Economic Challenge: Gov. Dickson Increases Public Confidence

By Basoene James

There is the saying that when the going is rough, only the rough gets going. The British got the best of Winston Churchill when he became a war Prime Minister. Roosevelt was the first President in American history who was elected for a third time.

It was World War II that brought the best out of him. Most great leaders unleash their greatest potentials when they are confronted with challenges. The same can be said of Governor Seriake Dickson.

Governor Seriake Dickson started out as a leader as soon as he assumed office in Feb. 2012. He prioritized security, physical infrastructure, human capital development and tourism. To a great extent, Governor Dickson has within the first two years of his administration, fulfilled his mandate to the people. So much construction work has been done. Our educational system which was comatose has been revamped.

So many institutions such as the Adaka Boro College of Education, the Teacher Training Institute, School of Music and Languages, the International Institute of Tourism among others were built while the Bayelsa State College of Arts and Science has been restored.

Mid 2014, the FAAC allocation to the State began to dwindle, yet because of the saving culture already entrenched, salaries were paid regularly and with promptitude simultaneously with meeting other obligations of government. This is amidst defraying the huge debt profile the administration inherited.

On Feb 14th, 2015, Governor Dickson was sworn-in for a second tenure amidst the rough seas of diminishing forex regime, exceptionally low price of crude and a very low IGR regime coupled with vouchers that were inundated with either ghost names of people wrongfully employed. This was what sparked off the verification exercise at the Local Government level and the Ministries, Agencies and parastatals. The results are better seen than imagined. Recognizing the huge wage bill at the Local Government level and the MDAs, government has proactively engaged organized labour to rationalize on how salaries will be paid. Government has taken a bold step to cut the salaries of political office holders by 30% knowing that the rains do not fall every day.

Bayelsans must jettison their petty partisan interest and commend Governor Seriake Dickson who has resisted the temptation of putting the State in a deluge of debt, which would have accumulated to punish administrations that would come after 2020.

The economic meltdown in the State, notwithstanding, the helmsman has been able to navigate Bayelsa State out of the mess of economic quagmire we would have been put into. By this singular act, Governor Dickson has helped build public confidence and with his courage and inspiration, things can only get better.

Governor Seriake Dickson stands out as an ethical leader with Ethical leadership is about ensuring your leaders' behavior is honest and consistent with the organization's values and beliefs. Doing what you say you will and treating others as you would like to be treated are invaluable traits.

Actions do speak much louder than words! So much of what the nonprofit world does is admirable; these measures should not be difficult but they are hard to come by in our clime. Verily, this is what Governor Seriake Dickson and the Restoration administration represent.

Director, New Media
25th May, 2016

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