Bayelsa state governor, Douye Diri, has directed members of the state executive council to begin to prepare their handover notes as his first term in office winds down.
Diri will be sworn in for another term on February 14, 2024.
He gave the directive on Wednesday, January 24, during the 126th state executive council meeting inside the Executive Council Chambers in Government House, Yenagoa.
The governor asked them to dot the i’s and cross the t’s in their handover notes in order to achieve a smooth transition to his second term.
He commended his cabinet members for adding value to the state through their performance and thanked them for the selfless service they rendered in the last four years.
He noted that the achievements recorded by his administration in its first term was collective and was not an exclusive preserve of himself or his deputy.
He urged them to continue to contribute their best till the end of the term.
Diri said: “As you are aware, our administration is winding down its first tenure and I know you will not wait for me to tell you to start preparing your handover notes. I believe some of you have started from last year. At the end of the day, everybody will see what you have done.
“I want to commend you for the selfless service you have rendered in the last four years and as you prepare your notes, dot the i’s and cross the t’s. So, for future purposes, those who will take over or even if you are continuing, you will be guided.
“I commend you for the spirit of oneness, unity and love we all saw in this executive council. That is why we have achieved so much under this four years. That is why the people said this government must come back for the next four years.
“It was not an exclusive preserve of myself as governor or my deputy governor. Yes, we led the pack but all of you contributed very well to the successes we have recorded in infrastructure, education, health, sports, security and even in the judiciary.
“So on behalf of the deputy governor, I say a big thank you to this state executive council. We have not dissolved the cabinet yet and today is not the last day.”
Earlier, the council held a valedictory session for a late former Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Steven Ogullah.
Diri said it was the policy of his administration to honour exco members that served meritoriously.
He, however, said he would propose an amendment to the policy to ensure that only those who served the state without blemish would be honoured.
Diri described the late finance commissioner as a dedicated man, who gave his all to the service of the state and that he would be greatly missed.
He said even out of office, Ogullah remained committed to service to the state as he was very supportive of his administration until his last days.
(The Nation)