National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Chuks Peter, DELTA
The Delta State Government today said it has paid over N14.5 billion to settle various pension obligations, reaffirming its dedication to the welfare of civil servants.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori made this known during an interactive meeting with Permanent Secretaries, Directors, and Heads of Parastatals, Departments, and Agencies in Asaba the state Capitol.
.Oborevwori emphasized that his administration is committed to the prompt and sustainable payment of pensions and other emoluments, calling on the state’s top bureaucrats to work hand-in-hand with his government to achieve the goals of his MORE Agenda.
He said, “We have paid over N14.5 billion in pensions, and we will continue to ensure that our pensioners are taken care of. We are committed to the welfare of our employees,” the governor said.
Speaking on the new national minimum wage, Oborevwori stated that the state was awaiting the official wage chart before implementing it in Delta.
“Once we receive the chart, we will commence implementation immediately. I want everyone to be happy as we continue working to move the state forward,” he added.
Oborevwori further revealed that his administration has settled promotion arrears to the tune of N5.5 billion, paid in four tranches. He also said, “When I assumed office, I was determined to end the cry over promotion arrears. We worked closely with the Head of Service and made sure that N5.5 billion was paid to settle this issue,” he said.
The governor also highlighted efforts to improve the payment of workers’ salaries, noting that salaries have consistently been paid before the end of every month.
“I made it a priority to pay salaries on time. Since I came into office, workers have not received their salaries on the first day of the month; they are paid before the 26th.”
Oborevwori expressed his support for training and development within the civil service, approving several memos for training programs. He also announced the provision of loans to public officers under a special loan scheme.
“I believe in training and capacity building. That’s why I approve every memo for training, and we have also supported our public officers with loans,” he explained.
In addition, the governor addressed the issue of official vehicles, stating that all Permanent Secretaries now have vehicles provided by the state. He also disclosed that workers continue to benefit from an extra N10,000 in salary for three months to cushion the impact of the fuel subsidy removal.
While acknowledging that Delta has one of the highest wage bills in the country, Oborevwori urged civil servants to work with integrity and refrain from unethical practices. He condemned instances where contractors collude with civil servants to deliver substandard work, stressing that such actions would not be tolerated.
Saying that, “You connive with contractors to do bad jobs, and then issue certificates for poorly done work. This is unacceptable. We need to do better. I want the best for Delta State, and I expect the same from all of you,” he warned.”
The governor also criticized the approval of projects that do not meet the needs of small communities, urging careful planning to ensure that projects are effectively utilized.
“When I inspect projects, I often see bad jobs, and I speak up. How do you approve four blocks of classrooms for a village with less than a hundred people? We need to be smarter about these things,” he concluded.
