Dickson signs 2016 Appropriation, Child Rights Bills into effect

ITRealms:

The Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson has signed the 2016 Appropriation and the Child Rights Bills into law, reports ITRealms.

Assenting to the bills in Government House, Yenagoa, Governor Dickson expressed hope that the country’s economic situation would improve to enable the government make projections in its budgeting provisions.

The governor, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, commended workers in the state for their patience and understanding over the non-payment of salaries, noting that, the government has been meeting with labour leaders on the way forward to resolving the problem.

Dickson expressed delight that the new Child Rights Bill would offer protection for children of the state, stressing that, anyone caught violating the rights of children would be prosecuted according to the provisions of the law.

He commended the leadership of the State House of Assembly for their hard work in considering the bill as well as the enforcement component embedded in the document and expressed the hope that with the law in place, the rate of child abuse would be minimized.

Presenting the bills to Governor Dickson, Speaker of the State Assembly, Mr. Konbowei Benson, explained that, the Child Rights Bill was sent to the house on the 2^nd of March this year and was passed on April 28.

He explained that the Child Rights Bill had earlier been presented to the State Assembly twice in 2004 and 2007 but, was not signed into law before Governor Dickson assumed office in 2012.

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Dickson warns NDDC, stop servicing political interest

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The Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson on Tuesday in Yenagoa warned the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) against being used as platform for servicing political interest, reports ITRealms.

Dickson gave this warning while welcoming the acting Managing Director of NDDC, Mrs Ibim Semenitari and leaders of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), during a courtesy visit, saying the commission should serve the interest of the Niger Delta people, with available resources channeled on projects that could affect the development and prosperity of the region.

He also suggested that the NDDC should collaborate with state governments in the region to execute priority projects that would serve as a catalyst for the socio-economic development.

The Governor, who identified the three senatorial road projects in the state as key to creating access to the Atlantic Ocean and economic prosperity, stressed that the construction of such projects worth billions of naira would attract development and socio-economic progress to the state.

According to him, the road from Nembe to Brass alone, for instance, would gulp about N100 billion, "Bayelsa economy will remain stifled if there is no access to the sea where its wealth lies.”

He commended the NDDC for the award of contracts in Bayelsa State, but however, decried the number of abandoned projects in the state, which he attributed the development to the over-politicization of the activities of the commission.

“The NDDC should move away from the era of using the commission as a conduit to service the vested political interest, but rather NDDC should serve the interest of the Niger Delta people and channel available resources on projects that can affect the development and prosperity of the region,” Dickson said.

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Pix: Gov. Dickson

Ghost workers: Dickson promises to block loopholes for fraud

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The Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson has said that the verification exercise carried out on workers in the oil-state, has started yielding the desired results and promised to block loopholes for fraud, reports ITRealms.

Dickson disclosed that preliminary reports turned in by the state verification team have identified some loopholes through which payroll criminals defrauded the state, expressing optimism that the process would save resources for the development of the state.

The Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, in a press statement available to ITRealms quoted Gov. Dickson as saying this during the March edition of the state Monthly Praise Night held at the King of Glory Chapel, Government House, Yenagoa.

As said by Dickson, the on-going exercise would also help government in addressing the ghost workers syndrome to employ more young people into the state civil service.

He said that the exercise was being was being carried out in the best interest of the state.

Dickson advised Bayelsans especially workers to show greater understanding and cooperation to enable government win the fight against payroll fraud and other corrupt practices.

He restated his call on people of the state to steer clear from all crimes particularly kidnapping stressing that the present administration would soon launch a major crackdown on issues threatening the continued peace and stability of the state.

While expressing gratitude to Bayelsans and the church for their prayers and support, Dickson assured the womenfolk of more dividends of democracy particularly in terms of appointments and economic empowerment schemes.

Drawing the text of his sermon from the Book of Proverbs 18 verses 20 and 21, Chaplain of the king of Glory Chapel, Government House, Bishop Dotimi Egbegi highlighted the power of the tongue.

Egbegi therefore enjoined the congregation to always make positive pronouncements about themselves, their families and the state irrespective of life’s challenges.   

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE  

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Nigerian economy: Dickson urges Bayelsans to listen to Buhari

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The Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson has urged the people of his state to listen to President Muhammadu Buhari on the state of the nation’s economy which he said is broke, ITRealms reports.

Dickson was speaking during his charge to the new Special Advisers at Government House, Yenagoa, Wednesday saying the way out of the present economic depression is diversification of the economy oil and gas sector of the economy.

“Investors who want to do business in Nigeria are entitled to know the true state of our economy. Let me use this opportunity to call on all Bayelsans to listen to what the President has said that the entire country is broke. He has made us understand that the financial situation that we are managing is a national phenomenon. It is not peculiar to Bayelsa.

”For the allocation of last month, the Federation Account Allocation Committee could not meet until the past month because they didn’t have money to share to the state and , even when they met for the first time since I took over as governor, states have started getting zero allocation.

However, even in the midst of that we are managing to pay salaries. Even in this terrible month, we’ve directed that by Monday salaries of workers should be paid,” he stated.

In his charge to the new appointees, ITRealms gathered, the governor told them to bring their wealth of experience to bear in the present administration’s efforts to consolidate on its achievements. According to him, the new aides are coming into government at a crucial moment of election and, therefore, urged them to join forces with other critical stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) to mobilize support for the party in the forthcoming election.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

 
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Gov. Dickson sets Abuja agog, submits nomination form, insists PDP 'll get victory

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The Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, accompanied by opinion leaders and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains in the State, on Friday in Abuja submitted his PDP nomination and forms for his expression at the party’s national headquarters, reports ITRealms.

The Governor, who was accompanied by the first elected Governor of the State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, former Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Peremobowei Ebebi, present and past members of the National and State Legislature as well as women and youth groups, created a carnival atmosphere in most parts of Abuja and the PDP national secretariat.

Hon. Dickson while speaking expressed confidence in the ability of the PDP to win the December 5th governorship election in the State, noting that, the PDP remains the only party with realistic ideologies and notable presence at the grassroots level.

He stated that Bayelsans would remain eternally grateful to the PDP for creating the platform for a son of the State to occupy the highest leadership position in the country, pointing out that, the All Progressives Congress, APC in Bayelsa State, is a party of governorship candidates, without followers.

According to him, the PDP has delivered on its mandate like it has never done before, with its achievements visible for all Bayelsans to see for themselves, pointing out that, what the opposition is known for is propaganda in the pages of newspapers.

The countriman Governor expressed gratitude to the elders and political leaders, who accompanied him to the ceremony, stressing that, with the level of support and commitment being demonstrated by persons of their caliber, who are the authentic leaders of their local governments, wards and units, the PDP is assured of a resounding victory at the polls.

Governor Dickson also used the occasion to call on agencies of the government, who would be involved in the elections to act professionally and in line with democratic tenets, as anything short could spell doom for the Nation’s growing democracy.

Earlier, welcoming the governor to the party secretariat, the National Organising Secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha, extolled the leadership qualities of Governor Dickson, noting that, the he has faithfully delivered the dividends of democracy to the people of the State in all sectors.

He commended the leaders of the party in the State for their unity of purpose and support for the governor, who has made the party proud by his actions.

Also speaking when the Bayelsa State Governor paid him a courtesy visit in his office at the Wadata Plaza, the PDP Acting National Chairman, Chief Uche Secondus, stressed with satisfaction the Governor’s commitment to the development of the State and assured him that, the national secretariat will put all the necessary machinery in place towards the organization of a credible, free and fair governorship primaries in the State, after which it will collaborate with the state branch to work for the eventual candidate of the PDP for the December 5th election.

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Bayelsa APC crisis: I am busy with business of governance - Dickson

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The Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, has exonerated himself from the crisis rocking the state chapter of All Progressives Congress, declaring, he is "too preoccupied with the business of governance,” reports ITRealms.
A press statement issued Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary to Bayelsa Governor, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, ITRealms reports that Dickson was reacting to the allegation by the chairman of APC in Bayelsa State, Chief Tiwie Orunimighe, that he was behind the internal crises.
"His Excellency, Governor Henry Seriake Dickson is too preoccupied with the business of governance and is determined to transform the lives of Bayelsans for good as is already evident in its transparent administration, commitment to good governance, landmark infrastructural development, empowerment of the people, free compulsory and qualitative education, social welfare payments to the elderly and unprecedented health infrastructure,” Markson said.
He pointed out that likes of Tiwie and cohort ilk in the troubled APC in Bayelsa State should look for someone else to blame for the party's many troubles because clearly by opening its doors and welcoming all sorts of characters steeped in treachery, it is not surprising that APC is born and bred in crisis.

“But Tiwie should kindly leave the Bayelsa State government out of its growing confusion" he said.
Tiwie had accused the Seriake Dickson-led government in Bayelsa state of allegedly using Richard Kpodoh to cause confusion in APC and meddling in its internal affairs.

 

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Defection: Why Dickson backs recalling of APC legislators

ITRealms:

The Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson has adduced reason why he backed the recent calls to recall the four legislators from the state for defecting to All Progressive Congress (APC) from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), reports ITRealms.

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, gave this insight to ITRealms, saying that it would reduce indiscipline and give boost to sanity in the political circle.

The Governor was quoted as condemning the practice, where politicians cross carpet at will, without recourse to the parties under which they were elected into positions was no longer acceptable and practicable, under a thriving democracy like ours.

The State assembly, he said has by this singular act, set the pace and shown the direction of the new PDP in the State, where party discipline and loyalty, must be the overriding principles and factors for all members, going forward.

The Bayelsa State Governor noted that, indiscipline, disloyalty and greed have been the banes of the PDP at State and National levels in the past, stressing that, such acts would no longer be tolerated for whatever reason in the party.

“We will continue to do the needful by ensuring that, only those who respect the position of the party on issues are allowed to remain, while all those with selfish and unacceptable behavioral patterns will be shown the way out for the good of the PDP. From henceforth, people, whom we call our members, must be held accountable for the actions and in-actions," he said.

 

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