There were signs of heavy silence and calm in the Bayelsa State capital following the decision of the State House of Assembly to approve the sum of N3 billion for the acquisition of official cars for the legislators, political appointees and the state security outfit known as the Door Akpor.
The approval from the State House of Assembly to the State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, which was done in secret and unanimously supported by the members on the floor of House on Tuesday.
The Speaker of the House, Hon. Kombowei Benson, who however confirmed the development to leadership in a text message, stated that though the proceeding in which the approval was made was not conducted in spirit, “there was no need for media presence because it lasted for only thirty minutes.”
“I know there will be reactions but the main issues are that even Duo Akpo security vans are needed. For the Assembly, it is our right to have official cars and we are now in our second year without cars. We are going for highlander not expensive Prado or land cruiser in other to cut cost.”
But most of the workers at the State House of Assembly, who spoke with leadership on condition of anonymity, expressed anger over the development and said though it is the right of the State Assembly members, Police and Political appointees, the issue of acquisition of cars few days after the State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson declared a Civil Service reform and insisted that the N4billion wage bill of civil servants is no longer visible.
“Are they saying instead of paying workers their full salary, they prefer to buy N3billion luxury cars? We, the workers of the State, have always bear the brunt for the politicians to enjoy. Have you been to the State Secretariat? It is a mess. Instead of spending money to put the engine room (state secretariat) right and make the milk cow comfortable, they are busy insulting our intelligence.”
The Former Secretary to the Civil Liberties Organisation(CLO) in Bayelsa State, Comrade Morris Alagoa, however described the approval by the State Assembly as normal, “There is actually nothing wrong in buying cars for State legislators and political appointees; as this has been the tradition as we observe since the return of civil rule in 1999”
“Past administrations in the state did same thing; even local government Chairmen; instead of speedboats for those in mainly riverine areas, we have heard how Chairman bought cars for Legislators at that level. In fact, I guess this gesture is even coming relatively late in Dickson’s administration because I am aware that most political appointees during his first tenure were not provided with official cars. With this positive gesture, it goes to say that the days of 50 percent salary for civil servants and complain of over bloated wage bill are over.”
Source: Leadership
