By Samuel Oyadongha

Yenagoa—Bayelsa State House of Assembly, has exonerated Governor Seriake Dickson’s administration of blame in the delayed implementation of the state workers promotion.

*File photo Gov Seriake Dickson

It described as misplaced and cheap propaganda, the rising criticisms against the present administration over the delayed implementation of the workers promotion.

The Assembly through the House Committee Chairman on Public Service and Establishments, Mrs. Ebiowou Koku-Obiyai, said that the huge debts incurred by the past administrations in the state and the negative impacts of the deductions from federal allocations were responsible for the inability of the government to implement promotions in the civil service.

Koku-Obiyai, representing Yenagoa constituency II and former chairperson of the state chapter of Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, in an interview in Yenagoa, said that critics of the Dickson’s administration were unfair in their judgement on labour issues in the state.

“Dickson has tried and it is unfair for anyone to say he has not done well. The performance of the present administration is evidence based. Most of these critics in opposition were given position of authority in the past. What did they do? I have repeatedly encouraged Bayelsa people to shine their eyes.

“If these people want to condemn a performing governor, they should tell us what they did better when they were in authority. We have some of them who plunged the state into debt to the tune of over N272 billion. This government has paid. It is not enough to because of election that the man has not performed.

“The issue of the unpaid gratuity and non-implementation of promotion were created during the past administration because of the huge loans and the deductions being made at the federal level. Because of these debts and deductions, the little that comes is used for prompt payment of salaries and other development plans.

“If not for the prudence of the Dickson’s administration, the sum of N272 billion paid out of the N500billion that accrued to the state would not have been. If these people don’t owe, Dickson would have done more for the state.”