RismadarVoice Reporters
October 30, 2026
The Bayelsa State Government has approved additional allowances for public servants and workers in tertiary institutions, increasing its monthly wage expenditure by approximately ₦3 billion beginning in October 2026.
The disclosure was made on Friday during the state’s transparency briefing on revenue and expenditure for August and September 2026.
Presenting the financial report, the Technical Adviser on Treasury, Accounts and Revenue to Governor Douye Diri, Timipre Seipolu, explained that the allowances were introduced to improve workers’ welfare and address differences in remuneration across the public service.
According to Seipolu, more than ₦900 million will be allocated monthly to employees of state-owned tertiary institutions, while approximately ₦2 billion will cover additional allowances for other categories of public servants.
He disclosed that the government had also committed to settling outstanding allowances dating back to January 2026, although the arrears were not included in the additional ₦3 billion monthly expenditure.
The adviser explained that approximately 65,411 workers and other beneficiaries were covered by the state’s existing salary payment arrangements.
He noted that different categories of employees operate under separate remuneration structures, making it inappropriate to calculate the government’s total wage obligations using a uniform salary estimate.
Seipolu identified healthcare professionals, university employees, firefighters and civil servants among those whose responsibilities require different salary and allowance arrangements.
The government maintained that the revised payments were designed to provide additional financial support while recognising the professional demands of various public service sectors.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, dismissed reports suggesting that several major infrastructure projects had stalled because of funding difficulties.
She described the allegations as misleading, insisting that the government continued to meet its financial obligations to contractors.
Koku-Obiyai identified the nine-storey State Secretariat, Lagos Road construction and the Light Floor rehabilitation project among ongoing developments progressing according to their respective schedules.
She disclosed that a recent inspection of the Lagos Road project alongside the Commissioner for Works confirmed that construction had reached an advanced stage.
The commissioner reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to completing its infrastructure projects while maintaining its obligations to public sector workers.
The additional allowances represent a significant recurring financial commitment for the state, with their implementation and the settlement of arrears expected to increase government expenditure.
