By Igoniko Oduma - Yenagoa
Henry Seriake Dickson
Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has announced plans to introduce austere measures and cut down travel allowances and other expenditures of government officials.
The measure is to find a lasting solution to dwindling monthly revenue accruing to the state from the Federation Account occasioned by economic down turn.
Dickson announced the measures at the weekend in Government House, Yenagoa, while signing into law the state’s Appropriation Bill of N332 billion for 2014.
He said the offices of the governor and the deputy governor would also be affected, explaining that the measures were informed by low profile revenue allocation to the state which had plummeted by over N5 billion since he assumed office as governor.
“From when I started till now, our monthly revenue has dropped by over N5 billion. So, if we are not careful to build alternative revenue sources, we will get to a situation where the Federal revenue will not be enough to enable us meet our minimum obligation as a state, particularly bearing in mind the very high wage bill that is higher than that of any other state in this country.
“If necessary economic measures are not put in place, the situation will have serious impact on the economy of the state,” said Dickson, who called for the expansion of the revenue base of the state.
Dickson noted that the administration’s policy on monthly savings had saved the state from the economic downturn.
His words: “The recent economic downturn which has led to sharp reduction in the state’s monthly allocation from the Federation Account is worrisome.
“It was in anticipation of this grim impending economic downturn that my administration is taking steps to create alternative sources of income flow to boost the revenue profile of the government. “I have directed members of the economic team to expeditiously work out modalities to cut down on the state wage bills such as remunerations approved for parastatals and travel allowances for government functionaries including the governor.
“We are also experiencing a terrible decline in our inflows. This is why we have always exercised maximum prudence particularly in approvals that are related to recurrent expenditure.
“I am directing the economic team to implement an appropriate reduction of all recurrent approvals beginning with Government House expenditures.
“We had reduced it significantly before, but in the light of the new realities, I’m giving this directive that we need to review most of our expenditure patterns. For example, issues that have to do with travels and allowances of members of the Executive Council.
“The Commissioner for Finance and his team should also look at the remunerations that we have approved for the part-time appointees of Government.
“This should be done in such a way that we would be able to cope with the stress that has been induced by the reductions in our inflows.”
He thanked the leadership and members of the State House of Assembly for the speedy passage of the 2014 Appropriation Bill and called on the people of the state to continually show understanding and cooperation.
Also, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Konbowei Benson, while presenting the bill for assent, expressed confidence in the ability of the governor to implement the budget to the benefit of Bayelsans, highlighting the present administration’s achievements in the areas of infrastructural development and maintenance of peace and security.
He explained that the budget as passed consists of a total recurrent expenditure of N178.8 billion and capital expenditure of N154 billion.