Efforts by the Bayelsa State government to be transparently prudent in the management of its finances has yielded some accolades from BudgIT, the independent organisation that assesses subnational fiscal performance, revenue generation, debt sustainability, facilitates civic engagement, budget reforms and effective service delivery.
From its 16th position on the table of financial discipline table as at last year, the state is now the third best in that area, according to the latest ranking released by the organization.
Mr. Timipre Seipulou, Technical Adviser to the state governor, Senator Douye Diri on Treasury, Accounts and Revenue, said on Wednesday in Yeangoa, that the assessment focused on debt sustainability, fiscal viability and sector spending in ranking Bayelsa third in revenue reforms and sectoral capital expenditure.
He noted that Bayelsa also ranked fifth on debt sustainability, and in fiscal viability the state ranked second across the country.
Seipulou explained that between 2024 and 2025, the state’s expenditure on capital projects rose from 57 per cent to 80 per cent, with BudgIT noting it as a significant improvement.
Quoting the budgeted capital expenditure per capital analysis, the governor’s aide said that Bayelsa recorded N290,492 per citizen, which is the highest in the country.
His words: “The BudgiT, an independent organisation, engages in facilitating civic engagement, budget reforms and effective service delivery. In its financial assessment of states, it ranked Bayelsa third on fiscal viability, debt sustainability and sector spending.
“BudgIT considered fiscal viability, which ensures that your state has standard revenue reforms. This was based on three criteria, including debt sustainability, to show if your state was sustainable when it comes to debt compared to your revenue base.
“Secondly, they looked at sector spending, which considers whether you are spending income appropriately across all sectors of the economy.
“This shows that the governor, Senator Douye Diri, is taking Bayelsa State in the right direction and this is highly commendable, because Bayelsa has a positive global recognition when it comes to fiscal accountability and transparency.”
At the meeting, the governor was presented awards from various organisations. The deputy governor, Dr. Peter Akpe, who represented the governor at the event, presented to him the Best Agriculture Friendly Governor Award from the All Farmers Association Nigeria (AFAN).
Akpe said the award was bestowed on the governor during the recent World Food Day celebration in Yenagoa for being agriculturally innovative and supportive.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon. Daniel Igali, presented a medal and plaque from the United World Wrestling (UWW) Bureau for the governor’s support to sports development, especially wrestling.
