NO NEW PROJECTS UNTIL AFTER 2012 GUBER POLL -SYLVA

Governor Timipre Sylva has declared that his government would not embark on new projects until after the 2012 governorship elections in the state.

Sylva, speaking during the inaugural state executive meeting, which had in attendance the nine newly inaugurated commissioners, implored them to focus their attention on the completion of ongoing projects.

He said his administration would not initiate new projects as it had drawn up priority projects to be completed by October. The projects Sylva noted include some internal roads within Yenagoa, Yenagoa main jetty, the craft centre in Elebele, some housing estates, the state library complex and the shrimps farm.

His words: 'I am happy to be back in the exco chambers. We are fully on course on the completion of what we started. The focus of this administration is to complete all ongoing projects. In the Ministry of Works and Transport, we will work on the internal roads within Yenagoa, the INC building, Okaka farm, the 500-housing estates, the Melford Okilo Hospital , the state library, the BDGS International Model School, the commissioners and Assembly quarters.'

While directing the Ministry of Agriculture to draw up a template for the distribution of the N1billion agric loan to farmers in the state, he tasked the commissioners for Finance, Budget and Planning to work closely with all ministries that had priority projects and ensure prompt payment of all funds needed for the completion of all ongoing projects.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Steve Ogulah has reiterated the determination of the Sylva administration to enthrone sound accounting and financial system in government's activities.

Ogulah, who stated this while reading a riot act on the attitude to work to the staff of the ministry said the  administration was committed to ensure that due process and prudent management of finance resources guide its operations in the overall interest of the socio-economic development of the state.

According to him, part of the strategies to be deployed by government  was the strengthening of the medium and long term income expenditure framework, through proper tax administration in the state.

Ogulah pointed out that to achieve this, the Ministry of Finance would empower the state Internal Revenue Board to make it more proactive by seeking better ways to collaborate with relevant stakeholders.