BY PATRICK MGBODO
THE Delta State Government has warned against the misuse of its whistleblower hotline, a vital citizen-feedback mechanism for project monitoring, cautioning the public to refrain from frivolous reports, including inappropriate messages such as love notes.
The Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, gave the counsel during the unveiling of the hotline at a media conference in Asaba, the state capital.
‘’We want Deltans to be able to interact with the government. If you feel that either the contractor or the supervising ministry of any ongoing project in your community is performing below what you believe should be the standard, please reach out to us through the whistleblower line.
‘’You can send text messages or WhatsApp to encourage pictorial or video evidence if possible. Please, note that this line is not for love messages. It is for serious business. We are using it to ensure that our people who are living in their respective communities participate in governance’’ Aniagwu said.
Reaffirming the state government’s commitment to accountability and transparency at a press briefing in Asaba, the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu said the initiative was anchored on the MORE Agenda of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
Mr Aniagwu, alongside the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Festus Ahon, and the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Public Enlightenment, Projects, and Policy, Mr Olisa Ifejika, announced the whistleblower hotline as 0916 997 8305.
‘’In less than 24 hours of launching this whistleblower line, we are receiving reports of projects that are not in sync with the standards of the MORE Agenda and we are also going to take action against such contractors and against government officials who have failed in executing their responsibilities.
‘’We are taking it very seriously because our Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori believes that value for money is not something we are to joke with. That we told Deltans we are solvent does not mean that we will spend the money with reckless abandon.
‘’Therefore, the Governor has directed that the only way to recognize any contractor, irrespective of relationship with the political class, is to give Delta State value for money’’ Aniagwu said, adding the government would not hesitate to sanction erring contractors.
‘’This (whistleblower line) is a very serious business and it can be regarded as the hottest line in Delta. It is meant to expose those who want to shortchange Deltans, be they people in government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) or the contractors who should be our partners’’ he said.
