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 the government.

The State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah (Rtd), who stated this in Government House, Yenagoa, declared N7.3 billion as balance of funds available as at the end of May, 2018.

A statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, 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 Rear Admiral John-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, as they apply to tertiary institutions.

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 rationalised 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, 3 month 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 stabilisation fund for April, N327 million.

He said the 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 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.

Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, assured that, the government would remain committed to its transparency and accountability policy for succeeding administrations to emulate.

“Bayelsa today is very well known for what we have been doing for the past 6 years, rendering accounts of what comes in and what goes out on a monthly basis. And we are the only state in the country which has earned us awards and accolades from all over.

“And I believe very strongly that we will continue to sustain it and I believe that the government coming after us will follow suit. Already, it has become law, and it has become a model that other states are copying.”