Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Government says it has expended N313.5 million as payment for the disengaged staff of tertiary institutions following the staff rationalisation policy of government.
Deputy Governor Gboribiogha John Jonah who stated this in Government House, Yenagoa, declared N7.3 billion as balance of funds available as the end of May, 2018.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Francis Ottah-Agbo, quoted the deputy governor as stating that, the amount was part of the total outflows of the month, which came up to N6 billion.
According to Jonah, the amount was spent in lieu of the 3 months notice prior to the termination of their services in line with the public service regulations.
He listed the affected institutions to include, Niger Delta University (NDU), Amassoma, Isaac Adaka Boro College of Education, Sagbama, College of Health Technology, Otuogidi as well as the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tombia.
His words, “On the issue of salary to disengaged staff, it did not only affect the NDU, but all the tertiary institutions, where the reform policy rationalized the staffing policy according to best practices.
“In the civil service, if redundancy is declared, the rule requests government to pay the worker one month salary in lieu of notice.
“But in the tertiary institutions, we saw that their conditions are bit different from the public service regulations. In their case, you must pay the worker, three months’ salary in lieu of notice.”
Rear Admiral John Jonah also noted that other components of the outflows include, bank loans and contractual agreements, N1.7 billion, salary for civil servants, N2.8 billion, political appointees, N315 million and monthly grants to tertiary institutions, N6.30 million.
The Deputy Governor announced a gross FAAC inflow of N14.3 billion comprising, derivation of N9.8 billion, statutory allocation, N3.2 billion, value added tax, N837 million and stabilization fund for April, N327 million.
He said total FAAC deductions gulped, N1.6 billion, thereby leaving the state government with a net inflow of N12.7 billion, in addition to an internally generated revenue for the month of April, N590 million.
Rear Admiral John Jonah declared N4.8 billion as capital payments, while that of recurrent was N2.6 billion, adding that, the state government made a10% contribution of N46 million to payment of primary school staff salaries.