Posted By: Mike Odiegwu On: July 27, 2018 In: Southeast report
Prior to the present administration of Governor Seriake Dickson in Bayelsa State, record keeping was not an integral part of governance. From the period of the late Governor Diepreye Alamiyeiseigha to the administration of Timipre Sylva, documentation of government activities was not given expected attention.
It was difficult to have easy access to government’s information through the website and other researched documents. Even when it existed, the government’s website was empty. It lacked required contents.
Therefore, it was a Herculean task to effectively track government’s projects, policies and programmes. It was also cumbersome for researchers especially students to compare achievements of various administrations in the state.
But all that changed with the advent of Dickson’s administration. There have been more determined efforts to document and archive government’s policies, projects and programmes. The website of the state government is richer and more robust with lots of information on various arms of government and their activities. Even the public sector has been automated.
To further deepen its commitment to ensure documentation of government activities, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson recently assembled a think-tank. He set up a special committee to carry out a comprehensive compilation of Dickson’s policies and projects from 2012 till date.
It was a 14-man committee inaugurated at a brief ceremony in the Information House, Yenagoa. Iworiso-Markson gave the 14-member committee 60 days to complete its assignment. It was obvious from the membership of the committee that the ministry meant business.
Dr. John Idumange was appointed to head the committee. Idumange, a lecturer and research expert is currently the Director-General, Programmes of Policies in the state. Other members of the committee are Mike Afenfia, Abigail Onekpe, Chris Odi, Marshall Edolo and Timipha Andrew. Others are Samuel Kikile, Wisdom Poyeri Maria ýOlode-Osume, Dr. Stephen Olali, Arc. Stella Raine and Barr. Amaemi Bekeyei-Alaki.
Inaugurating the committee, Iworiso-Markson said the chronological compilation of the policies and projects would be produced and presented in different volumes and would serve as a guide for the incoming administration after inauguration.
Iworiso-Markson who is also the chairman of the State Documentation Committee confirmed that part of the problem faced by government was the absence of a detailed working document from previous administrations. He said the administration of Dickson was desirous of correcting the malady.
He maintained that with the number of projects embarked upon by the government and with various existing policies, it was only ideal to have a compendium that could also serve as an academic document for students of related and relevant field of studies.