Nigeria, July 3, 2016 – Governor Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has appealed to ex-militants to be calm and exercise patience with the Federal Government over delay in the payment of their stipends.
He also called on the Presidential Amnesty Office to urgently pay whatever was due the ex-agitators in the spirit of equity and fair play. The governor’s plea came amidst plans by the ex-militants to protest the non-payments of their stipends by the Federal Government.
A statement issued on Sunday in Yenagoa by the State Commissioner for Information, Jonathan Obuebite, quoted Dickson as advising all stakeholders in the Niger Delta struggle to “eschew violence and live in peace as issues concerning their welfare will be soon be addressed by the Federal Government.”
Accountability: Dickson orders regular update on Bayelsa audited accounts
Bayelsa State Governor Henry Seriake Dickson has directed the new Auditor-General of the state , Mr Godknows Offurugbo, to ensure that, all departments and agencies of the government remain accountable, while at the same time ensuring regular release of statement of audited accounts of the state.
He said the directive was in keeping with his administration’s policy on transparency and accountability.
A statement issued on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said the Governor gave the charge during the swearing in ceremony of Offurugbo in Government House, Yenagoa.
Dickson described the appointment as critical, stressing that, all branches of the government must keep proper accounting records. While urging the Auditor-General to bring his wealth of experience to bear on his new assignment, the Governor said the task before him was crucial.
According to him, Offurugbo is expected to step up efforts in ensuring that accountability becomes the watchword for all agencies of the government, considering the drastic reduction in the revenues accruing from the Federation Accounts.
He directed Offurugbo to regularly release statement of audited accounts of the state, adding that it was the intention of the government to release such statements of accounts annually towards promoting good governance.
Dickson, while charging the Auditor-General to complement the efforts of the financial team of the state, directed him to forward copies of the report of the audited accounts of the government to the Governor’s office as well as the State House of Assembly.
He said, “This appointment is a very serious one for our state and, particularly for a government that is anchored on transparency and accountability. Your responsibility in making sure that all departments and agencies of government are accountable and follow due process is a very serious task particularly at a time when our resources have dwindled to an all time low level.
“All branches of government must keep proper accounting records and must be regularly audited. Our intention is that at the end of every year we should be able to release our own audited accounts and your office will need to complement the efforts of the Finance and Budget offices.” Abia governorship crisis: PDP warns desperate politicians…uncovers plot to abduct judicial officers, members
