Bayelsa Governor Signs Tech Development Bill, Two Others

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has signed three bills into law as part of his administration’s efforts to promote good governance and enhance revenue generation.

The new laws are the Bayelsa State Audit Bill, Information Technology Development Agency Bill and the Regulation of Sand Dealing, Dredging and Reclamation Operations Bill 2020.

Governor Diri, in a statement released by his Acting Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, condemned the activities of Sand dredgers in the state for carrying out their operations without carrying out Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

He commended members of the State House of Assembly for sponsoring the bill to regulate dredging, saying it would help protect the environment from further degradation.

According to the governor, the activities of sand dredgers have become worrisome as they were partly responsible for most of the natural disasters in some communities.

“This is something that have been bothering me and I didn’t know that the Assembly was already working on it to address the problem.

“Alot of natural disasters all over the place are traceable to some of these acts that we ignore. I am happy that I have assented to this bill to control dredging activities so that we do not plunge our state into further issues of degradation.”

On the Information Technology Development Agency Law, Senator Diri said the state government was only domesticating federal government’s policy to enhance transperancy and accountability in its dealings.

He also expressed confidence in the leadership of the Assembly to work harmoniously with the executive arm of the government to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

Presenting the bills, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Michael Ogbere, explained that the Audit Law 2020 was intended to provide a comprehensive and in-depth audit of funds, revenues, expenditures, assets and liabilities of government.

Hon. Ogbere, who represented the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere, said the law would also provide for the establishment of an Audit Service Commission of auditors to function effectively.

The lawmaker maintained that the legislation on dredging would equally provide for the establishment of a licensing authority for the issuance of operational permit and specific charges to boost internally generated revenue.