Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transparent and accountable governance, with citizens taking an active role in shaping the state’s 2027 budget.
Diri made the commitment at a stakeholders’ public interactive session on the preparation of the 2027 annual budget, held at the Harold Dappa-Biriye Conference Hall, Onopa, Yenagoa.
The governor, represented by his deputy, Dr Peter Akpe, said the administration would strengthen systems for tracking and reporting budget implementation to ensure the proper utilisation of public funds.
He said the government had consistently partnered with civil society organisations, the media and citizens to promote transparency, accountability and good governance in the state.
According to Diri, the interactive session was designed to give people from all walks of life an opportunity to contribute to the budget process through a bottom-up approach.
He said the citizens’ budget to be produced after the session would be published in plain language, enabling Bayelsans to understand how public funds were allocated and utilised.
The governor urged stakeholders to identify what had worked or failed in their communities and sectors, and use the findings to help the government set priorities for the 2027 fiscal year.
Diri also called for inclusion of women, youths, persons living with disabilities and communities affected by oil production in the budget-making process.
Commissioner for Finance, Maxwell Ebibai, represented by the Technical Adviser on Treasury, Accounts and Revenues, Timipre Seipulo, said the state recorded 86 percent performance in its 2025 budget.
Seipulo said Bayelsa received actual revenue of N1.13 trillion in 2025, compared with budgeted revenue of N1.294 trillion, representing a significant increase over the previous year.
He added that recurrent expenditure stood at N274.78 billion, while capital expenditure increased to N838 billion, representing a 41 percent rise over the previous year.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Burutolu Samuel, said the session was aimed at identifying citizens’ priorities and collectively determining the state’s development direction.
Samuel urged Bayelsans to participate actively in the budget process, saying their input will help the government to produce a people-centred budget capable of delivering tangible improvements.
Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Moses Teibowei, said the administration had recorded progress in infrastructure development, particularly through the construction of roads linking hinterland communities.
Teibowei disclosed that Diri had approved the rehabilitation of internal roads in Yenagoa, including the old Okaka road, while representatives of women, youths, community development committees and traditional rulers used the session to raise concerns and present their priorities.