GOV DICKSON EXPRESSES DISSATISFACTION OVER PERFORMANCE OF PVC CARD READERS, WANTS INEC TO URGENTLY ADDRESS IT

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has expressed total dissatisfaction with the performance of the PVC card readers deployed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to the State for elections as critical and sensitive as the Presidential and National Assembly.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after casting his vote alongside his wife, Rachel, at the Oru-erewari Polling Unit 5, Ward 2 in Toru-Orua, Sagbama Local Government Area, Governor Dickson called on the electoral body to take urgent steps to address the failure of the card readers by resorting to manual accreditation, so as not to disenfranchise a huge number of eligible voters across the State.

While, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission to rise up to the occasion to ensure a free, fair and credible electoral process, he, however, called on Nigerians to exercise patience and understanding over the situation.

His words: “The election in this area is going on smoothly and reports we have received across the state also give an indication of a peaceful exercise. But, there are issues here and there concerning the card readers and that is a concern that we have always had from the beginning.

There are some reports about the failure of the card readers to perform optimally. I hope that, at the end of the exercise, so many of our people will not be disenfranchised.

We believe that, INEC will know what to do so that, we get it right. I like to appreciate and commend Bayelsans for the large turn out and for their peaceful conduct.

He commended Bayelsans for turning out en masse to exercise their franchise and the maturity they exhibited during the accreditation and actual voting process.

According to Governor Dickson, there was no reported cases of violence associated with the election and expressed the hope that, the April 11^th elections will be peaceful as well.

In an interview, the INEC Presiding Officer of the polling unit, Ms. Alabi Christiana also lauded the people for the orderly manner they conducted themselves, adding that, a total of 466 eligible voters were accredited for voting.

Daniel Iworiso-Markson

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa State

GOV DICKSON EXCERCISE HIS VOTING RIGHT IN BAYELSA

 

Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson casting his vote during the Presidential and National Assembly elections at Ward 2, Unit 5, Oru-erewari, Toru-Orua in Sagbama Local Government Area of the State at the weekend.

Photo by Lucky Francis

GOV DICKSON SWEARS-IN NEW COMMISSIONERS, CHAIRMAN OF LOCAL GOVT SERVICE COMMISSION, TASKS THEM ON SERVICE DELIVERY

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has charged newly sworn in commissioners and chairman of the Local Government Civil Service Commission to fine tune the government policies and reforms geared towards enhancing service delivery.

Governor Dickson gave the charge at the swearing in ceremony of three commissioners, Mr. Tubonah Talbot Nengi, Ms. Nengi Rufus-Spiff and Mr. Freedom Osain as well as chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Chief Adolphus Forcados in Yenagoa.

Following the swearing in of the commissioners, Chief Walter Ben-Wari, who was formerly of the Ministry of Special Duties, Bayelsa East Senatorial District is now Commissioner for Water Resources, while that of Tourism, Mr. Julius Otele moves to Housing and Urban Development.

Accordingly, Mr. Talbot Nengi takes over the Ministry of Special Duties, Bayelsa East, Mr. Freedom Osain is to man the Ministry of Tourism and Ms. Nengi Rufus-Spiff as commissioner for Women Affairs.

He said the officials were coming into the government at a time, when the direction of his administration has been made clear to all and sundry, urging them to key into the vision of the government to meet the expectations of the people.

Governor Dickson, particularly charged the Commissioner for Women affairs to interface with the women, especially those in the rural areas for their economic empowerment, stressing that, his administration abhors the giving of handouts to achieve political gains.

The Governor also noted that, Ms. Spiff would serve as a board member of the State-owned Micro Finance Bank as well as oversee the Centre fro Women Development in the State.

On the repositioning of the Local Government Service Commission, Governor Dickson called on the new chairman to continue with the implementation of the on-going reforms, pointing out that, he was appointed to serve out the tenure of his predecessor.

His words: “You are aware that, we have undertaken a lot of reforms in the local government administration system of our State. A number of reforms are lying in your office. The bloated nature of the workforce; the fact that, local government workers hardly ever turn up for work and several other issues, that are critical to the survival of our local government system. 

“I know that the commission has been pursuing that programme of reforms and I expect you to go there, take a look at it and re-work it, where necessary. Where policies are right; continue with them; where they need to be fine-tuned for effectiveness, do so.

At all times work to protect the core values that our government stands for. I know complaints will come, but remember that, we are interested in preventing fraud and waste; we are also interested in making people go to work as well as promoting professionalism in the public service.”    

Daniel Iworiso-Markson

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa State

GOVERNOR DICKSON SWEARS -IN THREE NEW COMMISSIONERS IN BAYELSA NIGERIA

 

Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson (R), receiving the copies of the 2015 State Appropriation bill, tagged ‘Budget of further Consolidation & Completion, just passed into law from the Speaker, BYHA, Rt. Hon. Konbowei Benson, at the Executive chambers, Government House, Yenagoa.

 

   Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson (R), congratulating the newly sworn-in Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Mr. Forcados Aldolphus Dede, shortly after he was sworn-in at the Executive Council chambers, Government House, Yenagoa.

 

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State (2nd L), in a group photograph with the newly sworn-in commissioners, shortly after the swearing-in ceremony, at the Government House, Yenagoa. From Left; Ms Nengi Rufus Spiff (Women Affairs), Mr. Tubonah Talbot Nengi (Special Duties-East), and Mr. Freedom Josiah Osain (Tourism Development).

Photos by Goodluck Ayebatonye

PRESIDENT'S ARRIVAL IN YENAGOA

Governor of Bayelsa State.Hon.Seriake Dickson (right) accompanied by his wife,Racheal(left) welcoming President Goodluck Jonathan(center) shortly on his arrival in Yenagoa, for this weekend's presidential election. With them is little Miss.Karinate Oweifawari.
Photo by Goodluck Ayebatonye

 President Jonathan points at an object of interest to Governor Dickson during his reception on touch-down   at tourist island,Yenagoa, Bayelsa state,Nigeria today.
Photo by Nwokedi Nworisara

   
Bayelsa women groups welcome President Jonathan at tourist island,Yenagoa.Photos by Nwokedi Nworisara