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Tag: Bayelsa

  • Diri extends stay-at-home order in Bayelsa by one week

    Diri extends stay-at-home order in Bayelsa by one week

    Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa has extended the stay-at-home order in the state by another one week, with effect from Monday, May 4, 2020.

    This is contained in a statement by the acting Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Daniel Alabrah, made available to newsmen in Yenagoa on Monday.

    Our correspondents reports that Bayelsa also adopted the Presidential curfew directive of between 8 pm and 6 am for two weeks also beginning May 4.

    Alabrah, however, noted that the curfew directive and compulsory use of face masks in public was not given by Gov. Diri, contrary to some posts on social media.

    “The curfew and compulsory use of face masks are in accordance with the presidential directive which is also in force in the state.

    “Violators risk prosecution from the government,” he said.

  • COVID-19: Diri imposes dusk-to-dawn curfew on Bayelsa

    COVID-19: Diri imposes dusk-to-dawn curfew on Bayelsa

    Bayelsa Gov. Douye Diri has imposed a five-day dusk-to-dawn curfew in the state as part of measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    According to a statement signed by Freston Akpor, Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Information and Orientation, who is also a member of the Bayelsa Task Force on COVID-19, the 7.00p.m. to 6.00a.m. curfew begins on Sunday (April 19).

    Akpor said the curfew was to reinforce the ban on social gathering, particularly gatherings at night clubs, eateries and nocturnal worship centres.

    He urged security personnel to ensure compliance by the state residents.

  • COVID-19: Bayelsa govt. expresses worries over decline in oil revenue

    COVID-19: Bayelsa govt. expresses worries over decline in oil revenue

    The Bayelsa State government has expressed concern over decline in revenue from the Federation Account, arising from the global COVID-19 crisis.

    Mr Maxwell Ebibai, the Technical Adviser on Finance to the Governor, raised the alarm on Wednesday during the state’s monthly transparency briefing in Yenagoa.
    Ebibai said that the COVID-19 challenge had posed a great threat, not only to the health of the citizens, but also to the global economy.
    While noting that the Nigerian economy was largely dependent on proceeds from crude oil, he added that the development portended a grave danger to the country’s economy.
    “According to the 2020 projections based on the COVID-19 challenge, if the benchmark for oil remains 30 US dollar per barrel, the Federal Government will receive about N1.5 trillion, as against N3 trillion it received in 2019.
    “The average sale of crude oil for February was $22 per barrel, but we, the state government, will still put in place measures to cushion the revenue shortfall, to be able to meet our statutory obligations.
    “We will embark on an aggressive taxation drive and also collaborate with the Federal Government and multinational agencies to fund its expenditure,” he stated.
    Ebibai solicited for the support and cooperation of the people and corporate organisations in the state to enable government shore up its internally-generated revenue.
    Presenting the income and expenditure profile for the month of February, Ebibai said that concerning the inflows, the state received N13.4 billion from the federation account.
    He said the figure comprised N2.8 billion statutory allocation, N9.4 billion derivation and N939 million Value Added Tax (VAT), among other components.
    Ebibai also said that total deductions of N1.68 billion total deduction was made from the federation account, including foreign loans of about N37 million.
    “Restructured loans and refund on 13 percent indices on derivation to other states stood at N128.4 million; salary bailout to local governments, N16.3 million and non-oil revenue of N101.6 million, among others.
    “Net funds from the Federal Government after deductions stood at N11.7 billion, while internally-generated revenue for February stood at N848.9 million,” he stated.
    On expenditure side, Ebibai said total payments for the month of February amounted to N7.7 billion, including bank loans and guarantees of N1.7 billion.
    “Salary for civil servants stood at N3.8 billion, while that of political appointees gulped N21.9 million, gratuity to pensioners, N200 million, leaving the state with a balance of N9.9 billion.
    “The state government spent N3.2 billion as recurrent expenditure, while capital expenditure was N4.3 billion, leaving a balance of N2.4 billion
    “We recorded a deficit balance of N2.38 billion brought forward from the month of January,” the governor’s aide said, adding that the total balance, as at the end of February 2020, was N105.6 million.

  • COVID-19 Lockdown: Food shortage hits Bayelsa as prices soar

    COVID-19 Lockdown: Food shortage hits Bayelsa as prices soar

    Restrictions of movements over the coronavirus pandemic has led to shortage of staple foods and rising prices in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa capital.

    The affected items include, sachet water which the residents depend on due to absence of potable water, grains and food condiments amongst others.

    A market survey at rural and urban markets in Bayelsa at the weekend showed over 100 per cent increase in the prices of Garri, Yam, Tomatoes and other food items following measures put in place to check the spread of COVID-19.

    Checks at Okordia-Zarama, a rural market and Swali market in the urban area of the state capital showed that a four-litre plastic container measure of garri which sold for N600 few days before the restrictions, now sells for N1,500.

    For sachet water packaged in bags of 20 pieces which sold for N100, same now goes for N150 as dealers said the lockdown had held down supplies from neighbouring states.

    Mrs Obiageli Nwafor, a housewife said that the quantity of tomatoes she usually buys at N300 now goes for N800 on Saturday due to the lockdown announce by both Rivers and Bayelsa governments.

    She said that iced fish, meat, vegetables and other edible items were not left out of the upward swing in prices.

    “The restrictions announced by the government which effectively closed interstate borders between Rivers and Bayelsa has caused scarcity of food in the markets as traders run out of stock.

    “The traders source a lot of things consumed in Bayelsa from neigbouring states and the directive to halt inter-state travels has affected food prices and traders are capitalizing on it by exploiting the people,” Nwafor said.

    She noted that the preventive measures were necessary to discourage unnecessary travels amongst the people but advised Bayelsa government to take a closer look at the directive to allow vehicles to bring in food.

    According to her, although Bayelsa had not recorded any incident, the confirmed infection in Port Harcourt, the Rivers capital on Thursday, was a source of concern. (NAN)

  • Pump-price: Youths close 7 petrol stations in Bayelsa

    Pump-price: Youths close 7 petrol stations in Bayelsa

    The Central Zone of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has locked down seven petrol filling stations in Yenagoa for allegedly not adjusting to the N125 pump-price.

    The youth visited many filling stations in Yenagoa and locked down the affected stations.

    Our Correspondent recalls that the Federal Government had reduced the pump price from N145 to N125 per litre to reflect the fall in crude oil prices.

    The youth applauded four fuel dealers who had reviewed their prices downwards to reflect the new petrol price.

    Mr Kenedy Olorogun, Chairman of IYC, Central Zone, explained that their action was informed by the attitude of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

  • Bayelsa: Diri promises useful programmes

    Bayelsa: Diri promises useful programmes

    Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa has promised useful programmes for the state to rekindle the hope of the people.

    Diri was sworn in as the fifth governor on Feb.14 sequel to the Feb.13 Supreme Court judgment that sacked the erstwhile governor-elect David Lyon.

    Diri made his administration’s direction during a state-wide broadcast monitored by NAN in Yenagoa.

    According to him, victory in a political contest is not an end in itself but as a means to foster peace, stability and development in all spheres.

    He emphasised the need to make life more meaningful by creating an enabling environment that would engender economic activities and provide employment opportunities for the teeming youths of the state.

    The governor acknowledged outstanding issues arising from the implementation of his predecessor’s policies and expressed his determination to accommodate fresh perspectives for the good of Bayelsa.

    “We recognise that there are outstanding issues from the implementation of the Restoration agenda, of which I am a principal proponent and participant.

    “As in every family, there will always be reasons to disagree. There may be those who feel that some things could have been done better or differently. As humans, we remain fallible.

    “Let us put past grievances behind us. Let us appreciate that governance is a continuum and as the dynamics change, we will accommodate fresh perspectives.

    “The important thing is to continue to find reason to agree and work together for the good of Bayelsa,” Diri said.

    According to Diri, the time has come for all Bayelsa people to join hands with his administration to frontally address the myriad of challenges the people face, including poverty and ignorance.

    He said such setbacks did not discriminate on the basis of gender, political party, religion and age as no one was immune from their adverse impact.

    “This is not the time to cloak ourselves in party colours. The work at hand is far too urgent and important for us to be so distracted.

    “Our common challenges including poverty and ignorance, do not discriminate on the basis of gender, party, religion and age.

    “No one can be immune from the adverse implication of their impact. Therefore, our response must be calculated, coherent and united.

    “We extend a hand of fellowship to all stakeholders and progressive-minded individuals to join hands with us to consolidate the building of the Bayelsa of our dreams; a place we can all be proud to call home.

    “We also send a strong message of solidarity to the people of Bayelsa in the Diaspora; the future is brighter,” he said.

    Diri expressed concern about the recent attack on the Justices of the Supreme Court, particularly the attack on Justice Mary Odili, in the discharge of their constitutional functions.

    Describing the attack as a desecration of a national institution, the governor saluted the courageous Apex Court justices in their quest to uphold democratic principles.

    He also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for not yielding to the pressure to interfere with the legal process as well as his legal team for putting up a sterling performance.(NAN)

  • Supreme Court dismisses Lokpobiri’s case, affirms Lyon as Bayelsa APC candidate

    Supreme Court dismisses Lokpobiri’s case, affirms Lyon as Bayelsa APC candidate

    The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, affirmed the Bayelsa State governor-elect, David Lyon, as the valid candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the last governorship election in the state.

    A five-man panel of the court led by Justice Mary Peter-Odili unanimously dismissed the appeal filed by Heineken Lokpobiri, who had instituted his case seeking to be declared the valid winner of September 4, 2019, primary election of the All Progressives Congress.

    Delivering the lead judgement of the apex court, Justice Inyang Okoro affirmed the January 11, 2020 judgement of the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal, which had held that Lokpobiri’s suit challenging Lyon’s victory in the primary election was filed out of time at the Federal High Court, Yenogoa.

    The Federal High Court in Yenegoa had in its judgment delivered on November 14, 2019, upheld Lokpobiri’s case and nullified Lyon’s nomination as the APC’s candidate for the November 17, 2019 governorship election in the state.

    But the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt, on January 11, 2019, upturned the Federal High Court judgement and affirmed Lyon’s nomination.

    The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the Court of Appeal’s judgement laying to rest the dispute about the APC’s nominated candidate for the governorship poll.

  • Minimum wage : Bayelsa NLC blocks Treasury building, demands Dec. salary

    Minimum wage : Bayelsa NLC blocks Treasury building, demands Dec. salary

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Bayelsa, on Tuesday shut down the Treasury Building in Yenagoa, to demand the implementation of the N30, 000 minimum wage and payment of December salaries of some workers in the state.

    The workers alleged that the government reneged on its pledge to implement the new wage in December 2019, and January vouchers sighted by labour leaders had no indication of the new wage.

    The workers who besieged the treasury building chanted songs such as; “We no go gree, enough is enough, pay us our January salary with the new minimum wage.”

    Addressing the crowd, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Kemela Okara, assured workers that their January salary would be paid with the new minimum wage next week.

    Okara said why some workers were not paid the December salary was because of a garnish order by the court on some government accounts; but assured them however, that the order had been vacated.

    “The Government has sent me to tell you people that your salary for January will be paid next week, I can assure you.

    “The current government is committed to implementing the new minimum wage for Bayelsa workers.

    “We have less than three weeks to go, we could have said the incoming administration should take over the implementation of new minimum wage, but we still went ahead to implement it,” Okara said.

    Chairman of the NLC in Bayelsa, Mr John Ndiomu, said without the implementation of the N30, 000 minimum wage in January salaries, the workers would not leave the Treasury Building gate.

    “Political appointees have paid themselves, so why should the workers case be different? In December, some were paid while others did not get their salaries.

    “All we are asking for now is pay us the January salary with the minimum wage template. I am sure the address of the SSG, did not go down well and unacceptable to most of us here.

    “If workers are ready to stay here, then so be it, nobody should use force on Bayelsa workers, if they try it tomorrow, more will join us,” he said.

    The Joint Negotiating Council Chairman, Mr Olomo Dimie, said it was regrettable that government was paying political appointees several allowances, but workers were left out, adding that no further payments would be allowed until they were paid.

    According to Dimie, the labour has taken steps to stop cash withdrawals of all sorts from the treasury to compel the government to heed the cry of workers..

    He called on the Gov. Seriake Dickson led administration to see to the welfare of workers and pay them as he promised before his tenure elapsed on Feb. 14. (NAN)