By Donu Kogbara
HIS Excellency, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, Governor of Bayelsa State, has just  completed l00 days in office.  I told you, a few weeks ago, that his Senior Special Assistant (Media), Daniel Iworiso Markson, is my friend.

But I hope you will take my word for it when I say that I am highlighting the progress that his Boss has made to date NOT because Daniel hassled me to do so (he didn’t) and NOT just to support a pal who has always supported me, but because I genuinely believe that Dickson is going in the right direction and has achieved a lot in a short period of time.

One of his first acts as Governor was to initiate a new Transparency Law because he firmly believes that “…It is the right of the people of the state to know what funds accrue to the coffers of the state and the various local government councils and how they are utilised.

This is the only way to secure the trust and confidence of the people in whom sovereignty lies. I have directed all local government chairmen to comply with this paradigm shift on the issue of transparency, probity and accountability, to reflect the new Bayelsa we are building”.

He is also courageously dealing with the need to drastically reduce the cost of governance. Bayelsa State Government’s monthly wage bill stood at N5.7 billion when Dickson assumed office and was second only to Lagos State’s, even though Lagos State is much bigger.

Dickson launched investigations that revealed that a massive scam was being organised by a fraud syndicate comprising senior officials. And he has declared war on them and is determined to prosecute guilty parties.

Meanwhile, long before his first l00 days were up, Dickson had drastically reduced the state government’s wage bill to N3.7 billion.

And he’s not yet done with this very necessary waste-eliminating and crime-busting exercise. Ghost workers are still being ruthlessly weeded out of the civil service as I write and the wage bill is expected to drop further.

Allied to the above moves are the concrete steps that have been taken to be more prudent and to not only spend less but actively save.

Within a month of him becoming Bayelsa’s CEO, Government House’s monthly expenses bill was slashed by almost half – from N1.7 billion to N1 billion.

Dickson has also established a Strategic Reserve & Savings Account, an  interest yielding account dedicated to safeguarding funds for a rainy day. In addition, the State House of Assembly has passed a Compulsory Savings Bill (2012) which makes it mandatory for the state to put money aside.

Then, having declared a state of emergency within the education sub-sector from Day One, the Governor has quickly put his money where his mouth is; and primary and secondary education is now not only free but compulsory.

Furthermore, existing teachers have to undergo mandatory retraining. New teachers are being trained. And the state government is underwriting the WAEC and NECO exam fees for 25,772 candidates, to the tune of N250million.

Dickson is also not shying away from frightening challenges relating to the thorny issue of security. He has made it clear that there will be zero tolerance for all forms of criminality and has squarely addressed the issue by forwarding the BAYELSA STATE SECRET CULT AND KIDNAPPING AND SIMILAR OFFENCES (PROHIBITION) BILL 2012 to the State House of Assembly for consideration.

Then there’s the fact that Dickson is sticking his neck out and making an issue of corruption. As Daniel puts it, “This government, unlike any other before it, has taken tough measures to strengthen its fight against all forms of graft…”

And the policies and initiatives I have mentioned are just the tip of the iceberg. Dickson is making many other good moves right now. Let’s hope, for the sake of our Bayelsan brethren, that he keeps up the good work.

Keep breeding?!

A READER, who wishes to remain anonymous, objected to my claim in last week’s column that it is bad for families and bad for societies for African women to keep having several children apiece.

Dear Donu,

Do you seriously believe Africa’s or Nigeria’s problem is overpopulation? If you look at all the issues bedeviling us as a people, do you sincerely think over-population is an issue? I don’t think so at all!! Is there any part of the world that is supposedly over-populated, that their problem is the size of the populace? Please think it through.

I remember being taught in school, this same theory of population exceeding resources. What a laugh! Problems always relate to leadership, law, order, fellowship, philosophy of life, concern for others, etc. The size of the population is never the problem.

A nation with a high populace has so much potential for growth and development. Why do you think in the UK there are so many different nationalities? With their dwindling birth rate and population size, they lack manpower and have to rely on foreign labour. Why does the United States have visa lotteries for green cards? They know how bleak their future is with their population decline! To make matters worse, the growth of same sex relationships will seal certain races’ end!

Some of our parents did not have much while starting a family but were optimistic and strong-willed. I grew up in a family of 10 children – 8 boys, 2 girls. People used to snigger behind my mom’s back, saying that she gave birth like pigs, etc. Today when our family meets for an occasion, we do not need to invite outsiders (laughter) and because we are so united those who once laughed now look at us enviously! Imagine yourself as a mother with 8 hefty men behind you? Pride! The assurance of wellbeing and security.

This is how our country should be! Population should never be an issue, but it is today because we want to hide behind our weaknesses, our failures, our inept and corrupt tendencies and a host of other vices, as parents who run away from our responsibilities. If as parents we can preach and live upright, strive for success in all we do, never give up even when down, develop beyond our present state of financial insecurity, respect for law and order, we will have no time to criticise nor complain because there will be so much to do with our time.

Surely family size will take a back seat at this point because as the children come along, taking care of them and giving them the best we can will be as natural as work and pray.