Bayelsa State Governor, Sen. Douye Diri, on Tuesday, presented an Appropriation Bill of N242.28 billion for the 2020 fiscal year to the Bayelsa House of Assembly.

Presenting his maiden budget estimate christened: ‘Consolidation for Prosperity 2020’, Diri said the Appropriation Bill defined the structure of the economic activities to be undertaken in the fiscal year.

In a statement by his acting Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, the governor explained that the policy thrust of his administration in the next four years remained consolidating on the gains already made by the previous government.

He said his administration would embark on special programmes and projects aimed at wealth creation.

Diri added that his administration would encourage the people to participate in agriculture, small and medium scale enterprises and create opportunities toward attracting the private sector for industrialisation.

He noted that other programmes include infrastructure development, housing and urban renewal, human capital development and public sector and financial management reforms.

On the current economic outlook, the governor said as a result of the ravaging effect of COVID-19 on the global economy, there was need for prudent management of resources.

He said the price of crude oil had nosedived drastically, thus affecting revenue from statutory allocations from the Federation Account.

Diri noted that human resources, financial reporting, budgeting and procurement component of the state’s Integrated Financial Management Information System (SIFMIS) would be fully implemented this year.

The governor also gave assurance that his administration would continue with the implementation of the Federal Government approved minimum wage for workers, adding that the payment of gratuity arrears had already commenced for pensioners.

In his remark, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, commended Gov. Diri and his team for the steps taken so far to prevent the spread of COVID-19 into the state.

Ingobere, however, urged the state government to adopt more strategies to raise funds from alternative sources, while seeking ways to cushion the effects of restrictions occasioned by the virus.

The speaker gave an assurance that the assembly would expedite passage of the Appropriation Bill.

In another development, Bayelsa State has extended the lockdown of its borders for another two weeks.

Governor Diri gave the directive on Tuesday evening in a press release by his Acting Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, following the expiration of the earlier two-week deadline.

He said the lockdown affects inter-state vehicular movement, closure of drinking bars at night as well as night clubs.

Worship centres are also affected as they have been directed to close down and hold services at home.

The state had on Sunday imposed a five-day dusk-to-dawn curfew, which took effect from Monday.

The governor noted that Bayelsa was yet to record any case of COVID-19 infection but his administration was committed to taking preventive measures against the spread of the disease into the state.

He added that the measures were equally necessary to prepare people of the state for any eventuality.

“We are yet to record any positive case of COVID-19 in Bayelsa. But this does not mean we would go to sleep.

“Our administration is seriously committed to preventing the spread of this dreaded disease into our state. So, we must take measures to keep it in check as well as prepare the minds of our people in case of any positive report. People of the state should continue to maintain good hygiene habits as well as comply with the social distancing rules,” the governor said.

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