Bayelsa govt harps on fiscal discipline, compulsory savings

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

The Bayelsa State government on Wednesday restated its policy of fiscal discipline in the management of public funds at the local government level.

The Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo said the administration would continue to encourage local government councils to save for the rainy day as well as embark on development projects in their domains.

Ewhrudjakpo stated this at a meeting with local government caretaker chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and members of the eight councils in the state at Government House, Yenegoa.

The deputy governor explained that the compulsory saving policy being implemented by all the councils would enable them to carry out some basic infrastructural projects to better the lot of rural dwellers.

He maintained that it was an aberration for local governments to see themselves as mere cash offices for salary payment only while abdicating their responsibility for the provision of basic social amenities to the state and federal governments.

According to him, under the watch of the Governor Douye Diri-Administration, the immediate past local government leaders were able to embark on several people-oriented projects to complement the efforts of the state government.

He noted that the government was desirous to foster rapid infrastructural development in the LGAs, hence the decision to save local government funds monthly to prudently finance capital projects that address the critical needs of the people.

He said: “When I came in as Deputy Governor, I had to rejig the local government system of our state and initiated the compulsory monthly saving with the full support of the governor.

“That is why we can do projects in our local government areas. When the monthly allocation comes, after paying salaries, 60 per cent of what is left goes for capital projects, while 40 per cent is for recurrent.

“And then from the funds meant for recurrent, we still set aside 50 per cent as saving. So, what comes to the local government councils as recurrent is about 20 per of the total allocation.

“I can’t preside over local governments that don’t execute projects because LGAs are supposed to be the first centres of development because of their closeness to the people.

“But unfortunately, we have turned LGAs to be cash offices where people just collect salaries and go home. But I can assure you, that is not possible under my watch.

“We are in a pretentious recession in Nigeria. So, if we don’t save this money, a time will come when even to pay council workers’ salaries will be difficult.”

The Deputy Governor called on the caretaker chairmen to meet with their members at least once every two months.

He advised them to carry the members along in the scheme of things, including informing them of key decisions and developments affecting the councils.

Addressing some of the complaints tabled by the caretaker members, Ewhrudjakpo assured them that the government would shortly address them through the office of the Secretary to State Government.

The caretaker chairmen of Sagbama, Yenagoa, Ekeremor and Nembe LGAs made presentations at the meeting, while caretaker members from all eight councils were allowed to express their grievances.

Present at the meeting is, the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Gideon Ekeuwei, the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Solomon Agwanana.

Also, the Commissioner for Local Government, Chief Thompson Amule. amongst other top government functionaries attended the meeting.