The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Bayelsa State says it has developed a roadmap that is capable of helping the present administration led by Senator Douye Diri intensify efforts in addressing urgent social and economic issues such as poverty alleviation, infrastructure development and environmental challenges plaguing the growth of the state.
The state chairman of IPAC, Brisibe Kpodoh, in a statement issued in Yenagoa, highlighted the lack of advancement in various sectors of the state, saying that Bayelsa State has been falling behind in terms of human empowerment and economic growth, as the state’s economy is stagnant and level of poverty has quadrupled over the years.
He noted that minimal progress has been made in the past three years, and the state is moving at a frustratingly slow pace, urging the Diri administration to focus on providing clean water to communities, addressing environmental degradation, combating flooding and erosion, and ensuring a stable supply of electricity, considering that states now have the capability to generate power.
Concerning the prediction of flood that is coming later this year, Kpodoh pointed out that there is lack of proper drainage systems and accessible road networks, along with uncontrolled waste dumping, even in Yenagoa, the capital city, which poses significant health risks and could lead to disease outbreak.
IPAC also questioned the effectiveness of Governor Douye Diri’s prosperity agenda, especially in the implementation of the new minimum wage of ₦30,000 since 2019 for local government workers and its refusal to conduct local government elections, which has resulted in a lack of effective governance at the grassroots level.
He said “despite the ₦24 billion allocated to the local government by the Federal Government, there has been a deterioration in the local system, and expected improvements have not materialized, adding that the health sector also faces challenges, as health attendants have been excluded from the Health Consolidated Salary structure, leading to a lack of motivation among these essential workers.
“We urge Governor Douye Diri and his administration to prioritize the highlighted pressing issues and take immediate action to address the sluggish pace of development, emphasizing the need for inclusive governance, effective policies, and transparent implementation to bring about the desired positive change in Bayelsa State.”