PDP slams Diri’s govt over poor health, education facilities in Bayelsa, demands accountability on public funds
The Peoples Democratic Party PDP) in Bayelsa has criticised the administration of Senator Douye Diri for presiding over the collapse of health and education facilities across the state.
The party also alleged that the Diri administration has violated the transparency laws of the state over its failure to disclose publicly the funds spent on projects in the state.
The Chairman of Bayelsa chapter of PDP Chief George Turnah, who spoke at the joint meeting of the expanded state caucus and 100th State Executive Committee (SEC) meeting in Yenagoa, noted that people of Bayelsa living in rural areas are suffering because of the lack of access to drugs and proper healthcare.
He stated that health facilities inherited from the administration of the former governor, Senator Seriake Dickson, have been left to collapse, stressing that education facilities have also gone to ruins, forcing students to sit on the floor to learn.
‘’Our health system is in ruins. Primary healthcare centres in rural areas are without drugs, doctors and nurses. Even the Diagnostic centre commissioned by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and built by former governor Henry Seriake Dickson inside the 500-bed hospital has collapsed,’’.
Turnah further queried the cost of projects in the state, adding that the state government has been unable to disclose the cost of its projects publicly, thereby violating the transparency law of the state.
The PDP chairman slammed the Bayelsa State House of Assembly for being a rubber stamp instead of performing its oversight function.
According to him, Bayelsa people deserve to know the exact amount of money spent on the recent celebration of the 30th anniversary of the state.
‘’The Bayelsa State owes people of Bayelsa an explanation on the actual amount spent for the 30th anniversary, as it was not in the state appropriation bill. That money was spent outside the budget, and in a sane democracy, that is an impeachable offence. The State House of Assembly, by condoning this waste, has shown that it is a rubber stamp.
‘’We demand that the Diri administration publish, in naira and kobo, the expenditure of the Bayelsa at 30 celebrations. Until this is done, the Diri administration owes Bayelsans a public apology for the wasteful spending of their scarce r
esources.‘’ he said
