By Anne Azuka
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State on Wednesday charged political appointees in the state to champion his administration’s whistle-blowing policy by reporting poorly executed projects in their areas for prompt action.
The governor gave the directive while swearing in Senator Ighoyota Amori as his Chief Adviser at Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba.
He emphasized that video recordings and detailed information on substandard projects would assist the government in blacklisting erring contractors. This, he noted, would also curb the abandonment of projects and ensure adherence to contractual agreements.
“Last week, during an interactive session with top-level public and civil servants, I announced my intention to open a hotline for residents to report cases of substandard work by contractors directly to my office,” Oborevwori said.
“This initiative will help the government ensure full value for money spent on projects. Political appointees must take the lead by monitoring projects in their localities and advising the government accordingly.
“Governance is all about teamwork, and all hands must be on deck to achieve our goal of giving our people the best and making Delta State the envy of other states in the federation,” he added.
According to the governor, “It is gratifying to note that the world has recognized what our administration has achieved in the last 19 months.” He stressed that this momentum must be sustained through continuous fiscal discipline, massive infrastructural renewal, youth development and empowerment, and the stimulation of small and medium enterprises.
“We are determined to keep our expenditure within revenue limits and ensure the judicious allocation of resources, fostering the right conditions for economic prosperity and sustainable development,” Oborevwori stated.
While congratulating Chief Amori on his appointment and inauguration, the governor noted that the appointment aligns with Section 196(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
Oborevwori added, “Chief Amori, as you all may know, is one of the founding fathers of the PDP in Delta State and has played significant roles in the development of the party both locally and nationally.
“He has served in various capacities in successive administrations and contributed immensely to the growth and development of the state.
“This administration will rely on his political sagacity, vast knowledge, wisdom, and experience in policy formulation and implementation as we advance Delta State through the MORE Agenda.”
The governor further reminded all political appointees to act as good ambassadors of the administration.
“As public servants, our actions and utterances must reflect the core values of the MORE Agenda, which include innovation and excellence, service and social responsibility, transparency and accountability, opportunity and freedom, and unity and respect.
“I expect everyone to be guided by these principles to command the respect and support of the people we serve.
“It is also my expectation that all political appointees maintain constant engagement with their wards and local government councils. It is your duty to acquaint the people with the administration’s policies and programmes while gathering feedback from our communities.
“This will allow the people to feel the impact of governance and help the administration develop need-based programmes tailored to their yearnings and aspirations.
“We are committed to bringing the dividends of democracy to the grassroots, and all appointees play a crucial role in that process. Your performance will be closely monitored and used to assess your effectiveness,” Oborevwori said.
Speaking after his swearing-in, Chief Adviser to the Governor, Senator Ighoyota Amori, expressed gratitude for the appointment and the opportunity to serve the state and the party. He pledged to offer valuable advice that would advance the state across all sectors.
He also called on Deltans to strengthen their support for the governor’s efforts to accelerate sustainable socio-economic and infrastructural development in the state.
