Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa has performed the groundbreaking ceremony for a new nine-storey secretariat complex for civil servants in the state.
The ceremony took place on Saturday at the old Secretariat complex in Yenagoa, the state capital.
Diri stated that the new workers’ complex would be an electronic secretariat, with the total cost of the project pegged at N46 billion.
He further explained that the government had already mobilised contractors with 30% of the project sum and would release another 20% as soon as work commenced on-site.
Diri assured that funding would not be an issue and set a 24-month timeline for the project’s completion.
He also urged state workers to reciprocate the government’s support for their welfare.
“What propelled me to build a new secretariat was the civil servants’ request for office accommodation, which became a recurring issue every Workers’ Day in the state”, Diri said.
He expressed his satisfaction that the new secretariat would address concerns over inadequate office space for labour unions.
In her address, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, Head of Service of the Federation, lauded the Bayelsa government for the construction of the new nine-storey civil servant secretariat.
Walson-Jack described the project as an exciting legacy for Diri’s administration and a special milestone for her, as she had previously served in Bayelsa’s public service.
“The civil service is the engine of government, providing the expertise and structure necessary for effective governance”, she stated.
She further emphasised that the project was a clear demonstration of the Bayelsa government’s commitment to strengthening the institutional framework for governance and service delivery.
Mr Moses Teibowei, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, explained that the project was initiated by Diri’s administration and would provide a modern, eco-friendly workspace for the workforce.
“The proposed structure will span 3,675.633 square meters, with a gross area of 26,762.99 square meters and parking space for 155 cars”.
