"You Created and Watered the Grounds for Payroll Fraud and other Related Financial Crimes...." - Bayelsa Govt Hits APC Chieftains

.....Warns Public Servants Against Partisanship

By Pat PA Okon

The government of Bayelsa State says  the chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) and former governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, should be blamed for creating room for payroll fraud, employment racketeering and other unethical practices in the civil service while in  office.

Speaking during an interactive meeting at Twon-Brass in Brass Local Government Area of the state, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson said the style of governance of the immediate past administration created rooms for rot and decay in the public sector.

He accused the Chief Timipre Sylva-led administration of leaving behind huge debts and over- bloated wage bills which the present administration is addressing through the ongoing public service reforms.

Mr. Iworiso-Markson said it would be wrong and most unpatriotic for any right thinking Bayelsan to align with the APC chieftains in the state, who are bent on rocking the progressive boat of the Restoration government.

Iworiso-Markson stressed that members of the APC in their desperation to clinch power had displayed their hatred for the state by making the false promise to reinstate over-aged workers who have been weeded out of the system by the reforms.

The Government’s Spokesman said that it was rather shocking that a political party would give overt support to certificate forgers, age falsifiers, octogenarian civil servants, those receiving salaries from multiple agencies of government, workers who do not go to the office, Diaspora workers and those behind the ghost workers debacle in the state.

The Commissioner called on Bayelsa people to reject the APC as they have always done and to also resist the move to take the state back to the regrettable era of rot and decay.

He also warned civil servants against involvement in partisan politics stressing that government would not allow any unholy alliance of disgruntled civil servants and APC saboteurs to thwart the ongoing efforts to reform the public sector.

According to the Commissioner, "Bayelsans will not make the mistake of allowing such characters to lead them again as they lack the political will to do what is right to move the state forward"

“The Governor Dickson-led administration will not sack any genuine worker. So people should disregard the cheap blackmail sponsored by some APC stalwarts that government has sacked 28000 workers.

"We have given that assurance. And we mean it. Every right thinking person within and outside the state are in support of what the government is doing.


" Even some members of the APC are appreciative of what we are using this reform to achieve. It's only the criminal-minded ones among them that have failed to see the importance of these reforms. Instead of blackmailing this administration they should thank the Governor for clearing the rot they created.


"We are not bothered because the reforms have come to stay and nothing will stop us from implementing them. Because they do not mean well for the state, they have started promising people that they will reinstate the ghost workers that have been removed from the payroll.


“It is unfortunate and indeed shocking that the APC members in their delusion are promising those affected by the reforms that if they take over power come 2020, they will reverse the reforms and reinstate them to work.


“The APC in its desperation to clinch power at all cost promises to reinstate over-aged workers who have been weeded out of the system through the reforms. They want to reinstate certificate forgers; they want to reinstate payroll fraudsters, age falsifiers, those receiving salaries in multiple agencies of government, those who don't go to work etc.


“Of course, Bayelsans know what to do as they have always done. They should reject the APC in Bayelsa and resist this pathetic and failed attempt by the party to return the State back to Egypt.”


"But going forward, any civil servant that is found culpable of colluding with politicians to rock the progressive boat of the state will be shown the exit door.


In his welcome address, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Brass Local Government Area, Mr Victor Isaiah, saluted the efforts of the reforms team, noting that the Council now saves an average of N10million monthly.


According to Mr Isaiah, the total monthly wage bill of N116million comprising the salaries of council and primary school staff has been reduced to N106million.


Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Treasury, Revenue and Accounts, Mr Timipre Seipulou, assured that the present administration was doing everything to sanitize the public service and develop a comprehensive database of workers in the state.

Stakeholders who endorsed the reforms include a former Deputy Majority Leader, Chief Victor Sam Ateki, the Commissioner for Transport, Mr Dauprebo Ikuromo, his Culture and Ijaw National Affairs counterpart, Mr Austin Dressman and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Students Affairs, Mr Austin Adigio.


Others were the representative of traditional rulers from the area, Alabo Amakiri, former local government chairmen including Chieftain Percy Kromain, Hon Bello Bina, a women representative, Mrs Dogiye Silas Deibo and the Secretary of NULGE in the area, Mr Otonte Iyabi.