a product of the Ijaw struggle, I understand the impact of the

decision made by the late Gen Sani Abacha in creating Bayelsa against


all odds. General Abacha was one leader who loved Nigeria and the

Ijaw nation and had the courage to do what was right by giving the

Ijaws a homogenous state that today we all can proudly and truly call

our own which I refer to as the Jerusalem of all Ijaw people.

Irrespective of the opinion people may hold of him (which is their

legitimate right), General Abacha by virtue of the creation of the

homogenous state of the Ijaw nation, has earned a place in the heart of

the Ijaw people for which we are eternally grateful.

In appreciation of the significant steps General Abacha took for our

development, I have on your behalf invited the family to be part of this

celebration, no ma�er how low key it is. The Bayelsa State Government

would therefore use this occasion to further immortalize the memory of

the late General Abacha and show to his family, friends and all

Nigerians at large that we do not forget our friends. It is also a way to

demonstrate a peculiar trait, common among the Ijaw people that we

always value loyalty and reward friendship. To this end, government

would lay the foundation stone for a 150duplex housing estate named

a�er General Abacha. Similarly, government in partnership with the

BAYELSA STATE GOVERNOR, HON. SERIAKE DICKSON (2ND LEFT) SUPPORTED HIS DEPUTY, REAR ADMIRAL

GBORIBIOGHA JOHN JONAH RTD, (RIGHT) UNVEILING THE STATE LOGO AS PART OF ACTIVITIES TO MARK

NIGERIA AT 52/BAYELSA AT 16 ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS IN YENAGOA,

WHILE THE COMMISSIONER OF ĲAW NATIONAL AFFAIRS, DR. FELIX TEODOLO (2NDRIGHT) LOOK ON.


Ijaw National Congress has named the main auditorium of the INC

building a�er him. In addition, government will invite the family to

plant a memorial tree in his honour at the Heroes Garden, which I have

just established.

By this singular gesture, let the family be assured that our thoughts and

prayers have been and will always be with them and that they can

always call Bayelsa their home too.

In the same vein, we recognize and are indebted to worthy Nigerian

leaders like President Olusegun Obasanjo and the late President

Umaru YarʹAdua and others whose actions have impacted positively

on us. Government will honour them in due course.

Special mention must be made of the leader, Chief DSP Alamaeyesigha,

the first civilian governor of the state whose commitment to the Ijaw

struggle and development of Bayelsa State would also be honoured by

naming a hall in the INC building a�er him. Incidentally, the INC

building was started by Chief DSP Alamaeyiesigha but was abandoned

by the immediate past administration, but which we have now

completed and fully furnished.

Bayelsa State, no doubt, is still relatively young and the journey of

statehood tough but there is great hope that the future is very bright.

It is this conviction that has propelled our vision as a government and

with your support we shall march ahead to properly connect with our

future greatness as we desire it. We have made spirited efforts to

redefine governance as a tool for development, raising hopes of even

greater possibilities.

In the last six months, you have witnessed a paradigm shi� in

governance, accelerated infrastructural development and

revolutionary investments in human capacity building. You have also

witnessed the return of peace and tranquility in our state which is


essential to any development. We pledge to continue with our current

rate of development and to demonstrate the reality that the foundation

of our future greatness must be laid today, not later. We are indeed

making progress and Bayelsa is beginning to rise again.

Good people of our great state, this occasion marking the 16th

anniversary of our dear state ordinarily should have called for

celebrations and jubilation, but we took the decision as a government to

have a lowkey event. It is only proper that we align ourselves with the

mood of the nation.

At this juncture, I would like to sympathize with all the communities

ravaged by flood in the state. As you will recall, our government took

early steps to address the issue of blocked drainages in Yenagoa

metropolis. That significantly prevented a disaster in our state capital

despite the down pour and flood.

However, the same cannot be said of communities outside of the state

capital, where rising water levels has displaced people from their

homes, farmlands and businesses. I want to seize this opportunity to

empathize with them. In the course of the week, I will personally

undertake an onthespot assessment of all the affected communities

ravaged by flood. Already, as you are aware, government has directed

that relief materials be made available to the affected persons and

communities. More support will come your way once the commi�ee

that government will soon inaugurate swings into action and makes its

findings available.

My good people, I also want to urge all of us to be steadfast in our

prayers for our President, his wife, family and the Federal Government

of Nigeria. Let us continue to uphold them in our prayers. Having said

that, let me at this point take a moment to commend and salute our

President for his commitment, sacrifice and selfless service to this great

nation. In the face of daunting challenges, he has continued to lead as a


distinguished patriot and nationalist, ensuring that prosperity and

security return to our nation, and that Nigeria, like Bayelsa rises again!

As I round off this broadcast, let me once again, seize this occasion to

assure all Bayelsans of our governmentʹs commitment and resolve to

birth a new Bayelsa of our dream,a new Bayelsa where everyone will

have a true sense of pride and be made to feel the impact of

government. We are building a new Bayelsa firmly rooted and

anchored on the cardinal principles of transparency, accountability and

service delivery as evident in our conduct of government business this

past six months.

As we undertake the onerous task of providing

purposeful leadership for our dear state in accordance

with the mandate which you gave to us, I want to assure

you yet again that this government under my watch will

not compromise on our leadership principles and ethics.

We shall not play politics with our development and

Bayelsa will not be the same again by the end of my

tenure.

Let me restate that we will use the resources of this state to fund critical

projects such as the construction of good roads, education, health

facilities, promote tourism, generate wealth and develop agriculture,

rather than use it to fund the corruption and greed of a few.

I will like to use the opportunity of this address to thank and urge all

religious, political, traditional and opinion leaders, to rise above

personal interest and galvanize our people to support the various

programmes of government.


My dear people, now that you have a government that has a clear

vision, understanding of your opportunities, potentials, challenges and

solutions for what need to be done in every sector, all that is required of

you, is your continued support and prayers.

Let me also urge all Bayelsans not to be misled by the antics of desperate

politicians and power seekers bent on distracting us in order to impede

our progress. We will not be distracted and Bayelsa will be the be�er for

it.

I therefore urge you all to shun politics of character assassination,

blackmail and rumour mongering. Let us join hands to liberate

ourselves from all forms of negativity capable of halting our progress

and development and to continue the good work of supporting the

security agencies in our bid to make Bayelsa safe, secure and

prosperous. Bayelsa is rising again and I thank you all.

God bless you.

Happy 16th anniversary

Long Live BAYELSA State!

Long Live the Ijaw nation!!

Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!


Remarks at a special thanksgiving service at the King of Glory Chapel in

Government House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

THANKSGIVING: THE HAND OF GOD

I want to thank you all for honouring our invitation. Let me say that my

life has been a mystery even to me and a lot of people who know me. I

cannot understand why certain things have happened the way they

have, beginning with ba�les and challenges that I faced growing up.

For those who knew my father, he believed so much in himself and was

a brilliant and hard working man with strict moral values. At the time I

was growing up, his business appeared to have taken a turn for the

worse. He had several members of the family to cater for, wives and

children. By the way he le� over 35 of us when he died at 87 years. He

taught us traditional values. I was 20 years old before I had the

opportunity to leave my community.

Let me give you one instance so that you will know why in most days

when I wake up, I go for prayers and thank God. I am very convinced

that there has been some guiding hand shaping my destiny given the

environment I was born into. You will not understand until you get to

my community. I was raised, went to school in my community did my


secondary school in my local government and joined the Nigeria Police

as a constable which meant a lot to me. When I was in class 4 going to 5,

my father had 5 of us boys in different secondary schools. He called me

up one night and he said to me, “You know your school is resuming 2

weeks from now but I have taken a decision. This term, I only have

money for two of you. I am aware that you are probably the most

promising. I am happy and proud of you but you see you are the

youngest and I as your father will have to take a decision that is fair.

Your older ones will have to go back to school first.”

Somehow he found a way to break the news to my mother as I am her

firstborn child. She had me when she was a teenager so we practically

grew up together; she was 17 going on 18 years when she had me. She

cried; there was nothing she could do, she did not have an income. The

only thing we used to do was subsistence farming. Now the time for

resumption of school came and all my friends went back but I did not

know that the principal and my teachers had concluded an

arrangement to make me a senior prefect on my return. When they did

not see me they assumed that some rich uncle of mine had taken me to a

be�er school but unknown to them I was in my community. I went to

the forest with my dad.

Governor Seriake Dickson leading the congregation with his tambourine during the 3rd Annual Thanksgiving Day

celebration


Then there was nothing a young man could do in my community that I

did not do. I engaged in fishing, sold fish and le� some to assist my

parents. My mother woke me up one day as all the women used to do to

go fishing. These women would wake up about one or two in the

morning with their small fishing nets and go for fishing and come back

about five or six in the morning. That is why I am very passionate about

the need to empower our women and that has not changed. These

women would lose their sleep as my mother used to do night a�er

night. My mother did not even have a canoe so she would have to

borrow.

One fateful night, my mother went fishing with some group of women.

At this time, I had spent about one month at home without going to

school so I almost lost half of the term. This one night saw something

floating towards her. She was scared but behold they turned out to be

drums of diesel. She could not carry them ashore on her own so she

called out to one of her friends to assist her.

As she got home she told my father about the drums. My father was a

very strict man with high moral values. He then went and secured them

but told her that while she had done well, the drums of diesel did not

belong to her and that the owner would come one day. He reported the

ma�er to the chairman of the community.

This was a man who did not have money, which should give you an

idea of the environment in which I was raised and then a week or so

a�er, the owners came all the way from Sagbama.

What really happened was that somebody was conveying diesel, and

with the heavy rains at the time, the diesel drums just fell into the river.

The owner of the diesel came to our community looking for them and

my father handed them to him saying he should take them. The man

was shocked and out of appreciation gave my mother N80. My father

advised my mother to share the money with her friend who assisted her


with the drums that night.

That night, my mother called me and said to me, “My son, tomorrow,

you are going back to school.” But it was already mid term. My dad

now said he would find out if admission was still valid, but if not, they

would find a school close to the community.

So I went back to school and before I knew what was happening, the

head prefect was removed and I was made house prefect as well as the

deputy senior prefect. There was no good secondary school around

except Federal Government College, Ughelli. The only place we could

manage was Edo College but there was nobody to support me so I took

a decision to engage in farming in my village.

When I le� my community, one of my friends introduced me to become

a bus conductor. Before I knew what was happening, Navy recruitment

came the same time we had the recruitment for Police and I joined the

Police and with my 5 credits went for basic course.

They identified me as perhaps somebody that could be supported, right

there at Orji River, and one of the instructors wanted me to work with

him in a place called, Ogbulafor. It was posting reserved for people who

had done their time in training school. I used to wash his Beetle and take

care of his family. Recently, he retired as Assistant Commissioner and

he came to see me with his wife. When we were passing out, the

Commandant came and said, ʹwe do not want anybody to influence

postingsʹ. Now that was the time of “Anini the Law.” So on that day, all

of us were called. Number 142137 PC SERIAKE DICKSON was

bellowed out. The posting was done by ballot and that was how I got

posted to Central Police Station, Rivers State headquarters, which was

number one division. You can see the hand of God working. If they had

posted me to a local area goodness knows how things would have

turned out.

Those days every week, they must have a lecture on current issues such


as crime and political developments with the Divisional Police Officer

and his officers in a�endance. In such interactions, they discovered that

I was a very sharp boy. Somehow somebody just identified me and they

removed a senior NCO, who was a clerk to the station officer and put

me, a rookie just fresh from Police College, saying I was the new station

officerʹs clerk. The duties of a station officerʹs clerk involved

administrative work like posting and other routine things and reports

to the DPO. I was in charge of posting everybody including the DPO

himself.

So that was how God positioned me there. Now why I am telling this

story is to show how God made it possible for me to go to school.

Because of that I could influence my own posting.

I am not the one to post myself to go and do night duty for Godʹs sake or

to mount roadblock. And we learnt to survive through other legitimate

ways.

In those days banks were applying for Police escorts and every such

movement, they will pay us N5, which was a lot of money at that time.

And a percentage went to the Police Welfare Fund and the officers

involved which was legitimate. I had to do thri� savings with ten of my

colleagues and managed my resources very well. So this management

of money and prudence did not start in Bayelsa.

Now I decided to go to school since I was the pay clerk. And I was doing

this on a yearly basis such that I started to a�end JAMB classes and

prepared for JAMB.

I took JAMB that year. They gave me Political Science and I did not like

it so the following year, I sat for JAMB and gained admission full time to

study Law in the Rivers State University of Science and Technology.

If God did not make it possible for me to come to Port Harcourt, if I had

gone to Ogbulafor, to be a traffic man and looking at lorries passing and

pursuing lorry drivers, it could have been a different story but God


programmed everything. God removed me from the crowd to be in the

office; the most junior but then the boss. From there, when the result

came, there was jubilation in the station.

I was paid about N4000 at that time. I now told my DPO. He said the

Force regulation says if you are not on study leave, you have to resign

and I said this is my le�er. He said no, you are an officer material, we

will not allow you to go. Are you sure if we give you night duty you will

still be able to go to school? I said why not?

At that time three or four officers will come and see you and sign on

your notebook and also report when they get back to the station. And

they posted me to Radio Rivers FM Station where you had lights all the

time and where you are not alone.

I was reporting for duty at 6pm and I did that for 4 years and God used

that to make it possible for me to educate myself. I was always going

late to my morning lectures and I was in a oneroom apartment in CPS

barracks with my younger ones of about four or five years and they

grew up with me and I managed to get through university.

A�er the university, God touched the Police Force and they gave me

study leave with pay. When I finished Law school, the Police Force

wanted me to start Cadet career because they considered me an officer

material. I did not want to go because when I became a lawyer my mind

was made up to practice Law and be a lecturer. As to my involvement in

politics, everybody knows that I was the least political in our set but

somehow one thing led to another and because of my fundamental

beliefs, I went to the le�ist party, AD, from there I came to PDP and God

got me involved with a new set of friends: Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as

Governor then who is now President and King A.J Turner, Obigbo

Mikimiki and we started a new movement. I became A�orney General

when Dr. Jonathan became Governor from nowhere and he did not

even tell me. Two decisions that I have taken in my life, that up until

now I do not understand: first was the decision to resign from the


Nigeria Police as a Cadet Officer. Everybody thought I was privileged

to be there, a young man from Toru Orua with no connection. At 28

years I was a Cadet Officer and yet something kept pushing me that this

was not my destiny.

And one fateful day, I wrote and even borrowed money and wrote for

voluntary withdrawal of service, I was paid three months of my basic

salary and I le�.

Then came the decision to resign from Dr. Jonathanʹs government as

A�orney General and Commissioner for Justice to contest an election to

the Federal House of Representatives, which was the most hotly

contested seat. Senator Heineken Lokpobiri was one of the contestants

and ended up winning the ticket and election. He was one of my

opponents in that election. None of us knew that Dr. Jonathan would be

taken away to Abuja.

I spoke to Obigbo Mikimiki and he said, “this is our work. You are

going to abandon us; for what now?” Then I was just working for the

system and I had had to resign to run for senate: They now took a

decision a�er conceding for balance the senate ticket to the other

political tendency that brought Senator Lokpobiri. As Dr. Jonathan had

said, ́well, if you try and it did not work, we would reserve the office for

you.ʹ That was the type of confidence and brotherly support he gave

me.

So it was when the names I submi�ed for consideration were rejected

that they now called me and my brother from another mother, Obigbo

Mikimiki, persuaded me to run for the House of Representatives

saying, “whether you like it or not, we will write your name.”

So I was conscripted, went for the general elections and became a

member of the House and that exposed me to the complexities of

politics at the national level and contradictions and potentials of our

great country.


I was House Commi�ee Chairman on Justice. I tried my best to

represent my constituency. The point I am making now is that you all in

this state are witnesses to the trial and tribulations that I went through

while I was in the House of Representatives, especially towards the end

of my tenure.

You all know, I am probably one person who faced a Commission of

Inquiry, warrant of arrest and a calculated a�empt by all organs of state

to cripple me politically, malign me, to destroy whatever I stood for; all

of that was in the name of politics.

But just as Apostle Zilly Aggrey said, when God has destined

something, no man can change it. You all know what I went through to

get my renomination ticket, when I was doing my best for our people;

there was no arsenal that was not used against me.

God used people like Mikimiki and other men and women of goodwill

and I won back my ticket. That was all I wanted. I am not an ambitious

person and you know a�er the election, even at the risk of my being

misunderstood by my own political tendency, I accompanied my

predecessor, former Governor Timipre Sylva to buy his nomination

form for governorship of this state to come and be governor for four

more years.

I just wanted to go back to the House for a second term but there was

nothing that they did not do to humiliate me and destroy me politically.

INEC now said the primaries conducted earlier, should be re

conducted and the then governor even went to court. I did not go to

court; it was the governor at that time that went to court to say that their

election was not due at that time. You see how God works in a

mysterious way.

I did not know that it was God who was se�ing the stage. They fought

me. They even sponsored somebody who was going to be my campaign

manager and who le� my house on Sunday and by Monday bought the


nomination form to contest against me and that was the candidate of

the system.

But I won and went to the House of Representatives and was still

willing to support the system because we wanted a united Bayelsa to

support the President. That was our concern at that point in time and

not personal ambition.

But the powers that be in the state were circulating malicious text

messages about me and I got angry and I called some of their aides and

told them, “Tell your boss that you people have asked for a fight and

now I will give it to you.ʹʹ I picked up the gauntlet.

At that point, King Turner had asked me to make a decision so I told

him to give me one week and that I would get back to him. I prayed. My

wife did not know what was going on so I called her and told her about

my decision to run for the office of governor.

I went to my allies in the system and you all saw what happened and all

that is history now. You all in this state are witnesses to the type of

politics we played. It was politics without violence and brigandage,

even when we were confronting people who had that as their stock in

trade.

You all know how we went round this state campaigning and nobody

had a scratch. We went to Brass and even Okpoama, my predecessorʹs

hometown and campaigned successfully. I am thanking God today

and, I want to express my profound gratitude to leaders of our party for

supporting our peaceful campaign and election. I said I would embark

on a thank you tour. I decided not to do it until I have thanked God in a

special way.

God raised me up from a humble background and this is why I always

tell people, if power is said to come from north, south, east or west, it is a

lie. I stand here before this altar to proclaim the majesty of God. My life

and what God has used me to do is a testimony of God alone. These


feeble knees of mine have never bent and will never bend to any other

thing but God Almighty.

I do not know how to even serve Almighty God the way I should but I

acknowledge his majesty and the wonders He has done in my life. You

have seen in the past one year and two months, the unprecedented

developments and the existing peace.

I have enjoyed the support of our kings and traditional rulers; the

churches also supported us spiritually. We dedicated our state to God.

We are looking forward to the second anniversary celebration on

November 2nd. Our state has been dedicated to God and it shall remain

so.

To our youths, I want you to know that if I was not overwhelmed by

circumstances around me, you too should not give up. And if you work

hard and play by the rules, remain faithful, loyal to your ideals and

friends, because life is about loyalty, and to your God, the sky will be

your limit.

God Almighty who has seen me through several hurdles, seen and

unseen, court cases that I have had to contend with; already two cases

have gone to the Supreme court and I did not fight to get this and yet

even as we were confronting a si�ing system, God gave us victory.

I do not know how to even serve Almighty God the way I

should but I acknowledge his majesty and the wonders

He has done in my life. You have seen in the past one year

and two months, the unprecedented developments and

the existing peace.


My brothers and sisters, how else can we thank God? Let God also

accept our thanksgiving today; thank you all for being here. May God

continue to take this state to greater heights and may God continue to

prosper you.

RL; GOV. SERIAKE DICKSON, HIS WIFE, RACHAEL AND HIS MOTHER, MADAM

GOLDCOAST DICKSON DURING THE 2012 EASTER DAY SERVICE AT TORU ORUA

CHRISTIAN CENTRE


Remarks at the presentation of cheques to pensioners

TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN MUCH IS EXPECTED

adies and gentlemen, we are a government with a clear

Lunderstanding of what the issues and problems are and how

we need to go about solving these problems. You will recall

that a commi�ee was set up to assess the liabilities that had

accumulated over a period of six, seven years before our government

came into existence, of accumulated pension and gratuity obligations.

When we came on board we received reports of the appalling situation

but we made it clear that we were going to come up with a mechanism

to address the problem.

Today in furtherance of promises that I made we are here to formally

present a cheque of five hundred million naira to be disbursed as first

installment for clearing the backlog. Let me reiterate that the problem

which started some six, seven years ago wasnʹt caused by the present

administration. Now this was very unfortunate, we shouldnʹt have

allowed this to happen in the first place.


I charged the commi�ee chaired by our head of service members who

are all vey senior experienced people in this respect, to painstakingly

verify the names of all the supposed retirees to get only genuine and

verified persons paid their benefits. I say so because of the ghost

workersʹ syndrome that we have which is still with us and which we are

fighting. We will make further releases as the exercise progresses. I

want to assure civil servants of this state that our restoration

government has a lot for them. The payment of their gratuities and

pensions is just one of the packages. We are serious about training

them, and we are serious about supporting them and making them

be�er servants of the people of this state. But our government will also

ask each and everyone of them to do their own part as well, to report for

duty, as and when due and expected, to do their jobs diligently and

selflessly in accordance with the rules and to be loyal servants, obedient

servants to authority.

Civil servants are not to constitute themselves as opposition to any

government. Civil servants are not expected to be partisan. Civil

servants are simply what they are: civil servants. We will do our part by

supporting them and very soon we will introduce insurance policy that

will take care of the medical bills for them and their families. We will

initiate programmes that will give them affordable accommodation.

We are funding education in a manner that affects all families.

While we do all that. we will also not hesitate to identify and deal with

erring civil servants. Those who want to act in opposition to every

government, we will ease them out. Those who want to be

businessmen, we will ease them out. Those who want to keep to the

time tested traditions and norms of the civil service we will support

them. Let me announce that I have just directed the verification team to

compile the list of absentee workers.

Unknown to most of them, we have been investigating people for some

time now and we are ge�ing set to release the list of people we have


found wanting. I have told the verification team to send their findings

and reports to the head of service; and I hereby direct the head of

service to act on them and let the disciplinary system kick off. I donʹt

know anybody, I donʹt care to know whoever that is in that list. Iʹm not

going to interfere and nobody should interfere. If there is any

interference Iʹd like to know because we want a civil service that is

professional; people cannot respect a civil service where anything goes.

On this note, I like to invite the head of service who is the chairman of

the panel to receive this instrument of five hundred million naira,

disburse it only to those cleared, verified retired civil servants,

including the head of the estates who have passed on unfortunately

without receiving their due pensions and gratuities.

It is very sad that a situation was allowed to happen

whereby people who served for the be�er part of their

lives went home and some of them died without receiving

their just reward.


WALKING

THE TALK


Address at the signing of the Bayelsa State judiciary autonomy bill into

law, on October 22 2012

OUR COMMITMENT IS TO A TRULY INDEPENDENT

JUDICIARY

short while ago, I signed into law the bill which seeks to

Aguarantee the financial autonomy of the judiciary of Bayelsa

State. And let me congratulate my Lord the Chief Judge and

members of the judiciary of Bayelsa State for this day.

But let me also pay as usual, a tribute to the Rt. Hon. Speaker and

members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly for the prompt

a�ention that they gave to this bill just as they have done to the bills that

I sent to them in the past.

As my Lord the Chief Judge noted in her brief remarks, the constitution

is very clear on the financial autonomy of the judiciary but the

constitution has not stipulated a framework for its implementation and

execution. So what we have done is to underscore the importance that

we a�ach to the issue of financial autonomy of the Judiciary.

I have had the privilege of being a member of the Bar in this state. I have

also had the privilege of serving as an A�orneyGeneral of this state for


a very brief period and today, I sit as your Governor.

I thought we should create a legal framework not an administrative fiat

that can be overruled by any other person but as part of our

commitment to building institutions as opposed to building personal

powers, I thought we should do it by way of a law, which will stand for

all time until amended or revoked by the due process of the law itself.

So today we are all here as witnesses to history as the judiciary of the

state starts on a new chapter. And let me congratulate the Chief Judge

and members of the judiciary as well as the President of the Customary

Court of Appeal.

And from today, with effect from the life of the next budget, I or any

other Governor that will come a�er me will not have to treat approvals

and requests from the judiciary anymore.

The judiciary should be trusted with the ability to manage itself both

institutionally and most importantly, on financial ma�ers. And I want

to use this opportunity to call on my colleagues to support the move for

an independent judicial arm of government.

The judiciary is too important to be trifled with; not only is it the hope of

GOV. SERIAKE DICKSON (R) SIGNING THE STATE JUDICIARY BILL INTO LAW, WHILE THE

SPEAKER OF BHA, RT. HON. KONBOWEI BENSON (L) AND OTHER DIGNITARIES LOOK ON.


the common man, but also as I always say, every society is free

according to the strength of its judiciary.

Our democracy is not safe; our democracy cannot be secured; the

democratic rights and civil liberties guaranteed by our constitution

cannot be protected unless we strengthen our judiciary, which alone

has the constitutional authority to deepen our freedoms and protect

our fundamental liberties and that is what we in Bayelsa have done.

I want to call on you my Lord and members of the judiciary to recognize

that to whom much is given much is also expected. We have trust and

confidence in your ability and the ability of the President of the

Customary Court of Appeal to manage your affairs in accordance with

the rules of the public service. And as long as you do so, let me assure

you of my support going forward. We would like the judiciary under

you, to be as I have always said, the best in this country. I have personal

knowledge of all the judges.

A�er all, I used to appear before you all and knowing you the way I do, I

have no doubt that this can truly be an outstanding judicial service in

this country. I know that the judges in this state can hold their heads

high professionally among their contemporaries in this country.

My Lord let me also say that this state has had its own political turmoil

in terms of its leadership and somehow the judiciary has been affected

but I look forward to the professional judiciary that you have been

known for.

There are so many things that are not even in your budget that we want

to do. I have just given approval for the construction of the MultiDoor

Court House because we want to encourage Alternative Dispute

Resolution practice.

The economy that we are diversifying is such that we want people who

are coming to stay here and do business to have confidence in our


judiciary, not just the formal litigation aspect of it but also through the

alternative way of dispute resolution.

The construction of that project will start in earnest and it is one project

that is very dear to my heart. The other issue which is not in your budget

which the government has also decided to take on in the next three

weeks, is the construction of a befi�ing residential accommodation for

the judiciary.

I have directed the Ministry of Lands and Housing and the Ministry of

Works to liaise with you to identify a suitable area of land for the project

to start. We hope to complete and put it to use next year. Where our

judicial officers are staying is not ideal in view of the sensitive job that

you do. So we want an estate that only members of the judiciary, (judges

and magistrates) will occupy.

The Commissioner for Transport will also get in touch with you before

the end of today, because we also want to provide befi�ing official

vehicles for all judges and magistrates in this state. I want to see that

happen before this year runs out. I recall that the last time vehicles were

given was when I was A�orney General which is quite sometime ago.

Let me thank you all for your presence but let me most importantly,

congratulate My Lord the Chief Judge, President of the Customary

Court of Appeal and Judges of the High Courts for your dedication to

duty so far. We are all very proud of what you do and how you do your

jobs.


Remarks to the Universal Basic Education Board and others

OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM MUST DELIVER

THE RIGHT RESULTS

et me say with emphasis that teachers are the most critical

Lelements in the educational system. They act as facilitators

between the pupil/students and the environment and so it is

important that we have the right kind and quality of teachers to be able

to get the right result for our pupils and students.

And because of our emphasis on promoting science and ICT literacy at

all levels, I have also directed the Ministry of Education, working in

conjunction with the SUBEB and all other agencies to first begin the

recruitment of about 300350 teachers who will be deployed to all the

primary and secondary schools in the state. I believe that the process

will start in earnest and that exercise can be conducted and all these

people who are just coming into the teaching field can be exposed to the

rudiments of teaching. That is why by tomorrow we will make

appointments in the College of Education. We will also appoint

somebody ho will be the director of the Teachersʹ Training Institute at

Sagbama which is part of the College of Education so that the training


and the retraining of the new people will be a continuous exercise.

Now as you all know, we are set to embark on largescale rehabilitation

of the educational infrastructure. But from reports received, from all

the various findings of the panels I have constituted to look into the

ma�er, it is very clear that the ratio of academic and nonacademic staff

in our primary schools is highly disturbing. We have on record 5,119

teachers. As a result of various malpractices and errors in judgment and

misplacement of priority over the years as against this number of

teachers which is 5,119 you have the number 4,287 of non academic staff

working in various capacities or claiming to be working in various

capacities as security personnel, cleaners and clerks costing this state

government huge sums of money every month, monies that we feel can

be be�er deployed. So I have directed immediate right sizing of the

number of nonacademic staff in our primary and secondary schools.

Our thinking is that there are a number of things that primary school

pupils themselves and the communities, can also do. We will provide

some level of security in the schools but we also feel that community

leaders have a responsibility to protect government property including

school buildings. As for cleaners, this state has to return to those days

where students take primary responsibility for cleanliness of

GOV. SERIAKE DICKSON AND A CROSS SECTION OF HIS EXCO MEMBERS DURING

THE 2012 WORLD TEACHERS DAY CELEBRATIONS IN YENAGOA


themselves and also of their school surroundings. That is an essential

part of promoting discipline and hard work and community

responsibility. So very soon, the Ministry of Education will work with

the relevant agencies to do some right sizing so that we can free up

some of these funds for more productive investment in other priority

areas. And because chairmen are here, let me say this: this is perhaps

one of the states in the country where local governments have not been

fulfilling their statutory obligation of running primary schools.

The normal situation is for the chairmen of local governments and local

governments generally to be responsible for the running of primary

education at least up to 70% and the state government intervenes and

makes 30% contribution. But in this case, the reverse has been the case.

From our last count, the state government bears eighty to ninety

something percent of the cost of running primary education in this

state; that has to be reviewed. Let me remind the chairmen who are here

that such a situation is not acceptable. And going forward, government

will work with you to ensure that you yourselves will take all the

necessary decisions and actions that will free up some of your funds,

some of your resources for this.

Education remains a priority for the state government but we want a

situation where local governments also live up to their responsibility.

We will call a more detailed meeting with the finance ministry to

discuss the financials because we want you to perform your jobs.

Thank you very much for coming, and as you all know, very soon many

elements of our free education programme will fall in place. The

textbooks, the desks and other elements are all coming.

Education remains a priority for the state government but

we want a situation where local governments also live up

to their responsibility.


Remarks at the presentation of the N3 billion cheque to SETRACO for the

completion of the OgbiaNembe road project

n the course of our ́ Thank You Tourʹ to our people, we saw at close

Irange some of the needs and expectations of our people.

I want to use this opportunity again to thank all our people for the kind

and warm reception accorded me and my delegation in all the clans,

local government areas and communities that we visited. I want to

thank the kings, traditional rulers for the honour conferred on me and

my deputy and our government.

I want to thank you also for the kind words and encouragement and

show of support and solidarity that was so evident. I want to thank our

youths and women and local government chairmen and all the people

of the state for the rousing reception that was given to me and my

entourage.

Now ladies and gentlemen, you know how the OgbiaNembe road has

been, as we say in this country, ́ in the pipelineʹ.

PROJECTS MUST BE ON COURSE AND ON TARGET


And these days, people are becoming impatient with things that stay in

the pipeline for too long. If it does not come out of the pipeline fast

enough, you know what they do to pipelines these days. That road is

leading to a very critical area of our state and of our country. That is the

road that will lead us to Brass Island. Brass Island is going to be the

economic nucleus not just of our state but also of this country and the

West African sub region. But we cannot get there unless we are able to

get to Nembe first.

I know that some efforts were made to try and construct a road from

Nembe to Brass but the first thing to do by any pragmatic government

is to see how we can get to Nembe from Ogbia and then the construction

of the Nembe Brass road can start from Nembe. That is the practical

way to go about it.

I am aware that SHELL AND NDDC have shown interest in that road

and I want to thank them for that partnership, but it is a partnership that

BAYELSA STATE GOVERNOR, HON. SERIAKE DICKSON ( LEFT ) PRESENTING PAYMENT

INSTRUCTIONS TO THE AREA MANAGER, SETRACO, MR. BECHARA KARAM FOR THE

CONSTRUCTION OF BAYELSA STATE WEST SENATORIAL ROAD AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE IN

YENAGOA.


has been going on for so long that our people are ge�ing impatient and

rightly so.

This is because we need to drive to Nembe at least while waiting for the

road to Brass. And, so when I looked at the situation and heard the

complaints from that area; the suffering of the people from that area

and how on a daily basis innocent law abiding people suffer indignities

and inconveniences and even sometimes occasional a�acks by pirates

and other bandits who take advantage of the creeks and rivulets in the

area, it became clear that a government that means well must do

something and fast.

And it has to be now and not tomorrow. And so, while we appreciate

the partnership with our friends and development partners,

particularly Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC and Niger

Delta Development Commission, NDDC for what they started on that

road, we want to say it was a good partnership and we will continue to

encourage it.

Because we are commi�ed to the development of our state, whether it is

a federal road or whether it is a partnership or not, we have a duty to

drive it to conclusion because it is for the benefit of the people.

Your government has decided to make available for the OgbiaNembe

road project, the sum of N3 billion. Now, our partners have been

notified and I have told them, this is a back up fund, available because

we want them to complete the road and put it to use by next year, God

willing. We want to be able to drive to Nembe.

We will tell our partners to still feel free to contribute their own quota to

an account that we will designate but while we are doing all of these, we

do not want the job to be at a standstill because one partner has failed to

make his own contribution.

The N3 billion will be used by the contractor directly because this is the


amount needed for the completion of that road and we are not going to

wait for SPDC and NDDC to provide that money; we are providing that

money ourselves.

The contractor, SETRACO will utilize the N3 billion to finish the project

and we will commission it on or before the end of next year.

The contractor has made a promise that the road will be completed by

September next year but I am giving him up to December because we

do not want to hear any excuse.

Because we are commi�ed to the development of our

state, whether it is a federal road or whether it is a

partnership or not, we have a duty to drive it to conclusion

because it is for the benefit of the people.

I will like to invite two people who are leaders and statesmen in the

audience, who are also leaders from that senatorial district and who

have also the responsibility to call the people of that area to order

particularly the youths to ensure that the contractor gets maximum

cooperation. It is on that note that I invite King Alfred Diete Spiff and

His Excellency, Walter Feghabo Amain to join me in the presentation of

the cheque.

I want to commend the Royal Fathers and the people in the affected

local government areas; Ogbia and Nembe, because I know that the

communities have been doing a lot; I know that commi�ees have been

set up and working to ensure that communal issues are sorted out.

The point I am making is that whether compensation has been paid on

any property or not, it should not result in stoppage of work again.

While this is being taken care of, work should be going on. I do not want


the contractor to have any excuse to say it is one family or one set of

youths that said unless we make payment to one shrine because one

python was killed, unless we bury the python with N30 million, we will

not do any work. I do not want to hear that kind of complaint anymore.

There may be reasons why compensation has to be paid if peopleʹs land

and property are tampered with but please chiefs who are also very

commi�ed to the prompt completion of this job should rise up to the

occasion and work with the contractor and government to ensure that

all those communal issues are taken care of.

As for the youths, if you are looking for expatriates to kidnap, this is the

wrong state for you to do so and do not go and disturb who is doing

important jobs, because we will come a�er you. It is on this note, ladies

and gentlemen, that I will like to present the sum of N3 billion to our

contractor.


Remarks during a solidarity visit by Bayelsa state PDP delegation to the

new PDP chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, at Wadata House, Abuja

BAYELSA IN LOCKSTEP WITH THE PDP

ou have seen from the galaxy of personalities here that this is

Yan important visit to the government, the party and the good

people of Bayelsa state.

Your Excellency, you know that our party has had very challenging

moments, but we are gratified that God in his infinite wisdom

intervened and we are where we are. We are gratified at your

emergence at this very critical juncture in the life our party and

therefore in the life of our nation. So we want to wish you well. We

assure you that all these people you see here, the leaders of the entire

people of Bayelsa are here to demonstrate our abiding loyalty and

commitment to you, the Chairman and members of the working

commi�ee of our party. We know that you have the experience, the

contacts, the maturity and above all the dedication to duty that these

times call for in terms of championing the reorganization of our party.

We know that you and the working commi�ee have already started,

and in all of these and all you are going to continue to do for our party,


Mr. Chairman, I have the mandate of the good people of Bayelsa State

and the mandate and authority of all my leaders here assembled and

the several at home to let you know that you are not alone in this

arduous assignment that you are entrusted with. For everything you

are going to do, you will find us not just behind you but we will stand

shoulder to shoulder with you. All of us are praying for the success of

the working commi�ee, and the success of your efforts directed at re

energizing the PDP.

The PDP, Mr. Chairman if I may recall, (because I am a student of

political history in addition to being a lawyer) since the formation of

political parties in this country till today, is the only party that has given

a presidential nomination to somebody from our part of the country.

Mr. Chairman, what the Peopleʹs Democratic Party has done with the

election, the nomination firstly of the current President Dr. Goodluck

Jonathan and his eventual election is like what the Democratic Party of

the United States achieved for the American nation by facilitating the

emergence of the first black elected President, President Barack Obama.

Mr. Chairman, we have also challenged all other political tendencies in

this country to see if they can beat that record of the PDP. We know that

whereas other parties and ideologies are founded on the fault lines of

our country, fault lines of religion, ethnicity, the party that you lead, our

party that we are privileged and happy to be associated with as

members, is the only national party that has the capacity to bring the

various people of this country together.

Mr. Chairman, from our point of view and given where we come from,

our Nigerianess was validated with the election of Dr. Jonathan. So we

are here also to convey our gratitude and appreciation to PDP as a party,

all its founding members, all our founding leaders and to the several

millions of party followers and all Nigerians generally who went

through thick and thin to bring about the realisation of that new

Nigeria.


We are aware of the sacrifices that were made, lives that were lost,

properties that were willfully destroyed on the altar of politics to make

the new Nigerian dream come true.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to also on behalf of my people underscore

our appreciation, to let Nigerians know that we appreciate all that they

did and that going forward, the PDP is more than a party to us. The PDP

means something special to each and every one of us seated here and

several others from all parts of this great country that we come from.

Mr. Chairman, from our point of view and given where

we come from, our Nigerianess was validated with the

election of Dr. Jonathan. So we are here also to convey our

gratitude and appreciation to PDP as a party, all its

founding members, all our founding leaders and to the

several millions of party followers and all Nigerians

generally who went through thick and thin to bring about

the realisation of that new Nigeria.

We are here to say ʹCongratulations sir, for your welldeserved

elevation to this office.ʹ With the li�le that we have known of you, your

cosmopolitan nature, your spread and reach across the length and

breadth of this country, your deep understanding of politics of

mobilisation, your capacity for building consensus, and all the

a�ributes that you have brought to bear on this very serious

assignment, we have no doubt that with our prayers and with the

support of our leaders you will succeed and we will have a more

vibrant, reenergized PDP, a PDP that is able once again to reclaim its

mantle of leadership, a party that has the capacity to weld this country

together so that we can have a united, stable and prosperous Nigeria.


Remarks and answers to the mediaʹs questions on the local government

election in Toru Orua, Sagbama local government area on March 3, 2013

ELECTIONS, FREE AND FAIR

I commend the people that have conducted themselves peacefully so

far and I believe that is the case in all the local government areas across

the state. I am very pleased with the orderly conduct, the massive turn

out and I like to commend all the voters and the candidates and the

electoral body, for doing a good job.

I like to also use this opportunity to commend the diligence of the

security agencies, which I believe, have been fully mobilized to ensure

that todayʹs council polls go on without any hitch. I want to urge

candidates to at the end of the day, accept the verdict of the people

because that is what our democracy entails.

There can only be one winner and perhaps more than one loser.

Whatever the verdict of our electorate, I want them to take it in good

faith. There is always a second chance in politics.

QUESTION: this is the first election we are witnessing under your

administration. Going forward, what advice do you have for

Bayelsans?


As far as the politics of the state are concerned, I can only assure them

that part of our restoration aim is to ensure that in electoral ma�ers,

people at the grassroots, the people to whom power belongs have a say

and that their vote counts. Today is a demonstration of that.

We have made sure that, unlike previous times, nothing is wri�en or

concocted in Government House, Yenagoa. And that is going to be our

philosophy moving forward. I want to urge the people that they have a

responsibility in democracy.

They should come out and freely exercise their franchise for their

candidates and parties of their choice and that is the only way they can

have a say as to who leads them. So I am very pleased with what is

happening now.

I know that the local government election is going on everywhere in the

state and for quite sometime, we have not seen how these things are

done. In the communities, polling booths and wards, the peopleʹs

sovereignty is being respected so I am very pleased that, that is what we

are seeing.

GOV. DICKSON CASTING HIS VOTE, DURING THE STATE LG ELECTIONS @ TORUORUA.


QUESTION: We have not seen any of the political party campaign. Do

you think that is an indication that PDP will have a clean sweep of the

votes?

You are entitled to speculate as the journalist that you are. My job is to

respect the wishes of the people and the election has not been

concluded so it will be premature to say which party will win, or which

candidate will win. What I know is that I have promoted consensus to

such a level that for the very first time, you see stakeholders coming

together to work for my party. I cannot talk about what other political

parties are doing I can only speak for mine. And it is premature for us to

speculate about the outcome of the polls that have just started.

I wish all political parties well. I want to urge all of them to take the

verdict that the people will come up with at the end of the day in good

faith.

GOV. SERIAKE DICKSON ACKNOWLEDGING CHEERS FROM THE CROWD DURING

THE FLAGOFF OF PDP LOCAL GOVT. ELECTION CAMPAIGNS


WE SHARE YOUR PAIN

Remarks shortly a�er visiting accident victims of PDP National Congress in

Abuja March 26, 2012

t was a very unfortunate incident but it could have been worse. We

Ithank God that there was no fatality recorded so we are most

grateful to God Almighty for His mercies.

Our thoughts at moments like this are clearly with the families,

relatives and their loved ones. Part of what we came to show is

solidarity. We came to share in their feelings and their pains and above

all to assure members of their families and their loved ones that even at

moments like this they are not alone and that the PDP family, the

Bayelsa family is one.

I have received preliminary reports from the physicians and by the way

let me use this opportunity to thank the doctors and all health workers

who worked very hard to deliver appropriate and needed medical

a�ention. I have received preliminary reports and they indicate that all

the patients are receiving proper and adequate a�ention and that their

conditions are stable. I have also discussed with some of the victims and


I believe from the reports of the medical doctors taking care of them, in

the next couple of weeks most of them would be on their way to their

homes.


TO THE YOUTH OF BAYELSA:

YOUR FUTURE IS IN YOUR OWN HAND

Remarks at the sending forth of the first batch of trainees to the Songhai

Farms in Benin Republic on March 25, 2013

Let me commend the efforts of my Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr.

Thomas Commander who clearly is not just in charge but is

commanding very well. We want you to command even be�er.

Let me first of all congratulate you all, the participants who have been

selected through a very rigorous and competitive process as I have been

told by the honorable commissioner. I want to congratulate you on

behalf of the government and good people of Bayelsa State.

You mean so much to us. The young people of this state mean so much

to us because you are not just the leaders of tomorrow but you are the

real partners we want to have in building the great future for our

people.

That is why we have come up with various programmes to give you the

skills and knowledge that you need to enable you operate successfully

in an increasingly competitive environment.

So I am delighted to be here and this is the first batch of people we are


going to send out for different forms of training. There are several

others that will go to other places, South Africa, Israel, all over the

world. We would send young people to go there, acquire skills and

come back.

Let me tell you briefly our dreams, which I am sure the commissioner

must have briefed you about in the course of his interactions with you.

We are se�ing up massive farms all over the state and

shortly you will see that the biggest farms you will ever

see in this country will be in Bayelsa, your state.

CROSS SECTION OF SONGHA BOUND TRAINEES

Now, when we set up these farms, there are people who will run them.

We have technical partnership agreement already signed for massive

cassava production. From Denmark and some other countries, they are

going to be here.

We are in the process of working with the Israelis and others to set up

very big fish farms. You are going to see the biggest fish farms in this

country in Bayelsa State. This place is going to be number one in

agriculture.


As we speak, we are working with people to set up poultry farms, big

ones. We are also se�ing up facilities that will buy up everything that

will ever be produced in this state. We are working with people to

create the markets, develop the storage facilities and prepare products

for exports.

That is why we are passionately working to ensure that in collaboration

with the Federal Government, we have an airport to facilitate

transportation.

So my dear young people of Bayelsa, our dear partners in the new

Bayelsa, I want to commend you and congratulate you. You are on a

very important mission not just to empower yourselves and make a

success of your lives; you are on a very serious assignment to ensure

that we are selfsufficient in food production.

The mission is also to ensure that we become number one in agriculture

in this country. That is a very serious challenge you have. We know that

these farms will need people to work in them and we do not want to set

up farms and end up in a situation where only people from other places

will come and man our own farms.

That is why you are now being selected and trained so that you will be

active participants in the new agricultural revolution that is coming to

your state. We know that training is key. So we are only sending you

people for training. Soon we shall be se�ing up the School of

Agriculture here.

Now that the budget is signed, we want to go about implementing it

and I am very happy that there are some Israelis and some people from

the Bank of Industry who want to work with us to develop that school.

Once our School of Agriculture is set, most of these courses you are

going for, we are going to run here in Bayelsa. I was just telling the

Commissioner for Agriculture that seeing the enthusiasm in our young

Bayelsans willing to make a career out of this agricultural programme


I have told the young people of this state to take

responsibility for their lives and leave a life of begging;

this life of dependency. This life where young people

hold other people responsible for their own lives from

payment of house rents to buying vehicles, payment of

their childrenʹs fees and taking care of their wives. That is

slavery.

Those who do not like you as passionately as we do, want

to keep you the way you are and give you peanuts and

crumbs so that you will continue to struggle for the

crumbs.

And during elections, they will use different ways to

bring you out and use you for violence, thuggery; use you

to do things they will not allow their children to do. We

love you very much and that is why we are offering you a

life of independence; a life of responsibility.

coupled with the fact that some are graduates and even masters degree

holders, here and now I have increased the number from 400 to 500

beneficiaries. So apart from you, he will select more persons to get to

that number.

Let me use this opportunity to call on our young people to come and

identify with this programme. You are doing what I always want our

young people to do. When we challenge you, take the challenge and

develop yourself.


And I always use our own example to encourage you people. Most of us

started small. I joined the Nigeria Police as a constable because I had to

do something. I couldnʹt blame anybody for not having money to send

me to the university even though all through the school ladder I was a

top student.

But I could not blame my parents or brothers. I did not believe in

blaming people so I took the bull by the horn. There was nothing I did

not do, no job that I did not do as long as it was legitimate. With my

certificate I decided to enroll as a recruit, a constable and worked my

way through.

A�er training, I registered for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation

Examination, a�ended classes and wrote the examinations before I

went to study Law full time and did night duty for four years as a Police

Constable. So in this life, there is no free meal.

Anybody who is telling you anything other than that is deceiving you.

So when people say there is hunger, there is this and that, you are not

working so why will you not be hungry? If you are not working, you

will be hungry.

If you want to be a man or woman of your own standing, thank God

because now you have a peopleoriented government passionate about

changing your condition. We do not want to keep you the way you are

and give you guns; we do not want to keep you the way you are and

give you money to buy drugs and use you. No! That will be destroying

your future.


You can be be�er than us. Who knew I was going to be

Governor here? Who knew that your president who

started without shoes and bags would be President of the

Federal Republic of Nigeria?

So reject those who come and tell you there is an easy way

out; there is no easy way out. You have to work to develop

yourself.

Even this training that you are going for I can see it clearly in your faces,

it is not the end. It is the beginning of your lives.

From the knowledge you will acquire from this training and the

support we will give to you, when you come back, it will be continuous

progress for you. These are the young people of our dreams, the young

men and women we want to support.

Now in this state, everything we eat here we do not produce. It is other

people who produce pure water for us to buy; it is other people who

establish poultry farms for us to buy their eggs; it is other people who

even own all the shops here.

So the day their market association has one function or the other, they

close down our markets and we will all be hungry. The day they say

pure water trailer has broken down and pure water could not come into

town, there will be no pure water at all. That is not the state we want.

Now the way forward is selfdevelopment and entrepreneurship, hard

work. I am very happy with what I am seeing. I am very happy because

you have shown us what is possible with our youths.

So apart from congratulating you all, my charge to you this a�ernoon,

on behalf of your government and your people is, go ye and acquire

knowledge and skills and turn yourselves to be captains and

champions of your various fields of human endeavor.

We are sending you for training, paying everything, so yours is to se�le

down, be of good conduct, and let nothing bad be said of you people

from Bayelsa. You owe me that. You owe yourselves that. You owe your

families that too.

When you go, learn, acquire the skills that we want you to acquire and

come back. As you come back in the next six months, we would have

developed various facilities here at home that will support your growth

and development.


We would have worked out various programmes of empowerment and

upon your return we will support you to enable you set up poultry

farms and other things because you know how to do it. That is why we

are sending you.

Be good ambassadors of the new Bayelsa, not the old Bayelsa so that

upon completion of the training, Songhai Farms will be asking us to

bring more Bayelsans.

But if you do the reverse, even when we want to send, they will say, “ah,

this Bayelsa people, keep your money, we no dey”. If they say so then it

means that you are not being part of the change we are preaching. I

want to thank you all and assure you that we are prepared to work with

you to develop yourselves and develop our economy.


CROSS SECTION OF BENEFICIARIES OF LINCOLN UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME

TO GROW THE ECONOMY WE MUST GROW SMES

Small and medium scale enterprises are the right way to go,

particularly for an economy such as ours which is overdependent on

products that come from outside our shores. Not just for Bayelsa, SME

is the way to go for this country. I want to see this sector blossom in

Bayelsa because that is the quickest way that we can create wealth and

create employment, enable selfemployment and perhaps employ

others and generate skills that our economy really needs.

This is one area that going forward, will form a major plan of our social

investment policy. We have set aside some money for the sector, and if

not for the delay that came from our collaboration with the Bank of

Industry, by now we would have finished disbursing the one billion

naira that was set aside last year. And this year, we also have money set

aside for this.

Remarks during a courtesy visit by D.G SMEDAN on April 29, 2013


We want an economy where our people are active

participants and critical stakeholders and who by so

doing create wealth.

So we are interested in exploring the full range of opportunities that

this collaboration has.

I want to thank you for everything you are doing particularly for giving

Bayelsa special a�ention. That is very apt because this place requires

intensified federal focus and a�ention so that we can combat some of

the negative things that were associated with the state before my

government came in.

Here in this state, I want to assure you that development of SMEʹs is a

critical cornerstone of our restoration government. That is why we say

we are broadening the base of our economy and we want people to

come and do business here. But we also have to stimulate enterprise

and train people in areas they can do very well in. A lot of our initiatives

are agrobased. We cannot rest until we have created skills, expanded

our economy in such a way that more people find bearing within our

economy.


WELFARE FOR BAYELSAʹS ELDERLY

Speech at the presentation of monthly stipends to the elderly under the

Bayelsa State welfare and social security scheme in Yenagoa on July 3, 2013

I have just signed into law the Bayelsa State Welfare and Social Security

Scheme Bill. With the support of Mr. Speaker and honourable members

of the House of Assembly, we now have a legal basis for the welfare

scheme in this state.

For us in government, we are here to serve the people. Government

belongs to the people not the other way round.

It is your government, my dear people of Bayelsa State. We will not stop

at anything under my charge; the government of this great state will

strive hard to meet your needs in all spheres of life. We have shown that

some of these things are possible and all of us have parents, uncles,

aunts and mothers. And very o�en, because of the challenges of present

day living, most of the children that our old people have are not readily

available when needed. And we know that our old people due to no

fault of theirs are sometimes le� without the care and support that they

rightly deserve. Old age is a good thing. In this state, we all desire to


grow old as do our young people. We have also resolved to take care of

our aged parents. That is why your government has come up with this

scheme.

Under this social security scheme and working closely with the

Assembly and all other structures of government, every person who is

75 years of age and above, who is not a pensioner, who is not in any

private or government employment, will be entitled to this monthly

stipend.

This is in line with the law the House of Assembly has made and I agree

with it. It is not a salary as they are not meant to be doing any work at

this age.

It is the responsibility of government run by your children to support

you, so by the bill that I have signed into law every person who is an

indigene of Bayelsa State, who is 75 years and above will be entitled to

this support.

Now, we have worked out a mechanism for reaching out to you

BAYELSA STATE GOVERNOR, HON. SERIAKE DICKSON (LEFT) PRESENTING STIPENDS TO MADAM OKIYA OGBURA

(2NDRIGHT) UNDER THE STATE MONTHLY STIPENDS TO THE ELDERLY WELFARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEME

AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE IN YENAGOA, WHILE THE SSA TO THE GOVERNOR ON THE ELDERLY, KESEME WILSON

(RIGHT STANDING) AND OTHER BENEFICIARIES LOOK ON.


wherever you are. This is because you are not expected to pay your way

down to Yenagoa to collect this stipend.

The G32, our chairmen of the Rural Development Authorities of the

state, have primary responsibility for this by the law I have just signed.

Every month, our G32 Chairmen and their officers will reach all the

people that have already been captured to pay this stipend. The

Assembly has oversight functions to perform in the implementation of

the welfare scheme.

The mechanisms that we have devised is such that the names will be

verified from the community level, so the community traditional

rulers, Community Development Commi�ee (CDC) chairmen will

jointly sign and authenticate the age and entitlement of the persons

living in their communities.

These should be sent to the G32 Chairman who will process them and

then send a copy to the Governorʹs special representatives in all the

local government headquarters. The special representatives will collate

it and take to the assemblymen, constituency by constituency.

Under this social security scheme and working closely

with the Assembly and all other structures of

government, every person who is 75 years of age and

above, who is not a pensioner, who is not in any private or

government employment, will be entitled to this monthly

stipend.

This is because complaints will be coming to them and I want every

assemblyman to go through that list and sign off. The signature of the

assemblymen on the list coming from the community will be the final

seal of authenticity.


The authenticated names will be collated by the Ministry of Women

and Social Development and then sent for payment. But in addition to

all of these, the assembly will still be entitled to quarterly reports about

the implementation of this policy.

We are not, my dear people creating an avenue for fraud with this

policy; we are not creating an opportunity for people to impersonate

old people; we are not creating an opportunity for people who are not

from Bayelsa State to come and claim that they are from Bayelsa State

because there is penalty for all of that.

And so let me at this point draw the a�ention of those people who have

a duty to perform as I have highlighted above, particularly the CDC

Chairmen, traditional rulers of the various communities and the G32

workers who will process it down the line, that once we notice or

suspect any fraud, we will deal with it purely as a crime.

In this state, we have a penchant for colouring criminal activities in

different guises. When people commit crimes, they join secret cults and

kill people and do terrible things. Once you arrest them, they will say it

is ́ ʹa political arrest; it is a political ma�erʹʹ.

They say it is because they are not supporting you or because they had

supported somebody else. But let me sound a note of warning that this

government under me will not flinch when we are doing what is right

and proper.

So people who will play one role or the other in this scheme should be

careful. The government is watching, the assembly will have oversight

and the security agencies will be called in from time to time.

It is on this note, ladies and gentlemen that I want to thank our senior

citizens of this state that continue to support our government, pray for

our government, pray for us and your children so that this scheme, with

the way we have started it, will be a model for others to look up to in no

distant time.


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