Dickson Henry Seriake

Henry Seriake Dickson CON (born 28 January 1966) is a Nigerian lawyer and politician. He has been the Senator representing Bayelsa West senatorial district since 2020 in the 9th National Assembly and also from 2023 in the 10th Assembly. He was the governor of Bayelsa State from 14 February 2012 to 14 February 2020. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 2007 until 2012.

Henry Seriake Dickson was born on 28 January 1966 in Toru-Orua Town of Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. He is a descendant of the King Kapadia Royal House of Tarakiri Kingdom. Dickson attended Kolobiriowei Primary School, Toru-Orua, from 1972 to 1978, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate and proceeded to Government Secondary School, Toru-Ebeni, from 1978 to 1983, where he got his West African School Certificate (WASSCE/GCE).

Dickson enrolled in the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, to study law in 1988. He earned his LL.B in 1992. In 1993, he went on to earn his Bachelor of Laws from the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Nigerian Bar shortly thereafter. Dickson joined the Nigeria Police Force in 1986. Upon graduation from law school in 1993, he was appointed a cadet assistant superintendent of police in 1994, then proceeded to the Nigeria Police Academy, Kano for Officer’s Training.

He voluntarily resigned from the police force after nearly a decade of policing, to practice law. As a lawyer, he worked with Serena David Dokubo & CO as an associate solicitor from 1994 to 1995 and moved to Aluko & Oyebode, a prominent law firm in Lagos, also as an associate solicitor, between 1995 and 1996. He founded Seriake Dickson & CO in Port Harcourt and later Yenagoa, becoming its managing solicitor from 1996 to 2006.

Dickson was elected pioneer publicity secretary, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Yenagoa from 1996 to 1998. He began his political career as a member of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and was elected as the Bayelsa State chapter chairman of the party from 1998 to 2000. The party produced a senator for Bayelsa West, a member of the House of Representatives for Sagbama-Ekeremor, and three members of the State House of Assembly.

After his tenure as chairman ended, he was elected national legal adviser of the Alliance for Democracy and served in that position from 2000 to 2002. In January 2006, Dickson was appointed attorney-general and commissioner for justice of Bayelsa State by then Governor Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR. As attorney general, he was a member of the Body of Benchers, Council of Legal Education, and vice chairman of the State Advisory Judicial Service Commission.

Dickson was elected to the National Assembly's House of Representatives in 2007 and was appointed chairman of the House Committee on Justice and a member of several committees including Defence, National Security, Intelligence, and Foreign Affairs. In April 2011, he was re-elected for a second term, becoming the first person in his constituency to achieve this. During his second term, he was appointed Chairman of the House Committee on Special Duties.

At the National Assembly, he sponsored/co-sponsored bills such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2009, Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences (Establishment) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2009, and others including the Prevention of Terrorism Bill, 2009. On 5 December 2020, Dickson won the Bayelsa West Senatorial Bye-Election with over 80% of the total votes, being sworn in on 15 December 2020.

He won his re-election bid to the Senate on 25 February 2023 and was named the chairman of the Senate committee on ecology/climate change of the 10th Senate on 8 August 2023. On 28 May 2023, Dickson was conferred with Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) by former President Buhari. He was also awarded the Excellence in Environmental Leadership Award 2023.

In the 2012 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election, Dickson won over 90% of the votes, strengthening the PDP’s dominance in Bayelsa. Shortly after taking office, he expressed his intention to transition to the executive arm of government and later indicated he might return to the National Assembly. Dickson was re-elected Governor of Bayelsa State in the 2015 election. On 14 February 2020, he officially handed over to Douye Diri.

During his eight years as governor, Dickson sent over 50 bills to the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, including the State Transparency Law, Thanksgiving Law, and Judicial Autonomy Law. He introduced the Right to Education Law, making education free and compulsory in Bayelsa for primary and secondary schools. He established the Ijaw National Academy with over 1,500 students on full scholarship, benefiting Ijaw communities across six states.

He built 13 model boarding schools, awarded scholarships to numerous students, and transformed Bayelsa’s education ranking from bottom to top five. His administration established the University of Africa, Toru-Orua, Bayelsa Medical University, and Bayelsa State Polytechnic, among other tertiary institutions. The Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund and Bayelsa State Student Loan Board were also established to support education.

Dickson invested heavily in healthcare, building diagnostic centers, specialist hospitals, and forensics centers. He introduced the Bayelsa State Health Insurance Scheme, which became a model for other states. His administration significantly reduced maternal and infant mortality in Bayelsa, earning praise from healthcare professionals.

Governor Dickson expanded Bayelsa’s economy by creating the Bayelsa State Microfinance Bank and investing in cassava processing, poultry, and aquaculture. He declared all land in Bayelsa as urban, computerized land administration, and improved internal generated revenue. He employed over 5,000 Bayelsa graduates and implemented civil service reforms to combat fraud.

Dickson led infrastructural projects, including the Bayelsa International Airport, multiple bridges, and roads. He reduced the civil service wage bill, introduced automatic employment for first-class graduates, and established the Public Service Documentation and Records Agency. He supported minimum wage increases and was known for rewarding hard work.

Governor Dickson championed women and youth empowerment, appointing women to sensitive positions and implementing affirmative action in local government elections. He set up the Henry Seriake Dickson Foundation to mentor young people in Bayelsa and the Niger Delta. His commitment to environmental protection led to the creation of the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission.

Dickson addressed security concerns in Bayelsa by establishing Operation Doo-Akpo, building a Command and Control Center, and strengthening law enforcement. He named Bayelsa the safest state in South South Nigeria. He also created the Ministry of Ijaw National Affairs, built the Ijaw National Heroes Memorial Park, and honored prominent Ijaw leaders. Dickson is an ardent Christian and his faith guided his political service.

His administration began with a statewide fasting and prayer, and he instituted daily devotional services and weekly prayers for women in Bayelsa. He built the Bayelsa State Ecumenical Center and supported various religious groups. Dickson’s legacy includes a Thanksgiving Law, state flag, coat of arms, and anthem, reinforcing Bayelsa’s cultural identity.