Posted on: 05:12 Fri, 25 Mar 2016



The Bayelsa State government
yesterday said it got N1.24 billion
as its share of Federal
Government’s bailout funds to
states.

Deputy Governor John Jonah spoke
in Yenagoa, the state capital,
during the government’s income
and expenditure briefing for
January.

He said the money would be used
to settle the backlog of salaries the
eight local government areas were
owing.

Jonah said the fund was available
for collection before the December
2015 governorship election.

The deputy governor said the
Federal Government refused to
release the money because of the
suspicion that Governor Seriake
Dickson would use it for his re-
election campaigns.

He said: “Yes, the money (N1.24
billion) has been transferred to us
now. It was ready before the
(governorship) election.

They felt that if the money was
given to us, we would use it for the
election.

“Even if you pay people, it is a
morale booster; so, you will gain.
But they stopped it.”