The Bayelsa State Government has announced a N45 billion contract to build a new 9-storey secretariat in the state capital. This project aims to improve working conditions for civil servants by providing more space and reducing the need for extra office rentals.
Governor Douye Diri made this announcement during the 136th executive council meeting, where the building’s design was also revealed. According to Diri, the new secretariat is a response to civil servants’ requests for additional space, which will help address overcrowding and cut costs.
Bayelsa State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Moses Teibowei, provided more details about the project. He explained that the contract will be handled by the Central Procurement Board of Bayelsa State and the construction is expected to be completed within 30 months. The total cost of the project is capped at N45 billion.
“The contract will be awarded to the Central Procurement Board of Bayelsa State. The building will be a 9-storey structure and the project is expected to finish in about 30 months, costing no more than N45 billion,” Teibowei said.
Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, the Commissioner for Information, mentioned additional features of the new secretariat, including a crèche and other modern facilities designed to enhance the work environment for state employees. She expressed optimism that the new building will make workers happy and improve the overall appearance of the state.
“In the new secretariat, we are planning to include a crèche among other facilities. I believe that this will make the workers happier and improve the look of the state,” Koku-Obiyai said.
In addition to the secretariat project, the executive council meeting also addressed initiatives to boost the state’s economic development. One key initiative is a new loan program for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This program is a joint effort between the Bank of Industry (BOI) and the Bayelsa State Government, with each contributing N2 billion.
Ebieri Jones, the Commissioner for Industry, Trade, and Investment, explained that the loans will be offered at single-digit interest rates, making it easier for SMEs to access funds, expand their businesses, and support the state’s economy.
“The Bank of Industry and the state government will each contribute N2 billion to fund this program. The advantage of this scheme is that the loans will come with single-digit interest rates,” Jones said.
