BY PHILIP EKE, YENAGOA
Contrary to insinuations that Federal allocation to Bayelsa State for the month of July was over 10 billion naira, Bayelsa State government has said the state received N3.5 billion from the federal allocation for the month of July.
The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Jonathan Obuebite, made this clarification recently.
He was reacting to what the government described as different figures being peddled by “uninformed persons within and outside Bayelsa State”, regarding the allocation received from the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) for the month of July, 2016.
The Commissioner in a Government House statement issued in Yenagoa, said Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, “has directed the payment of June salaries in addition to outstanding January 2016 arrears including that of pensioners.”
He said, “The amount being dished out by the mischief-makers which ranges from N10 billion to N19 billion, is all aimed at giving the impression that the government now has a lot of money at its disposal to clear all outstanding salaries and pensions.
“While we acknowledge that there has been a sharp increase from the latest allocation as compared to previous months especially for this year we want to for the benefit of hindsight make public the authentic details of the amount from the various sources.”
The statement reads further: “Our sincere hope is that this will put to rest the rumours and lies about the issue. We advise Bayelsans to always be sure of what they hear especially on social media before accepting it hook, line, and sinker as true. The dedicated website www.bayelsawatch.org is also up and running to provide all financial information about Bayelsa State Government.
“Findings show that all these mis-information are being generated and spread out by the opposition and enemies of the state who only show up with tantrums and not solutions or prayers for the well being of the state.
The government is therefore calling on ASUU to for the sake of our children, call off the strike and resume classes as the government is still committed in giving Bayelsans the best of education even in the face of the dwindling economic crisis.
“It is on this backdrop that His Excellency, Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, has directed the payment of June salaries in addition to outstanding January 2016 arrears including that of pensioners.”
