From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
BAYELSA State Governor, Seriake Dickson has queried his Head of Service (HoS) and the Accountant General over delayed payment of approved 50 percent salaries to civil servants.
He was said to have demanded an immediate explanation from the HoS, the accountant general and other relevant officers “on what necessitated the delay.”
Dickson reportedly expressed dismay over the delay despite a directive to that effect.
He was also said to have directed the HoS, accountant general and accountants of all the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in the state, as well as parastatals, to ensure that the directive was carried out, not later than today.
He, however, warned that failure to carry out the directive by today would attract stringent disciplinary action against the erring officers.
Dickson, in a statement issued at the weekend by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson said he queried why the salaries were delayed despite the fact that funds were released to all the MDAs when the directive was issued.
While the governor regretted the unfortunate situation, he also commended workers in the state “for their patience, maturity and understanding,” stressing that the government “remains committed to the welfare of workers at all levels in the state.”