By Sunday Egede
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, yesterday, restated his administration’s commitment to prompt and sustainable payment of pensions and other emoluments of its employees.
Governor Oborevwori, who disclosed that his administration had paid over N14.5 billion in view of various pensions obligations, said this during an interactive meeting with Permanent Secretaries, Directors and Heads of Parastatals, Departments and Agencies of government at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba.
While saying that the meeting was apt and timely, the governor called on the top bureaucrats to work closely with his administration in order to seamlessly deliver on his MORE Agenda for the benefit of the people.
On the new minimum wage, Governor Oborevwori reiterated that he was awaiting the enabling chart from the Federal government before activating its implementation in the state.
“I have made a lot of efforts to see that we partner in order to move our state forward. I want everyone to be happy as we are working.
“When I came in, I called the Head of Service (HOS) and we made sure that the cry about promotion arrears was ended. We paid about N5.5 billion in four tranches to settle the issue of promotion arrears.
“I asked the Accountant – General what to do to ensure that we pay workers before the end of the month preferably, on the 26th of every month. Since I came, I have never paid workers salaries on the 1st; I pay before the end of every month.
“On the issue of training, I have always approved any memo on training because I encourage training. I have also approved monies for the funding of ‘the public officers’ loan scheme,” he said.
The governor recalled, “when I came in, I found out that Permanent Secretaries did not have vehicles and I provided them with vehicles.
“When fuel subsidy was removed, I approved the payment of extra N10,000 to each worker for three months to augment their salaries. I also approved that workers run shifts which I have not stopped till date because I do not want the workers to suffer.
“Delta State has a very high wage bill. I think Lagos and Delta are the highest in the entire country. We have about 55,000 workers.”
He cautioned the top bureaucrats against working at cross purposes for the overall development of the state.
“You connive with contractors to do bad jobs. You promise contractors that you will review their contracts for them; do you have powers to do reviews?
“You also want to be a contractor. You award a contract to a contractor and you want to do the drainage attached to the road. You, who are supposed to be a site Engineer; so, who will supervise the contractor?
“You go further to issue certificates for jobs badly done. This is very bad. I want to do well and I need you to do well, too. Another thing I also see that is bad is you people approving projects that are bigger than some small villages.
“How do you approve four blocks of six classrooms each for a village with less than 100 people? Why not take the project to where it can be fully utilised?, he queried.
Governor Oborevwori said the award of contract to construction giant, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, was a deliberate effort to checkmate local contractors, pointing out that any contractor that executed a substandard job would be blacklisted.
“When I go for inspections and see bad jobs, I talk unlike you. Almost 80 per cent of the jobs are given to indigenous contractors,” the governor added.
