The Bayelsa State Government has restated its commitment to the professional training and development of accountants and other categories of civil servants in the state’sCivil Service to promote efficiency and productivity.
Deputy Governor of the state, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, made the recommitment recently during a joint courtesy call by the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), and the Yenagoa Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (YECCIMA) in Government House, Yenagoa.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Mr Doubara Atasi, the state number two citizen noted that government employees needed continuous training to be able to do their jobs well and achieve better service delivery in the state.
He said the State Government had always taken the issue of training civil servants seriously, hence it had always given approvals to applications by its employees properly channeled through relevant agencies, for participation in the mandatory professional training programmes.
On the take-off of the proposed ANAN Training College at Sampou, in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of the state, the Deputy Governor assured the ANAN delegation that the State Government would do everything at its disposal to actualize it.
According to him, Bayelsa could not afford to fritter away the opportunity of establishing the ANAN Training College in the state, which would create job opportunities, as well as make it much easier for young accounting graduates from the state to get professional certification.
“As a government, we have always approved applications for ANAN training programmes, and for other civil servants in the employment of the state government. They need the training to give better performance, hence we take training very seriously.
“On the issue of the Training College, I’ll relate the message to my boss, the Governor. We really can’t afford to miss out on this opportunity because of the career opportunities it would provide for young accounting graduates”, he stated.
Responding to some of the issues raised by YECCIMA, the Deputy Governor assured its members that the present administration would support the organization to stimulate organized private sector participation in the local economy.
He noted that over dependence of the people on the government for everything ranging from contracts, jobs to employment opportunities was impeding the economic and industrial development of the state, pledging to support the formal launch of the YECCIMA Cooperative Society in Yenagoa which is aimed at promoting the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), as well as engender commercial and economic activities in the state.
”We’ll rally round YECCIMA. There’s need for us to do more for the organized private sector in Bayelsa State.
“The current over dependence on the formal sector or government, with less focus on the organized private sector is actually impeding the development of our state, and we need to correct it”, he said.
Speaking earlier, the National President, ANAN, Dr James Neminebor, said the visit was intended to brief the Deputy Governor on ANAN’s local, national and international training programmes lined up for 2024 and to solicit support from the State Government.
Dr. Neminebor, who is also the President of the Yenagoa Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, appreciated government for supporting the professional training for ANAN members in the civil service, and appealed to government to fulfill its promise towards the establishment of the ANAN Training College in the state.
The ANAN and YECCIMA boss also appealed for support towards the launching of the YECCIMA Cooperative Society slated for this weekend in Yenagoa.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa