Several figures in Bayelsa on Sunday rose to protest the recent approval by the Bayelsa State Assembly of a plan by Governor Seriake Dickson to secure a 66 million euro loan from Poland.
Several figures in Bayelsa on Sunday rose to protest the recent approval by the Bayelsa State Assembly of a plan by Governor Seriake Dickson to secure a 66 million euro loan from Poland.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content1'); });
Some of the protesters noted that Bayelsa State is already one of Nigeria’s most debt-burdened states. “Each month, this state devotes close to N3 billion from its federation account receipts just to service its debt obligations,” said a retired senior civil servant.
Prior to seeking the new foreign loan, Mr. Dickson had often lamented the state’s huge debt burden, blaming it for leaving the state with too little resources for development. The loan from Poland is for building a proposed maritime academy located at Brass Island, in Brass local government area of Bayelsa.
Last week, the House of Assembly had approved the governor’s proposal to secure the loan from Poland under the provisions of the Bayelsa State Fiscal Responsibility Law.
But some activist groups on Sunday deplored the state assembly’s action, adding that the loan was an attempt by the present administration to enslave the people of the state. The critics accused the legislature of merely acting to rubber stamp the governor’s whims and caprices.
The Civil Liberties Organization confirmed that it has called an emergency meeting to formally express its dissatisfaction with the proposed loan.
In addition, a coalition comprising the Concerned Bayelsans, the Bayelsa chapter of the Abubakar Baraje-led new People's Democratic Party (PDP), and Bayelsan Professionals issued a statement in the state capital, Yenagoa, criticizing Mr. Dickson’s decision to pursue a foreign loan.
The statement, which was issued under the aegis of the New Coalition for Good Governance, was signed by Richard Kpodo as national coordinator. The statement said that the claim of prudence by the state government was questionable.
“In the last two years of the present administration, over N400 billion has accrued to the state in terms of allocations and finances out of which the Seriake Dickson administration claimed to have saved N28 billion,” the statement said. Then the coalition asked, “If you have such savings, why would you need a loan?”
The coalition’s statement continued: “We thought we have passed the era of bank loans in the state. The issue of a loan deal will only serve to enslave the people of Bayelsa and draw us further down the abyss of underdevelopment.” They urged the state assembly “not to serve as an appendage to the loan deal,” adding that “the decision to secure a foreign loan is unjustifiable.”
But the state legislature defended its approval, stating that it followed due process in considering the request submitted by Governor Dickson. The assembly claimed that the loan was in line with global best practices.
Raising a motion to approve during an emergency session, the legislature’s Deputy Speaker, Victor Sam Ateki, said the loan would enable the state government to fast track development in the maritime sector. He therefore urged members to support it. Another legislator, Monday Bubou, who represents Southern Ijaw constituency II, seconded the motion.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content2'); });
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('comments'); });