The Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, has voiced his concerns about the state’s unfair treatment in the distribution of local government areas (LGAs). He highlighted the stark disparity, pointing out that Bayelsa only has eight LGAs, while other states enjoy up to 44.
In a heartfelt message shared on his official Facebook page, Diri expressed his frustration over this clear imbalance. He emphasized that Bayelsa deserves at least 30 LGAs to ensure fair representation and resource allocation. He criticized the current system where states with more LGAs benefit disproportionately from national resources, describing it as an act of “robbing Peter to pay Paul.”
Governor Diri stressed the need for states to have the authority to create and manage their own local governments, ensuring that resources are distributed equitably. He called for immediate actions to address this imbalance, advocating for a system that allows each state to cater to its specific needs without depriving others.
Welcoming the recent Supreme Court judgement that granted autonomy to local government areas across the country, Diri noted that Bayelsa has always respected local government autonomy. He revealed that his administration has been practicing this principle by not interfering with LGA allocations. Instead, the state government has been augmenting the funds in several LGAs to help them pay salaries and carry out development projects.
“Our administration has worked diligently to reform the LGAs, ensuring they can meet their financial obligations and still have savings at the end of each month. This Supreme Court decision aligns with our longstanding commitment to local government autonomy and further strengthens our resolve to demand a fairer system for Bayelsa,” Diri stated.
