The Bayelsa State Government has re-assured workers of its
preparedness to pay full salaries at the end of this month, with a
view to cushioning the financial hardship caused by the current
economic situation facing the country
The Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (Rtd), gave
the assurance over the weekend at the transparency briefing for the
month of September, 2016 at his office in Government House, Yenagoa.
He explained that, the 50% owed workers in the month of February, 2016
would be paid alongside that of October, to make full payment,
stressing that, the government was still committed to the payment of
the salary arrears owed the workers.
His words: “We understand there is this fear that, the past halves
would be forgotten. No, we don’t need to be afraid, we want to
reassure our workers that, the government would be doing this from
time to time until we pay up the whole arrears. After all, it is your
own money.”
While presenting the income and expenditure profile of the state, Rear
Admiral John Jonah said from next year, the state government would
operate a cashless system of collecting internally generated revenues
to check leakages.
The Deputy Governor, who announced a gross inflow of N11.07 billion
said the amount was made up of 13% derivation of N4.2 billion,
exchange differential N2.2 billion, statutory allocation N1.8 billion,
Petroleum Profit tax N1.1 billion, Budget support N1.1 billion, VAT
N662 million while refund from other states stood at N57 million.
On deductions, he noted that, bond loan amounted to N1.2 billion,
restructured bank loans N741 million, Excess crude account loan
facility N126 million, Commercial agricultural loan schemes one and
two N162million, foreign loans N29 million and salary bailout of N16
million totaling N2.3 billion which brought the net inflow to N8.7
billion.
He, however, pointed out that, an IGR of N736 increased the amount
available for spending to N9.4 billion from which N9.7 billion was
expended resulting to a negative balance of N267 million.
The Deputy Governor said, the expenditure include recurrent payment of
N2.9 billion, capital payment N2.4 billion, civil servants’ salaries
N2.5 billion, bank loan repayment N1.5 billion, salaries for political
appointees N160 million and provision for IGR collection N69 million.