We Created 17,173 Jobs In One Year, Says Okowa

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Editorial

May 24, 2016

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…Set To Commission Series Of Completed Projects

BY FIDELIS EGUGBO
THE Delta State Governor, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa has said that within one year of being in office, his administration has created 17,173 (seventeen thousand, one hundred and seventy three) jobs.
Governor Okowa accompanied by the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, Chief of Staff, Government House, Hon. Tam Brisibe; Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Chief Kingsley Esiso; Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Festus Ovie-Agas; Chairman of the Delta State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Norbert Chiazor and the South South zonal chairman of the union, Comrade Edward Ogude dropped the hint in a crowded press conference held at the Press Centre, Government House, Asaba yesterday to signal the commencement of the celebration of his one year in office.
While disclosing that a lot of projects have been lined up for commissioning as a result of the Democracy Day celebration, the governor stated that within the past one year, “it is my pleasure to announce that as at April 30, 2016, a total of 17,173 (seventeen thousand, one hundred and seventy three) private sector jobs were created by this administration; this figure consists of 6,800 (six thousand, eight hundred) direct jobs and 10,373 (ten thousand, three hundred and seventy three) indirect jobs of both skilled and unskilled workers.”
“As a Special Purpose Vehicle, the Office of the Chief Job Creation Officer accounted for 7,522 (seven thousand, five hundred and twenty two) of these jobs while the remaining 9,651 (nine thousand, six hundred and fifty one) were created through projects, programmes and initiatives implemented through the various MDAs,” the governor said, adding, “at the very core of our SMART agenda is job and wealth creation, because we realize that the only way to achieve sustainable economic growth is to create new jobs, diversify the economy through the development of non-oil sectors, and provide the enabling environment for enterprises and industries to thrive.”
Senator Okowa who took oath of office on May 29, 2015 as the Governor of Delta State, reiterated, “in August 2015, we launched the Job and Wealth Creation Scheme with the following programmes viz; Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP), Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP), and Production and Processing Support Programme (PPSP) which were focused on equipping participants with life skills, developing their leadership qualities, increasing their personal effectiveness, harnessing their productive potentials, and enabling them to become entrepreneurs, managers and leaders.”
He disclosed that within one year, his administration awarded contracts for the construction cum rehabilitation of fifty four roads through the State Tenders Board and the Ministerial Tenders Board, noting that some of the projects earmarked for commissioning as part of the Democracy Day celebration includes, Ejinyere/Orodje Street in Orerokpe, Okpe Local Government Area; Jeddo Ughoton Road and Access Road to Eagles Height University (Phase 1 Jeddo/Omadino Bridge), Okpe local Government Area; Oteri Township Road in Ughelli North Local Government Area; Okere-Urhobo Community Roads in Warri South Local Government Area (Olomu link Road, 1st and 2nd Olomu Streets, Otor-Okere and Agba Roads); Kefas Road with a spur to Uzere junction, Oleh, Isoko South Local Government Area; Uduophori road (Phase 1), Patani Local Government Area; Orikeze Street with a spur to Orikeze close, Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area; Usonia Road, off Nnebisi Road, Asaba; Faculty of Law Complex, Delta State University, Oleh Campus, Isoko South Local Government Area; Pedriatic Wards/Water Scheme in Patani General Hospital; and Azu-Owa Abavo Cottage Hospital, Abavo, Ika South Local Government Area of the state.
“Meanwhile, work on Cable Point Road dualization, Asaba, Okpanam Road Dualization, Asaba; Warri-Sapele Road Dualization in Sapele from Amukpe Roundabout; the construction of Amekpa-Afiesere-Ufuoma Road in Ughelli North Local Government Area; Lagos-Asaba Road dualization in Agbor; construction of Oza-nogogo-Alisimie Road in Ika South Local Government Area, and Okerenkoko Beach Road in Warri South West Local Government Area, are progressing steadily and should be ready for commissioning a few months from now,” the Governor said, emphasising, “it goes without saying that there is need for continual investment in infrastructure renewal and new constructions that will engender economic growth, lead to social improvements, and give all communities equal opportunity to benefit from the economy.”
While calling for collaboration between government and the private sector, Governor Okowa stated, “it is gratifying to note that local and international investors are taking keen interest in our state and the figure given for the constructed and rehabilitated roads does not include projects executed by the Direct Labour Agency (DLA).”

GOV OKOWA ADVOCACY COMMITTEE IN EGBEMA KINGDOM OF WARRI NORTH LGA

GOV OKOWA ADVOCACY COMMITTEE  IN EGBEMA KINGDOM OF WARRI NORTH LGA 

 

The people of Egbame Kingdom have been advised not to engage in the destruction of Oil facilities that will further cripple the economy. 

 

The Delta State Deputy Governor, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro who is the Chairman of the Government Advocacy Committee against Pipeline Vandalism of the state, gave the advice while addressing people of the kingdom when he led members of the Advocacy team as part of the sensitization against Pipeline Vandalism. 

 

The deputy governor who spoke to the people in their local language, said pipeline vandalism will have negative effect not only on the nation, and state but also the communities in the kingdom as well.

 

He said government condemn in strong terms the rate of this dastardly act going on in the riverine area, adding that  no government will attain meaningful development with this spate of destruction of oil facilities. 

 

According to him;  "The on going bombing of our critical oil facilities is unacceptable, government condemn it in very strong terms,  they should stop it, they should deepen intelligence as to the  remote and immediate cause and happenings and to create a platform of engagement and dialogue.  We believe very strongly that we have to engage the people in dialogue. Because only dialogue can bring about sustainable peace and security in the area, that is what we are doing and that is what we are  set to achieve". Barr. Otuaro stated. 

 

Barr. Otuaro advised the people not to be part of those perpetrating the act, but rather help government and security agencies in fishing out these criminals in their areas.

 

In his response, His Royal Majesty, Gold Oro Tiemo the Agadagba  of Egbema kingdom who was represented by High Chief Matthew Tiemo, said the issue of insecurity and attack on oil/gas installations in some parts of the state and local government is worrisome.

 

"As traditional institution we preach peace, we live peace and therefore cannot fiegn ignorance of this negative development,  we shall never be lured to indulge in such activities that are inimical to the economic wellbeing of the country, particularly Delta State". He said. 

 

He further suggest that the state government should meaningful reorganise the community base surveillance outfit for oil and gas facilities in the state by the involvement of prominent community leaders that have vast knowledge of their respective territories to act as overseers in each of the Kingdoms.

 

According to him,  this will not only generate  employment for the youths but will also create and promote a sense of owership of these facilities. 

 

He said despite their marginalization as an oil producing Kingdom, they have advised their youths never to part of such mischievous act.

 

He urge the government to unravel the brains behind the recent attack. 

 

The high powered advocacy Committee is expected to visit Gbaramatu Kingdom in continuation of  the sensitization tour against Pipeline Vandalism.

AHEAD OF PDP NATIONAL CONVENTION: SHERIFF TO RUN AS SOLE CANDIDATE FOR PDP CHAIRMAN(edwin efejuku

Reprieve on Monday came the way of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff.

The various party organs and stakeholders who were hitherto calling for his ouster gave him the nod to run as sole chairmanship candidate at the national convention billed to hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Saturday.

At a broad based meeting at the party’s secretariat in Abuja, the stakeholders, including the Board of Trustees (BoT) unanimously endorsed Sheriff for the job, with the various dissenting groups in agreement.

Confirming the development, Sheriff, in a chat with journalists at the party’s secretariat, said his candidacy was first endorsed by the party’s Northeast zone and his home state of Borno in a unanimous voice vote.

He said, “Yes, I am contesting for the position of chairman at the convention. I have been unanimously endorsed by the Northeast zone and Borno State as sole candidate.

“The Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, moved the motion for my adoption and his Gombe State counterpart, (Ibrahim Dankwabo) seconded the motion.”

Sheriff had, after an earlier meeting with the party’s BoT, said the party had dropped its plan to amend the PDP constitution which had been one of the sources of disagreement among party stakeholders.

He, however, clarified that the decision to amend the party’s constitution was not his idea, saying that he only inherited the recommendation as contained in a report by the Ike Ekweremadu committee.

Sheriff confirmed the party’s decision to zone the PDP’s presidential ticket to the North for the 2019 general election.

The chairman also assured the BoT and other stakeholders that disagreements arising from the conduct of ward and zonal congresses across the states would be looked into, with a view to addressing areas of conflict.

The party also confirmed Senator Walid Jibrin as newly elected chairman of the BoT, with Chief Ojo Maduekwe as secretary