Bayelsa deputy gov hails LG reforms, promises bigger gains

Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has said the benefits of the local government reforms introduced by the state government will far exceed the expectations of the people.

Ewhrudjakpo made this known on Friday during a meeting with the chairman and 15 councillors of Yenagoa Local Government Area at Government House, Yenagoa.

In a statement released on Sunday by his media aide, Mr. Doubara Atasi, the deputy governor highlighted that the reforms had already transformed the councils positively in several areas.

He noted that when the current administration took office in 2020, most local government councils were in severe financial distress, struggling to pay workers’ salaries. However, he declared that such challenges were now history.

According to him, the councils not only pay salaries promptly but have also embarked on impactful projects at the grassroots level, thanks to the fiscal responsibility measures introduced by the state government.

Ewhrudjakpo, who supervises the local government councils, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting them, describing the councils and rural development authorities as “veritable platforms for the distribution of the dividends of good governance.”

Addressing the councillors’ demands, including requests for furniture allowances, he urged them to exercise patience and cooperate with their respective chairmen.

He emphasized that the monthly allocations to councils were meant not only for politicians and workers but also for the provision of essential amenities.

He said: “We also thank you and the unions for cooperating with the government to achieve our current level of success in the local government system. I am very sure our achievements from the reforms introduced will be far more than expected by the end of this administration.

“That is why you all have to support the reforms and what we are doing at the grassroots level. One message we have been preaching is that the monthly allocations coming to the councils are not meant for the politicians and workers alone.

“It is also meant for the provision of solar lights, concrete roads, and other basic amenities that the local government councils are entitled to provide so that the generality of our people at that level can feel the impact of government.”

Ewhrudjakpo also commended stakeholders in the local government system, including labour unions, for their cooperation in achieving a computerized payment system for local government workers.

In his remarks, the Chairman of Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bulodisiye Ndiwari, expressed gratitude to Ewhrudjakpo for his proactive approach to governance.

He also praised the introduction of the oracle mode of payment for workers’ salaries, which commenced smoothly last month.

Earlier, the Leader of the Yenagoa Legislative Council, Mr. Gift Disin, appealed to the deputy governor to intervene in the payment of councillors’ furniture and other outstanding allowances.

He pledged the councillors’ continued loyalty to the Prosperity Government.