What is the policy trust of the ongoing public service reforms in Bayelsa State?
The ongoing public service reform is one of the main things I will like to talk about in this media chat, even though I know there are a number of other issues that may come up. It is topical, not so much because it is new, because I have been raising this issue of indiscipline in the public service and the need to professionalise it. I have been raising the issue of the unsustainable wage bill in all the categories and cadres of the public service from 2012 and since then we have embarked on several measures and policies to tackle the issue. We have carried out verifications upon verifications and taken so many other steps at different times, and in different ways, all aimed at taking out the bad eggs, and also to reposition the public service, as a result of which from 2012 when we took over, the wage bill of N5b plus at the state level and about N1.7b in our eight local government areas is now slightly under N4b. When you take out the political appointees it is about N3.7b.
That should tell you the amount of work that has gone into the process. That of the local government areas is now about N1.1b. That also tells you the hard work that has gone into that area as well. What has happened now is not a new thing. I have been talking about this public service reforms for a long time now. I have been talking about the need to reduce the running cost of governance, reduce the wage bill and professionalise the public service. I have been talking about the need to remove the names of those who do not go to work from our payroll, fish out the ghost names and address the problem of those who purchase salary grades and steps, and those who have turned the public service into a market, as well as the general indiscipline in the service. We cannot afford a workforce of the type that I have described.
Now, let us be clear, there are hardworking civil servants in this state. There are committed and conscientious public servants that are doing their best and I know a lot of them. I have served as governor in this state for six years now, and before that I worked here as Attorney General. I have been part of this state from its creation so I know what has been going on, but we feel that the time has come to draw up a coherent policy that we will implement so that at the end we will hand over a smart, well-motivated, well trained and disciplined public service.
Our experiences during the recession taught us a lot of lessons. 2015 and 2016 were very terrible years for us governors and I believe also at the federal level, even though at the federal level they have a lot of other opportunities and can do things with the central bank and raise money through bonds and so on, but we in the states are at the receiving end. For a state like Bayelsa, one of the newest, remotest and most underdeveloped even though we produce most of the resources the country relies on, without a solid IGR base because there are no industries or private sector, we are handicapped. The oil companies operate here but pay taxes to other places. Whereas other states count their IGR in billions and boast about it because the federal government built their airports, seaports and other things that attract investors, here in Bayelsa we do not have that kind of luxury. We are building everything on our own.
When we took over, IGR was N60m; we had to fight tooth and nail to raise it to where it is today. When you have a state like ours that is dependent on what we get from the FAAC for everything, you must be interested in the recurrent cost.
I understand why the wage bill is the way it is and I have severally described it, for want of a better description, as the Nigerian voter registers, in which you see all kinds of names – living and the dead, the unborn and ancestors, and spirits. As it is in the Nigerian voters register that is the way it is in the Bayelsa payroll, from the local governments to the schools, to the state service, to parastatals. Take for example a parastatal-agencies like the Bayelsa Transport Company, they do not have a single vehicle, so they generate no money for themselves or for the state and yet we have 400 plus workers, being promoted and earning salaries, and yet not going to work and not having anything to do.
I believe it is wrong, but I know why things are the way they are. When the state was created, the few available people from Rivers state that came to start the civil service did not have proper accommodation to live in or even office spaces to work, but this state is 20 years now so that negative mind-set that you can have your names on the payroll without coming to work has to change. We have to draw a red line now and it is my intention and the desire of the government that I lead to do so.
In addition to the good schools, medical facilities, roads and bridges we have built, one of the most important things we will also like to leave behind is a reformed, repositioned, well-motivated, well-trained and disciplined public service. That is the central objective of the public service reform. We go by conviction and we cannot be swayed by propaganda or blackmail. Whatever is good for this state, the only homogeneous state of the Ijaw Nation, we are going to get it done, no matter how difficult the decisions may be.
We are aware that the people who may be affected by the reforms, are Bayelsans and so the government has the responsibility to listen to issues that are genuine and one way or the other at the end of this process, we have a duty and I am prepared, something that a lot of governments do not even do, to come up with ways by which we will ameliorate those hardships and create other opportunities for them.
As we speak, almost all the states are looking inwards because of what we went through during the recession. The Federal Government is also doing the same. The central focus of this reform is not to sack, but to reposition. For example this state needs teachers because we have built schools, schools and more schools. We have conducted surveys in every sector and so we know their manpower requirements and all those who may be affected by this reorganisation could still be useful as teachers or sent to these other sectors. A graduate that has majored in a particular course should be able teach that course in secondary school. We will have ways of absorbing them but with conditions. The condition is that they must be existing workers and they must be committed workers as well.
What is the state government’s projection at the end of the exercise in terms of savings that will be made and the number of workforce that will be left in the service?
That question is premature, because I will like the process to run its full course. Steps are being taken, but only God is perfect. Any idea from by a human being or an organisation is subject to adjustment, so let the process go on. We have set up different appeal mechanisms through which genuine complains can be addressed. For example, we sent out civil servants to all the local governments, permanent secretaries were in charge, so many teams from the civil service, unions and so on have gone round. These names did not drop from the sky, but genuine complains will be attended to and resolved amicably.
The other thing I want to say in response to your question is that this reform is not only to remove excess luggage but at the end of this process we will also open up a lot of opportunities in the public service. For instance, I raised the issue of the protocol department that needs to be strengthened. I have given directives to the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission to develop the template for my approval so that we can begin recruiting fresh graduates in this state. So for young people out there, you have to know that this public service reform has opened up lot of opportunities for you to be employed instead of keeping 80 year olds in the payroll. Let the old people who are due for retirement retire so their children and grandchildren can come into the service.
I have directed the chairman of the Civil Service Commission to develop a template to employ medical staff. This state needs medicals staff. I have directed the employment of 20 pharmacists for the first time in this state. We are running a serious government; I am not here for play. In the agricultural sector we also need specialists and technocrats, which we do not have at the moment. We do not have architects, town planners, surveyors, engineers and so on. We need to employ young Bayelsa graduates who have certificates in these areas, and not fill up the payroll with fake names that will receive salary and not do any work.
You are credited to have said God would determine your successor in 2020. Can you throw more light on it?
I have always said that power belongs to God. Human beings try their best but ultimately, it is the wish of God for anybody and the wish of God for our people that, as a man of faith, I believe will come to pass. My attitude to such matters is that people should try their best to leave room for God who is the author of all life and all human power and authority. That is why I always advise people not to be too desperate. People do all kinds of things for power, authority and money. I do not belong to that school of thought. Not many people knew I was going to be governor; I myself did not even know I will be governor as of the time I became governor. But you see when God wants to do something; He creates the circumstances and even raises the people. That is why no human being should take credit. You can support somebody to win but do not take credit. At the very best you were just the agent God used.
Take for instance, as governor, you know the number people I have made by the appointments I have given and other things I have done. It has gone into their CVs and they use it a stepping-stone. That is what God wants for them using me. I believe that at the right time the wish of God will prevail.
Recently the Bayelsa state government threatened to take the Federal Government to court if it fails to deduct and deploy to oil-producing states, the 13 per cent derivation component from the $1b it is withdrawing from the Excess Crude Account to tackle the security challenges in the country…
It was not a threat; it was an opinion. The position contained in that letter was a position I advanced in my several interactions at the governors forum and my subsequent interactions with the vice-president who is the chairman of the National Economic Council, and I have raised that view publicly also. And I had an understanding and I thought the understanding was for the processes I outlined to be followed because of the consultations. The money in the excess crude account belongs to the states, federal and local governments, so I wanted transparency in the process. I understand the primacy of security in our country, region and state Bayelsa. I know what we are doing as a state on security and I raised this concern so that we can streamline the requirement and procurement modalities before the commencement of the exercise so that funds are not used for other purposes as it is been speculated. And most importantly that the crumbs in the excess crude account are proceeds from oil and gas and, therefore, are subject to the derivative principles. That principle must be respected; it is not a threat. I have told them openly and they know me, I am a man of conviction. I do not take positions just out of convenience and I believe that is the right thing to be done. So I was just putting them on notice, that the right thing should be done, failing which the state has options. And as we speak, we are considering those options seriously.
Sir, why did government stop the salaries of some genuine workers in the name of reforms?
Let me say firstly that I have directed the team to release salaries to the genuine workers. That is why in this government we created the unpaid salaries account. That is if there are issues with salaries, we will put it in an account, nobody touches it pending clarification of the issues.
I have said with regards the process that since more consultation will be done; they should release the salaries to those genuine certified workers pending the conclusion of the exercise. So from today that I have given the directive, the process of releasing salaries to all genuine workers will begin because the money is in an unpaid salaries account. Things are well structured but in a massive exercise like this, there will be inconveniences to the people, it is inevitable. The important thing is that we are available and open to listen to complains and as soon as we find them to be genuine, we address them. That is the rule of governance and that is what I have done. So salaries of those genuine workers will be paid. Even for this month I have directed that even if the exercise has not been concluded, they should pay but we are going to conclude this exercise as soon as possible.
The teams have been directed to conclude as quickly as possible because as soon as we get the reports, the better for the state.
You have been appointed five times as chairman of the PDP reconciliation committee by five different chairmen of the party, why always you?
Well I thought that was a question you should have asked the people who keep appointing me, but since you have asked me, I will say that it may have something to do with my style of politics. I believe in consensus building. I believe in engagements, even when we disagree. And that is why even in this state we have this relatively stable political atmosphere.
It has been challenging, sometimes you wish people behaved differently and that things were done differently, but then people always fall in three categories I talked about. People are different, with different styles and ambitions. My hope and prayer is that people should rise above personal ambitions and put the overall interest of the parties and of the country at heart. This country needs as I have always said two strong parties; a strong united party in government and a strong united, cohesive, clear-headed opposition party, which my party is striving to be. We hope we get there. In politics you need people to achieve results, no matter how good you are. You need teamwork and team spirit; you need to work with people even when you disagree with them. The more they disagree with you, the more you should listen to them. These are some beliefs that inform my public life and politics. People should be very mindful of how they use power. I prefer to use influence instead of power. There is a difference between power and authority and influence. Consensus building is at the heart of polity building. I have a suspicion that these attitudes had consistently informed my nominations.
What is your party trying to do and what will it do differently in view of the consistent allegations levelled against the PDP government by the APC?
Quite frankly, this is part of what is wrong with Nigerian politics now, the constant demonisation of the PDP by the APC. For me it is childish, laughable and uncalled for. Because sometimes you have a feeling that the APC even though in power is still behaving like a party in opposition and is still on a campaign mode. I would have thought that after all the things they said that the PDP did not do well or the PDP government did not do well, well you claim that Nigerians have voted for you, so go ahead and do things rightly.
Here in this state, there was a governor who was here for almost six years and I know what I am seeing in all the files, in all projects and in all programmes. But I did not waste any time looking behind to pursue people? I simply drew a red line and did things differently. You do not need to say you inherited an empty treasury, are treasuries meant to be full and be handed over? Treasuries are meant to be used to work. The point is that at the end of the day, every incumbent will be judged not by the failure of the preceding government but by what they themselves have done. And I think as the days and months draw closer, the more they will come to that realisation, that they will judged by what they do and what they did not do, and not what PDP did.
I think they (the APC) could have done better than they are doing. Quite frankly the PDP made these mistakes but the PDP also achieved a lot for our democracy and for our country. There is currently too much division in our country so the APC led government has to unify the country. There has to be a country first of all before you can claim you are in power. The APC has not been able to unify the country as much. Just look at the wanton killings and destructions of precious life, not only by Boko Haram, because now there are the herdsmen and we are told we are under a foreign invasion and yet you are not addressing these issues?
You are talking of one list today and tomorrow another list, yet we do not know ourselves in this country. I believe our politics in this country should be mature. That we are in different political parties does not make us enemies. Even if we are not friends at personal level, we have a number of friends in other political parties and some few good people in the APC are my friends, but at least we are Nigerians, we are human beings and we share a common humanity and then a common “Nigerianess.” We should treat one another with respect if not with love.
and then