The Bayelsa State Government says it has released the sum of N200 million for the payment of bursary allowances to its students studying in institutions of higher learning across the country.
Governor Seriake Dickson disclosed this while responding to questions during a live interview programme in Yenagoa. He said that the funds were already at the disposal of the state scholarships board for disbursement.
Apart from the bursary allowances, he said that the Government was also keeping faith with the payment of inherited pension and 18% minimum wage arrears, despite dwindling revenues accruing to the state.
On efforts at tackling unemployment, Governor Dickson noted that, though it is a global problem, his administration was taking practical steps such as provision of vocational training, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) development fund, among others, to address the scourge.
While urging the youths to take advantage of the various empowerment programmes already put in place by the present administration, he pointed out that, Government alone could not absorb the whole army of unemployed youths in the state, through the provision of white collar jobs.
He said, “I am not one of those politicians that will tell you lies, I will tell you what most people will not want to hear. The truth is that Government cannot provide automatic employment for every available graduate and young person in Bayelsa State. But, let me assure you that we are concerned about the issue.”
