Business
‘Bail Out Fund On Salary, Wasteful’
An economist, Mr
Iduonku Ikata, has said that the recent bail out funds handed down to states in the country to pay their workers would not add any positive impact on the economy if such funds could not be used in infrastructural development.
Ikata, a Senor Partner, Ikata, Ikata and Company who spoke to our correspondent in an exclusive interview in Port Harcourt yesterday, explained that the development would put so much money into the recurrent expenditure with little for capital expenditure.
“It is capital expenditure that drives productivity, it is capital expenditure that provides infrastructure while recurrent expenditure does not add anything, it just bloats the cost of governance,” he said.
According to him, it was necessary to determine under which window such funds were released and applied.
He said if government could not define the windows under which these bailout expenses are applied, it would not be easy to give a verdict on the long economic picture.
Ikata, who is a tax expert further explained that if such funds were strictly for the payment of worker’s salaries alone and not contractors for ongoing projects to provide benefit to the public then such funds were not well spent.
He said even with the assumed general knowledge that the money the federal government was giving to the states was to enable them pay salaries, it would at the long run not add any social benefit to them (states).
“It is not likely to add any social infrastructure to the assets of the states, therefore, the question remains that if you are not procuring assets or anything that promises future economic benefit it means the money spent on an item that will not produce any tangible infrastructure is of no benefit to the people”, he said.
On the ability or otherwise of the various state governments to pay their workers, Ikata expressed the view that the governors did not set their priorities right.
He said it was not that the governments could not pay salaries but it was their priorities that are being questioned.
He further opined that the governors deliberately removed workers salaries out of their priority lists to enable them finance other exigencies.
“If what you want to do with the money (salary) was a capital item with the expectation of a future economic benefit, good, but we all suspect and I doubt if it was expended on infrastructure”, he said.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic
Reports say that the training is designed to equip youths with practical technical skills for employment in the oil and gas and construction sectors, with emphasis on employability, safety, competence and self reliance.
In attendance at the flag-off ceremony this week, at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Conference Hall, Effurun, were stakeholders, dignitaries, and political representatives, among others.
Dafinone, represented by his Chief of Staff, Adelabu Bodjor, said the initiative reflects a deliberate political investment in human capital development across Delta Central.
He explained that the training focuses on rigging and scaffolding, noting that “both are essential technical competencies required in industrial operations, construction projects, and oil and gas installations”.
Bodjor added, “The programme is intended to reduce dependency among youths by providing job-ready skills capable of supporting long-term economic opportunities and self-sufficiency. The initiative aligns with Senator Dafinone’s broader development agenda, which prioritises practical skill acquisition as a pathway to sustainable empowerment.”
Also addressing the participants, the NCDMB, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, represented by Mr. Teddy Bai, commended Dafinone for sponsoring the programme, describing it as “a timely response to critical manpower gaps in the industry”.
Bai explained that rigging and scaffolding remain safety-sensitive skills required across fabrication yards, offshore platforms, and construction sites, stressing that the programme bridges the gap between certification and practical competence.
He also charged the training consultant, OROH Contractors Limited, to maintain strict standards of professionalism, safety, and discipline, while urging participants to remain committed, focused, and disciplined throughout the exercise.
The Senate Liaison Officer for Sapele Local Government Area, Chief Patrick Akamuvba, , described the programme as a major step in strengthening human capital development in Delta Central.
Akamuvba said scaffolding and rigging skills are in high demand across residential, commercial, and industrial construction projects, noting that the training offers real employment opportunities for beneficiaries
He urged participants to prioritise knowledge and certification over short-term material expectations, stressing that discipline and seriousness would determine their long-term success.
He also cautioned youths against social vices and distractions, advising them to remain focused to maximise the opportunities provided by the programme.
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