PYC REINSTATE CALL ON CONCERNED MINISTRIES AND CONTRACTORS TO ENGAGE BAYELSA YOUTHS AND SKILLS.
Following the Governor Douye Diri’s directive at the State Executive Council Meeting on Wednesday the 8th of January 2025 calling for the immediate award of contract and commencement of work for the building of the proposed new Bayelsa Stadium and Secretiat Complex; the Prosperity Youths Coalition has come out to extol the Prosperity administration as one that is in tune with the needs of Bayelsans and is bent on addressing real developmental challenges.
The Doubara Kumokou led youth organization made its remarks while reacting to official government statements after the Exco meeting. The statement released by the PYC’s Secretary General Ayebakuro Igbeta Esq. described His Excellency the Governor of Bayelsa State as a man who wish well for Bayelsans across board, thus his vision continually alligns with the needs, yearnings and aspirations of the people.
The award of Contract for the construction of a brand new stadium at this time shows the government’s awareness of the sporting activities of Bayelsa youths who excels at almost every track, field, outdoor and indoor event globally hence the need for proper training/grooming facilities within the state, making the construction of new sports stadium more a necessity at this time.
The PYC’s statement however frowned at the attitude of some contractors who upon securing state jobs and contracts of these magnitudes, source all their labour from outside of the state on the flimsy excuse either that Bayelsans are not skilled or are not ready to work.
Igbeta said that those excuses are no longer tenable as Bayelsa youths have shown endearing zeal for engagement and have had their skilled horned to best standards available anywhere in the country.
“If you go round town these days to see private properties development contractors, you would see that almost all the artisans and craftsmen are Bayelsans, from Masonmen, plumbers, fitters/installers, pop installers, screeding men, electricians, iron workers, painters, and tigers and so on are Bayelsans, this goes to tell the readiness of Bayelsa youths and their fitness in whatever job description, therefore contractors must engage our youths in the execution of their contracts. We do not mean to say that in complex specific area they cannot bring in experts from anywhere, but basic skills must first and foremost be sourced locally as this present economic situation is taking it’s full toll on everyone, so we must discourage capital flight in all its apparitions, when possible” Igbeta stated in part.
The PYC chief scribe went on to insist that a lot of Bayelsans have been trained by the state government at different skill sets after deducing a needs assessment, ranging from the likes of the Ministry of youths, Labour & Productivity, Science & Technology etc have all trained so many, so also the State government in partnership with NGOs like the Prosperity Youths Coalition and others is still training much more, therefore no contractor can complain about a paucity of skills or local manpower.
Moreso, to ensure strict adherence to local content, The Scribe revealed that the Director General of the PYC Senr-Comr. Doubara Kumokou (aka the Youths Governor) has concluded plans for the body to make unscheduled visits to the various state project sites to ascertain the level of local content compliance and report back to government whom the group is ready to impress on to take positive action on the subject.
The statement concluded with a call on contractors to liaise with bodies such as the Ministry of Youths Development, the Ministry of Women Affairs, Labour & Productivity, Science & Technology, the Ijaw Youths Council and all other concerned NGO’s who have a database of trained and competent youths who have attained proficiency in the different skills needed in the delivery of landmark projects such as the stadium and the new state Secretariat Complex.
