The Bayelsa State Executive Council has approved the 2016 fiscal estimate
tagged, “Budget of Transition”, with emphasis on the completion of the
ongoing developmental projects across the three senatorial districts.
This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday night by the Chief
Press Secretary Governor Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, Daniel
Iworiso-Markson.
The council said that the 15-man emergency response team that was
constituted during the Ebola outbreak in the country has been put on
alert, in case of any possible outbreak of Lassa Fever in the state.
But priority attention will be given to the tower and four star hotels as
well as the development of tourism, agriculture and industrialization.
Speaking with journalists alongside other members of the State Executive
Council in Yenagoa, the State Commissioner for Budget and Economic
Planning, Mr. Ambrose Akierite said, this was one of the major resolutions
taken at the 55th Executive Council meeting.
According to him, the budget proposal would focus on the completion of
ongoing projects that would generate revenue for the state, adding that,
the Executive Council’s decision not to embark on new capital projects was
informed by the economic realities of sliding crude oil prices, which has
negatively impacted on the national economy.
Speaking on the same issue, the State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Duate
Iyabi, said, the 2016 fiscal year would be targeted at completing the
cargo airport, before the middle of next year..
The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Esueme Dan-Kikile, added
that the 2016 budget proposal would also be focused on community
development initiatives, particularly in boosting the government’s drive
on rural electrification tagged, Operation Light Up Bayelsa.
In his presentation, the State Commissioner for Environment, Iniruo Wills
said, the council decided to overhaul the waste management system and
develop a multi-pronged approach to make waste disposal more viable.
According to him, the government will also build a waste recycling plant
and embark on measures to ensure that, the state’s waste disposal system
becomes self-sustaining, in order to relieve the government of the
financial burden.
Also speaking, State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ayebatonye Owei, said
council deliberated on the current outbreak of Lassa Fever in some parts
of the country.
He said the 15-man emergency response team that was constituted during the
Ebola outbreak in the country has been put on alert, in case of any
possible outbreak of Lassa Fever in the state.
Identifying symptoms of Lassa fever to include coughing, bleeding and body
weakness, Dr. Owei said, the disease was being transmitted through rats.
Consequently, he disclosed that, the government has embarked on a
sensitization programme on the need for people to maintain good personal
hygiene and ensure that food is well cooked.