Bayelsa state governor, house of assembly in court over rising debt profile

Published:

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, four of his aides and the State House of Assembly have been dragged to the State High Court in Yenagoa by a coalition of 45 non-governmental organizations in Bayelsa State requesting the State to make public the status of its finances, lists of loans obtained and debt profile from 2015 till date.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Commissioner for Health and Commissioner for Education are listed as respondents in the suit.

The suit, numbered YHC/183/2020 and made available to journalists in Yenagoa, was filed on behalf of the 45 groups by Comrade Kemedengiyefa Opia under the aegis of the Bayelsa Non-Governmental Organization Forum (BANGOF) asking the State High Court to issue an order of mandamus compelling the defendants to make available information on the accounts of the State for the period between 2015 to 2019 in pursuance of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.

“We are also seeking an order of mandamus compelling the Executive Governor, Senator Douye Diri to make public the debt profile, account balance and what the present administration inherited from the previous administration as at February 14th, 2020.”

“An order of mandamus compelling the executive Governor, Senator Douye Diri to make public the total workforce of the State Civil Service, monthly wage bill, list of loans obtained for projects and the level of implementation as at 14th February 2020.”

The suit, by the groups, came few days after the State House of Assembly approved a loan request of N17billion by the state governor to boost the economy of the state and enhance good governance.

Related articles

Recent articles

spot_img