- Approves Multiple Road Construction
- Demands Accountability From Civil Servants
BY SUNDAY EGEDE/PATRICK MGBODO/DINMA BIGWA
Delta State Government has directed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Kingsley Emu and the Commissioner for Finance, Chief Fidelis Tilije to commence talks with the State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on the implementation of the new minimum wage.
The State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza announced this in a post-Exco briefing on the outcome of the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting held yesterday, which was presided over by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori at Government House, Asaba.
Dr. Osuoza said talks between government and the organized labour will revolve round the consequential adjustments of the new minimum wage and is expected to be completed in a week’s time.
The Commissioner, who declared that Delta State Government would not pay less than the N70,000 prescribed by law, said Exco also approved the appointment of Obi Sunday Ubaka Ogboli as Obi of Issele-Mkpitime in Aniocha North Local Government Area of the state.
The Information Commissioner further disclosed that Exco also approved the reconstruction of the 30.5km Ohoror-Bomadi Road; construction of 5.7km Olomoro-Igbide Road; construction of 4.8km Emevor-Ivrogbo-Orogun Road Phase ll; 1.3km Otekpo Road in Ellu and 1km Idumu-Etiti Street with a spur to market Road, Owere-Olubo. Others included rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of failed sections of the 2.8km NNPC Housing Complex Road, Uvwie Local Government Area; Ekeye-Ovedhe Close in Okumagba Layout, Warri; General Hospital Road Oghara in Ethiope West Local Government Area; Old Sapele Warri Road from Amukpe Junction to Ikwuehu with spur to Ayemidejor Close in Sapele Local Government Area and the 15.7km Orerokpe-Okulohor-Oviri Road as well as the 13.296km Osubi,Okuokoko and environs Phase 1.
Also approved were internal roads and drains in Kurutie, Obitobon-Elolo-Ajaokurogbo-Orubu Road Phase 2 Ogidigben 1km; Kurutie internal roads phase 2 1.9km; Old Sapele to Amukpe to Ikwewu Community with a spur Ayemidejor Close in Amukpe 3.59km; Okeye and Iyke Oputa Street, Aboh in Ndokwa East Local Government Area and Issele-Azagba-Otulu 2.7km in Aniocha North and South Local Government Area.
The Commissioner also said Governor Oborevwori briefed Exco about the prevalent hardship in the economy and directed Commissioner for Agriculture and the Chief Job Creation Officer to bring up programmes that would cushion the effect of the hardship, especially on youths across the state. Speaking to journalists at the briefing, the State Commissioner for Works (Rural and Riverine Roads), Mr. Charles Aniagwu said the approvals buttresses Governor Oborevwori’s meaningful developments plan across the state with 23 out of 25 local government areas directly impacted by the Exco approvals.
Speaking on the approval for the reclamation of gully erosion along Okpanam-Ibusa Bypass Road, the State Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads) Comrade Reuben Izeze said the approval would enable the state government reclaim areas affected by gully erosion for the sustainability of the new road.
Also speaking during the post-Exco briefing, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme said the state Exco approved the purchase of two Computed Tomography (CT) scanning machines one each for the Central Hospital, Warri and the Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara. Dr. Onojaeme disclosed that the approval for the purchase of the medical equipment was very significant as it is use for diagnosing diseases and internal injuries in the health care delivery sector.
“His Excellency in his good wisdom, gave approval for the Ministry of Health to procure two CT scanning machines, one for Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara and the other one for the Central Hospital, Warri.
“These are tertiary institutions training resident doctors and these machines are needed for some of our resident doctors to get accreditation. So, it is a good thing for the state government to acquire these machines for the two tertiary institutions in the state,” he said.
According to him, the Ministry of Health got approval to renovate over 150 primary health centres across the state because of its importance in the health care delivery, saying “if primary health care facilities are properly taken care of, then 80 per cent of health challenges would be addressed.”
…. Demands Accountability From Civil Servants
BY PATRICK MGBODO/DINMA BIGWA
Meanwhile, the state government has advised civil servants to always uphold strict accountability, reminding them to remain vigilant in their duties as they could be subject to covert scrutiny at all times.
The state Head of Service, Mr. Reginald Bayoko gave the charge at the flag-off of a two-day workshop for civil servants in the Ministry of Technical Education on work ethics and interpersonal skills in the civil service.
While declaring the workshop open, Mr. Bayoko reminded civil servants that work ethics were the pillars that support a successful career and a thriving workforce, even as he stressed the need for the officials to uphold accountability at all times without giving excuses.
‘’Accountability is the cornerstone of public service. If you think no one is watching your actions, especially when you cut corners, just remember that in the civil service, our actions are just like emails; you will never know when they will be forwarded.
‘’Put in another way, you will not be there when your fate in the service is being discussed and determined. You are your self-police. You do not need anybody to tell you when to do the right thing. Your conscience speaks to you and it tells you when you are doing the right or wrong thing’’ Bayoko said.
He commended the Ministry of Technical Education for the workshop, adding that other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) should take a cue and replicate the initiative. While commending the Commissioner for Technical Education, the Head of Service urged the participants to take advantage of the workshop to sharpen their knowledge to become more productive.
Remarking, the Commissioner for Technical Education, Hon Smart Ufoh, charged the civil servants to embody good work ethics at all times, even as he stressed the importance of collaboration among the officers to achieve the vision of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
Hon Ufoh commended Governor Oborevwori for approving the workshop to enhance good work ethics, even as he also pledged to do his best in actualizing the MORE Agenda.
On the sidelines, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Technical Education, Dr (Mrs) Gloria Patrick-Ferife, said the workshop was to refresh the civil servants on what is expected of them for better productivity.
During the interactive workshop, participants were trained on Work Ethics by former Permanent Secretary, Mrs Felecia Aghwadoma and Emotional Intelligence by Dr Aghogho Akpe.
