The Bayelsa Non-Governmental Organizations Forum [BANGOF] after deliberating on issues affecting the sustainable peace and development of the state rose with the following communiqué:

1.      BANGOF call on the state government to make good its promise of making the budget and the financial books of the state and local government accessible to the people by publishing the 2010 fiscal year’s appropriation bill details and make the budget available to the people to ensure transparency in its implementation and as well disseminate quarterly budget execution report.

2.      BANGOF also calls on the state government to publish its allocation and transfers to local government councils on a monthly basis in pursuit of a progressive accountable and transparent initiative in achieving good governance to help further to put a stop on speculation and save the concerned public office holders and the state incessant embarrassment.

3.      BANGOF employ the state government i.e. (Executive and Legislative arm BYHA) to pass into law the Bayelsa Expenditure and Income Transparency Initiative (BEITI) bill with a functional secretariat and take off funding. This will Further show the Commitment of the state Government Pronouncement of transparency and accountability (BEITI) as the state in recent times have been put in a dark spot on this issue owing to the EFCC saga in Bayelsa state.

4.      It is about a year after the inauguration of BEITI in the state, so in accordance with transparency and accountability initiative, the state government should ensure that Bayelsa Expenditure and Income Transparency Initiative (BEITI) publish its first audit report of the state, as Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency initiative (NEITI) was able to produce audit report of extractive industries within one year of its inauguration.

5.      BANGOF lauds the state government for the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) which is in place but calls on the state government to implement the formation of fiscal responsibility commission with representation of CSO and other stakeholders and implement all other transparency and accountability provisions as contained in the fiscal responsibility bill.

6.      The forum (BANGOF) also encourage the state government to properly implement the Increased budget of N178.52 billion as initially presented to the house to N187.5 billion with a difference of N8.98billion. It notes the large allocation of recurrent expenditure which is N119.4 billion (63.70%) as against the capital expenditure of N68.1 billion (36.30) which may not be enough to create impact in infrastructure development in the state to really create the desired Budget of Impact for Democracy dividend.

7.      Finally, the BYHA is called upon to be alive in their responsibility as law makers. Noting that the reason for their recess as stated by the speaker “allowing the law – makers to visit their constituencies and consult widely on development strategies” should be adhere to, followed up with them meeting genuinely with the people at the grassroots rather than staying away from the people in their constituencies.




Signed for BANGOF:


Philip P. Slaboh                        Barr. Eunice Akene                           Alagoa Morris
Chairman BANGOF                    P.R.O. BANGOF                             Secretary BANGOF