Delayed salaries: Dickson queries HOS, AG

From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa

BAYELSA State Gov­ernor, Seriake Dickson has queried his Head of Service (HoS) and the Accountant Gen­eral over delayed pay­ment of approved 50 percent salaries to civil servants.

He was said to have demanded an immedi­ate explanation from the HoS, the accoun­tant general and other relevant officers “on what necessitated the delay.”

Dickson reportedly expressed dismay over the delay despite a di­rective to that effect.

He was also said to have directed the HoS, accountant general and accountants of all the ministries, depart­ments and agencies (MDAs) in the state, as well as parastatals, to ensure that the direc­tive was carried out, not later than today.

He, however, warned that failure to carry out the directive by today would attract stringent disciplinary action against the erring of­ficers.

Dickson, in a state­ment issued at the weekend by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Mark­son said he queried why the salaries were delayed despite the fact that funds were re­leased to all the MDAs when the directive was issued.

While the governor regretted the unfortu­nate situation, he also commended workers in the state “for their patience, maturity and understanding,” stress­ing that the govern­ment “remains com­mitted to the welfare of workers at all levels in the state.”