Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson has released the sum of N46 million to the management of the Baylelsa Volunteers Scheme for the payment of its participants’ monthly stipends.
While presenting the instrument to the coordinator C.S.P Emmanuel Asufi and the Secretary of the volunteers, Felix Bonny Ayah, Governor Dickson said the amount, which is also to formally kick start the volunteers programme, is to take care of the stipends of about 3,000 youths.
The Bayelsa State Chief Executive pointed out, the 3, 000 volunteers were selected after a tedious screening process, with a view to ensuring that, only the best was recruited.
According to him, the graduate members of the volunteers will be paid N20,000.00 and non graduates will go home with N10,000.00, monthly, adding that, henceforth the allowances for the volunteers will be paid alongside the salaries of civil servants in the State.
He promised that, the volunteers salaries will be reviewed as the economy improves, stressing that, the government has made a commitment, which it must keep in line with the restoration administration’s policy of keeping to its promises.
The Bayelsa Governor who urged the volunteers to be diligent in their duties as well as work with the management, communities and security agencies in achieving the set targets of the voluteers, warned that, any member of the scheme involved in acts of criminality will be shown the way out.
In his words; “I expect you to be diligent in your duty and work with your coordinators, the communities and the security forces.  This programme is taking 3,000 youths out of joblessness.
If anyone on this scheme is involved in any criminal activity, such a person will be shown the way out without hesitation”.
He, however, enjoined them not to allow themselves to be used by mischief makers to cause any breach of the peace, stressing that, such acts will be not be tolerated.
The Bayelsa State Chief Executive pointed out, the 3, 000 volunteers were selected after a tedious screening process, with a view to ensuring that, only the best was recruited.
Responding on behalf of the volunteers, the Coordinator of the Volunteers, CSP Emmanuel Asufi, thanked Governor Dickson for presenting the instrument, assuring that, everyone engaged as a volunteer will be paid.of monthly stipends of the state Volunteers.
However, observers believed that the volunteers scheme was in preparation for the state guber polls.