By Oyintokoni Joel, Yenagoa
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has restated his administration’s commitment to open and accountable governance where the people of the state would participate in key decision making processes.
Governor Diri stated this on Thursday at a Critical Stakeholders Public Interactive Session for the Preparation of the 2027 annual budget at the Harold Dappa-Biriye Conference Hall, Onopa, Yenagoa.
Governor Diri, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Peter Akpe, noted that the administration would continue to strengthen systems that would promote the tracking and reporting of budget implementation to ensure proper utilization of public funds.
He noted that his government had always partnered civil society organizations, the media and the citizenry to promote transparency, accountability and good governance.
The Bayelsa Governor explained that the interactive session was organised to enable people from all walks of life to contribute to the budget-making process using the bottom-top approach.
According to Governor Diri, the citizens’ budget that will follow the Interactive Session will be made public for every Bayelsan to see how public funds are being utilised in the state.
His words: “So let me set out what this administration hopes to hear from you today, so that the 2027 Budget is a better instrument than the one before it.
First, we want to know what has worked and what has not, in your community, in your sector, and in your daily experience.
“If a project in the current budget has not been felt on the ground, tell us. If a road has been completed but the drainage was forgotten, tell us.
“Secondly, we want your help in setting priorities. Our needs are many and our resources, though improving, remain finite. Between the completion of ongoing projects and the commencement of new ones; between physical infrastructure and human capital; between the urban centres and the riverine communities; we must choose, and we would rather choose with you than for you.
“Thirdly, we want to hear from those whose voices are too often absent when budgets are made: women, young people, persons living with disabilities, and the communities that have carried the environmental cost of oil production for more than sixty years.
“Distinguished stakeholders, this administration has committed itself to open and accountable governance, and we intend to keep faith with that commitment. The Citizens’ Budget that will follow this exercise will be published in plain language so that every Bayelsan can see where public money is going.
“We will continue to strengthen the systems that track and report on implementation, and we welcome the partnership of civil society and the media in holding us to what we have written.”
In his presentation, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Maxwell Ebibai represented by the Technical Adviser on Treasury, Accounts and Revenues, Timipre Seipulo gave an account of the 2025 budget performance which he puts at 86%.
He said the state received total actual revenues of N1.13 trillion, which represented three hundred and twenty percent increase from the N926 billion received the previous year.
The Finance Commissioner also said: “However, when we prepared the budget for 2025, what we budgeted for revenue was 1.294 billion. So what it means is that we were able to achieve 86% of our budgeted revenue for 2025.
“Recurrent expenditures for 2025 was N274.78 billion against N329 billion in the previous year, represented a 17% reduction, while our budget for 2025 recorded expenditure was N309 billion, which also means that we were able to achieve 89% of our budgeted recurrent expenditure for 2025.
“While our capital expenditures for 2025 came to N838 billion against the previous year figure of N596 billion, representing 41 percent or 85 percent of our budgeted figures.”
In his address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Burutolu Samuel, explained that the interactive session was organised to enable government interface with the people to identify priorities in terms of needs and collectively determine the development direction for the state in the next fiscal year.
He therefore encouraged citizens to participate actively in the budget making process to enable government come up with a people-centred budget which implementation will lead to the delivery of tangible improvements in the lives of the people.
During the question and answer session, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Estate Surv. Moses Teibowei, said the Governor Douye Diri-led administration had made significant progress in the areas of infrastructural development, especially in the construction of roads linking the hinterland.
He disclosed that the state government has given approval for the rehabilitation of internal roads in Yenagoa, the state capital, particularly that of old Okaka Road, adding that the current administration has a good working relationship with federal agencies, particularly the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
He said, “I can tell you that all the roads l have mentioned including the PDP Road, have been visited. Just yesterday (Wednesday), the governor approved for the central procurement board to award contracts for the rehabilitation of the old Okaka Road.
So, I want our people to rest assured that His Excellency will still give approval for the other roads to be rehabilitated. But l strongly believe that at the end of this month, the Okaka road will be properly fixed.”
Dr Mary John and Mrs Leah Amara representing women groups, Mr Johnson Theophilus and Amuso Henry (CDC Chairmen), Mr Charles Peletiri (youths) and Chief Grant Ekisa, representing traditional rulers, among others, asked questions during the interactive session.
