Bayelsa State has received the sum of N1.24 billion bailout fund from the Federal Government, the state government has confirmed.
Deputy Governor of the state, John Jonah, who spoke in Yenagoa, the state capital, during the government’s income and expenditure briefing for January, disclosed that the money would be used to settle the backlog of salaries the eight local government areas owed.
Jonah, who spoke on Friday, said the fund was available for collection before the December 2015 governorship election.
He further disclosed that the money was its share of Federal Government’s bailout funds to states.
According to the Deputy Governor, the Federal Government refused to release the money in December 2015 because of the suspicion that Governor Seriake Dickson would use it for his re-election campaigns.
Confirming the development, Jonah said, “Yes, the money has been transferred to us now. It was ready before the (governorship) election. They felt that if the money was given to us, we would use it for the election.
“Even if you pay people, it is a morale booster; so, you will gain. But they stopped it.”
