Reform
By Christian Ogbonna
Ogbia (Bayelsa), June 21, 2018 (NAN) Mrs Naomi Ogoli, the Chairman, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa, has hailed the ongoing reforms in the state public service, which she said, had helped to reduce the council’s wage bill.
Ogoli said at a town hall meeting on Thursday in Ogbia that the reform had helped to scale down the wage bill by N76 million from N210 million.
She said that she inherited 1,049 council’s staff, but the reforms reduced the number to 736.
The meeting, which was organised by the state Ministry of Information and Orientation, was aimed at enlightening the public on the importance of public service reforms to the economy.
Ogoli explained that the primary school staff strength had also been reduced from the previous 1,511 to 1,199 due to the reforms.
“The ongoing reform, which was initiated by Gov. Seriake Dickson, is yielding positive results; the cost of governance has reduced.
“Again, before the reforms, the over bloated wage bill of N127 million in the primary school sector, has now reduced to N77 million,’’ Ogoli said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Bayelsa Government, had earlier said that the current reforms in the civil service had reduced the state wage bill of over six billion naira to N3.8 billion.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson, urged the people to support the reform, as it would create more space for more employments and development opportunities.
On the government’s plan to employ 1,000 youths, Iworiso-Markso reassured applicants of fairness and transparency in the exercise.
He said that no politicians would be given any employment slot.
“Prepare yourselves for both written and oral interviews to enable the government recruit competent hands.
“I urge the youth to also explore opportunities in the private sector,’’ he said.
Also speaking, Mr Mitema Oxborough, a member representing Ogbia Constituency 1 in the Bayelsa House of Assembly, lauded the reforms.
He, however, cautioned those saddled with the responsibility to play by the public service rules.
A traditional ruler, Obanobah of Ogbia Kingdom, King Charles Owaba, urged public servants to be above board in the performance of their duties to avoid embarrassment.
Owaba lauded the current reforms and urged the government to sanction anybody found wanting. (NAN)
OOC/AIB/YEMI
Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Yemi Idris-Aduloju