The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa on Thursday demanded a detailed account of public funds allegedly spent on the state’s 30th anniversary celebration, insisting that the government must disclose the cost and budgetary provisions for the event.

The state PDP Chairman, Chief George Turnah made the demand at the party’s expanded 100th State Executive Committee (SEC) meeting in Yenagoa.

Turnah said the anniversary was a significant milestone but should not justify lavish spending amid rising poverty and deteriorating public services.

He said the party recognised Bayelsa’s progress since its creation in 1996 but maintained that the government must prioritise the welfare of residents.

“Thirty years of Bayelsa State’s existence is a significant milestone, and I acknowledge its importance. We are not yet where we ought to be, but we are certainly not where we were in 1996,” he said.

The PDP chairman, however, said the celebration should not be an endorsement of expenditure that might have diverted resources from pressing public needs.

He identified hunger, difficulties in paying school fees, shortages of essential drugs in hospitals and deplorable roads as concerns requiring urgent government attention.

“At a time when our people are facing serious economic challenges, the government is alleged to have spent enormous sums of public money on a lavish anniversary celebration,” Turnah said.

He asked the state government to publish a breakdown of the expenditure in naira and identify the approved budgetary provisions authorising the spending.

Turnah also urged the Bayelsa House of Assembly to exercise its oversight responsibility by scrutinising public expenditure and holding the executive accountable.

He said the legislature had not demonstrated the level of oversight expected by the people, adding that residents deserved effective representation and accountability.

On healthcare, the PDP chairman expressed concern over the condition of primary healthcare centres in rural communities, which he said lacked essential drugs and adequate medical personnel.

He also raised concerns about the state of established medical facilities, including a centre commissioned by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Turnah questioned the impact of a reported $ 4 million health grant, calling on the government to explain how the funds were spent and provide verifiable evidence of projects and services financed through it.

“Healthcare must not be reduced to announcements and public relations exercises. Our people deserve accessible, affordable and effective medical services,” he said.

On transportation, he said residents faced high commuting costs, estimating that an average journey within the state could cost between N5,000 and N10,000.

He argued that such fares placed considerable pressure on civil servants and other residents, particularly following the removal of the fuel subsidy.

Turnah called for affordable mass-transit services to reduce transportation costs for workers, traders, students and other commuters.

The PDP chairman also expressed concern over rising rents, saying self-contained apartments in some areas reportedly cost between N500,000 and N1 million annually.

He said annual rents for one-bedroom flats could range from N1 million to N2 million, with some landlords demanding two years’ rent advance.

According to him, the rising cost of accommodation placed additional pressure on low-income earners and young families.

He called on the government to demonstrate greater commitment to affordable housing, describing decent accommodation as a basic need.

Turnah also questioned the reliability of public water supply, saying residents in some communities, including Yenagoa, still lacked dependable access to potable water 30 years after the state’s creation.

He called for transparency in the management and distribution of water from public facilities.

The PDP chairman said allegations that water produced by a public facility was being sold to offshore companies should be investigated and clarified by the government.

“Access to clean and safe drinking water is a basic necessity. The people of Bayelsa deserve transparency in the management of public water infrastructure and assurance that these facilities serve the public interest,” he said.

On infrastructure, Turnah questioned the cost of some road projects, particularly those reportedly involving billions of naira in public expenditure.

He also raised questions about public assets, including a property reportedly measuring about 600,000 square metres, in connection with road projects said to be worth more than N46 billion.

He urged the government to disclose the transactions, identify the projects involved and explain how their costs were determined.

Turnah said public infrastructure projects required proper scrutiny to ensure efficient use of public funds and value for money.

On education, he expressed concern over students dropping out because of financial difficulties, inadequate funding of higher institutions and the poor condition of some primary and secondary school buildings.

He also cited concerns over teachers’ remuneration, training and support, as well as the reported decline in scholarship and bursary programmes.

According to him, some students, including those studying outside the state, were struggling to continue their education because of financial constraints.

He urged the government to restore student support programmes and explain how promised financial assistance would be funded, managed and distributed.

“Our students deserve practical support, not promises that leave them uncertain about their future,” he said.

Turnah said the concerns raised reflected the difficulties confronting elderly residents, community leaders, party stakeholders and ordinary citizens across the state.

He pledged that the PDP would continue to demand accountability and advocate policies aimed at addressing poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment.

“We will continue to speak for the people, demand accountability and advocate for a better future for every citizen of Bayelsa State,” he said.

Turnah said the party believed Bayelsa could achieve better development outcomes through transparency, job creation, improved healthcare, quality education, affordable housing and reliable public utilities.

He added that the state’s future should be defined by accountability, opportunity and inclusive development rather than waste, neglect and unfulfilled promises.