Amgbare Ekaunkumo,Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Government has begun implementing the new N80,000 minimum wage and clearing salary arrears for civil servants, as announced during a Transparency Briefing in Yenagoa covering March and April, 2025.
Governor Douye Diri, who pledged the new wage on May Day, has ensured payments alongside 25% and 35% salary increases.
Timpre Seipulo, Technical Adviser to the Governor on Accounts, Revenue, and Finance, disclosed that the state paid N266 million in minimum wage arrears last year, N363 million for gratuities, N193 million for pension arrears, and N1.7 billion for political appointees’ salaries in April.
Seipulo said the state invested heavily in infrastructure, allocating N16 billion for Yenagoa Phase 2 and 3 roads, N3 billion for the independent power plant, over N10 billion for the Ekeremor-Toru-Ndoro-Agge Road, and N4 billion for the Nembe-Brass Road.
Other projects include Sampou road dualization, Odi shore protection, reclamation for a new Olympic-size stadium, and security van purchases.
According to Seipulo , Bayelsa State had a balance of over N174 billion in the treasury at the
end of April this year.
On her part, the Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Hon. Ebiuwou Koku Obiyai, in her opening remarks, stated that the state resources were properly being utilised, insisting the Prosperity Administration remains very prudent.
“I also want to state that, evidently, the resources are properly utilised. Though we celebrated our 5 years anniversary and you saw the number of projects that were commissioned, the number of groundbreaking that was done. And to assure Bayelsans that the prosperity government is open to doing more with your support”, she stated.
In attendance at the briefing were the State Accountant General, Tokoni Ifidi, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Mr. Ifiemeya Borisei and the Director, Bayelsa New Media, Dr. Kolawole Oredipe.
