By Cyril Onoka
In an effort to further sanitize its public service, Bayelsa State government has called on well meaning individuals to participate in newly introduced whistle blower policy
This is coming on the heels of the revelation by traditional ruler from the Ekeremor local government area that a grade level ten health worker was earning as much as N600,000 monthly.
Speaking at a town hall meeting at Ekeremor Town on Tuesday, the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon. Daniel Iworiso-Markson said the present administration would not relent in its efforts to sanitize the
Public service and make it one of the best in the Country.
He expressed the present administration readiness to partner with individuals, especially those that have useful information on the activities of the pay roll fraudsters in the state public service.
The Information Commissioner expressed confidence that the ongoing public sector reforms would enable government to save funds to commence the payment of gratuities and other welfare packages before the end of the present administration.
Mr Iworiso-Markson said funds that were hitherto spent on the payment of non-existent workers would be prudently managed to ensure that all genuine workers and retirees receive their earnings as and when due.
According to him, the reforms were helping to cut the wagebills of both state and local councils and therefore expressed hope that the process would strengthen government to embark on more infrastructural development.
Mr Iworiso-Markson who thanked the Chiefs and people of Ekeremor for cooperating with government in maintaining peace in the area, urged them to sustain the kind gesture to enable government take the Sagbama-Ekeremor Road to Ekeremor main town by December this year.
Recounting the gains recorded from the reforms, the Caretaker Chairman of Ekeremor Local Government Council, Mr Tolu Amatu, noted that the Council wagebill has been reduced from over N90billion in 2016 to its current N64billion.
While appreciating Governor Seriake Dickson and the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Iworiso-Markson, for initiating the interactive meeting, Mr Amatu assured government of the people’s readiness to support the reforms.
Speaking on behalf of traditional rulers from the area, the Paramount Ruler and Amapere of Ekeremor, Chief Agbodo Gbaseimo, endorsed the public sector restructuring exercise, describing the continued stay of over-aged workers as unpatriotic.
In his reaction, the member representing Ekeremor Constituency 1 at the State House of Assembly said the bill seeking to give a legal backing to the reforms has reached advanced stage, noting that once signed into law those who commit fraud in the public service would be punished accordingly.
In his remarks, Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters Two, Hon. Ayiba Duba, reassured the people that the reforms would free up space for more employment opportunities.
While restating that no genuine worker would be adversely affected by the exercise, Hon. Duba decried a situation where workers attend verification exercises without their original higher school certificates several years after graduation
Also speaking, the Chairman, Ijaw Youths Council, Central Zone, Comrade Tari Porri, and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Ijaw Language Development, Chief Mitini Tamaraumieyefa cited developmental projects in the area particularly the Sagbama-Ekeremor Road as reason the people would continue to support the reforms.
Others who endorsed the reforms include the Chairperson, Bayelsa State Scholarship Board, Mrs Rebecca Suowari, the Governor’s Special Representative in Ekeremor Council Area, Mr Japan Udoji, a youth leader, Mr Chris Ebi Etolor and a representative of the Bayelsa Graduates Forum, Mr Kennedy Olorogun
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