Okowa swears in new permanent secretaries, calls for leadership by example_DeltaNews247

Delta Governor, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, on Monday, swore in five new permanent secretaries in the state’s public service with a charge to them to lead by example by upholding commitment, accountability, fairness and versatility in the discharge of their duties.

At the ceremony in Asaba, the governor urged the permanent secretaries that as veterans in civil service and Chief Accounting Officers in their ministries, they should see their elevation as a call to higher responsibilities and challenges that would lead to maximum productivity in the state civil service.

He advised them to be acquainted with the Stronger Delta policies and programmes of his administration and pledged to continue to create an enabling environment for the civil service to thrive.

Okowa reminded the permanent secretaries of the need to cut waste and inefficiency in the service, and enforce discipline and due process in the rank and file so as to engender a new paradigm shift in the civil service.

"This is the third batch of permanent secretaries that this administration has appointed since 2015; the swearing-in of these five distinguished gentlemen brings the total number of permanent secretaries appointed by this administration to 25.

"We need them to fill existing vacancies created by the exit of those who have retired. It is imperative that we fill these vacancies for a strong and stable civil service, necessary for the implementation of government policies and programmes.

"The new permanent secretaries are persons with a broad-range of knowledge, experience and exposure that qualify them for the office.

"As veteran civil servants and accounting officers of your various ministries, you are expected to lead by example. You must show the way in terms of punctuality, prudence, accountability, fairness and commitment.

``Your conduct and performance - or lack of it - impact directly on the directive principles of state policies and government business," he said.

The new permanent secretaries are Mr Daniel Momah, Mr Emmanuel Aghedo, Dr Moses Bragiwa, Mr Bennett Agamah and Mr Maxwell Awuse.......

The governor also inaugurated a seven-member Public Procurement Council for the state, with a former Head of Service of the state,

Sir Okey Ofili, as Chairman, and disclosed that it was a core duty of the Council to ensure that all extant laws such as sign-off limits and other standardised regulations were complied with in the state.

He said that the Council, as an independent body, was a creation of Delta State Public Procurement Law 2020, adding that its establishment would among others, help to achieve the state fiscal transparency, accountability and sustainability initiative of the World Bank.

Okowa pointed out that the Council would have an oversight function over the state’s Public Procurement Commission, and explained that it was the requirement of the World Bank that for all transactions of government should be credible and overseen by an independent body such as the Council.

"The Delta State Public Procurement Council is an independent body with oversight functions over the State Public Procurement Commission. There is no conflict here.

``While the Commission operationalises the provisions of the procurement law, it is the responsibility of the Council to ascertain that all extant laws such as sign-off limits and other standardised regulations are complied with by the Commission," he said.

The governor congratulated the permanent secretaries and Chairman and members of the Public Procurement Council on their appointments, and urged them not to compromise the confidence reposed in them by the state government.

In separate responses, Mr Daniel Momah, on behalf of the new permanent secretaries and Sir Okey Ofili for members of the Public Procurement Council, assured the governor that they would do their best in their assignments, adding they would make meaningful input in building a Stronger Delta.

@DeltaNews247

Okowa has done well for all Deltans – Loyibo

By Perez Brisibe

TRADITIONAL Prime Minister of Tuomo kingdom in Delta and Bayelsa States, Chief Mike Loyibo has applauded Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State for the developmental drive of the governor across the various Ijaw communities in the state adding that the governor has done well for all the ethnic nationalities in the state.

Chief Loyibo in a statement, Wednesday while congratulating the governor on his birthday anniversary, also expressed confidence that the governor, his wife and daughter will soon recover from COVID-19 adding that his kingdom have not ceased in their prayers for the governor.

He also prayed that God grants him and the first family, as birthday gift; speedy recovery and their heart desires, with many more years of outstanding service and leadership to the good people of Delta State and Nigeria.

Citing the Tuomo/Ojobo road as one of the developmental projects of the Delta State government, Chief Loyibo stated that the road when completed will boost the socio-economic life of other adjourning Ijaw communities in the area adding that the governor has indeed made the Delta State a construction site.

He said: “Despite the economic challenges of governance, your wealth of experience has been exemplified in the quick impact and legacy projects you have been delivering to Deltans particularly to the Ijaw nation.

“On behalf of myself and the people of Tuomo kingdom, I heartily congratulate you on your 61st birthday anniversary as you deservedly celebrate this glorious day and it is my prayer that the Almighty God grant you all round refreshing as he richly prosper you and continue to order your steps in the many more years of worthy service ahead of you.”

NDLF: No oil facility will be shut down in Gbaramatu kingdom-DeltaNews247

The Niger Delta Ijaw Leaders Forum (NDLF), led by Com­rade Fedeke Ebipade, has assured President Muham­madu Buhari and multi-na­tional oil companies operat­ing in Gbaramatu Kingdom and the Niger Delta region of safe and secure operations.

In a press released made available on Tuesday in Warri, Delta State, the lead­er of the group assured that no facilities of oil com­panies operating in Ijaw land would be shut down to please some criminal mind­ed agitators in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area.

Ebipade assured Inter­national Oil Companies (IOCs) in other part of the Niger Delta region not to be distracted by those ex­pressing their selfish needs under the guise of the most respected Ijaw traditional kingdom in Delta State.

He strongly warned face­less groups against using Gbaramatu Kingdom to make careless statement capable of disrupting peace in the region.

His statement reads: “Count the Ijaw people, Gbaramatu Kingdom out of any criminal agitation. The Kingdom has maintained a towering reputation beyond ill-intentioned venture of sabotaging government’s efforts and scare away in­vestors from their land.

“An independent investiga­tion has revealed that the strug­gle to ensure that President Buhari appoints coordinator for the Presidential Amnesty Programme from among some cabals in Gbaramatu Kingdom has degenerated into criminal threats to renew hostilities in the region,” he said.

Ebipade further added that Gbaramatu Kingdom is not the only Ijaw people who fought for the development of Ijaw land and Niger Delta at large, therefore the Kingdom cannot claim all appointment and opportunities to Ijaw.

“They succeeded in threatening and pressuring Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State to impose their sons and daughters into the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Com­mission (DESOPADEC).

“Now the conspirators are hiding under the exclusion of Gbaramatu indigenes from the recently announced 52 marginal oil field allocated to interested Nigerians without considering people from oil bearing communities which we strongly condemn and call on President Buhari to im­mediately look into and give minimal of 70 percent to the people of oil producing areas like Gbaramatu Kingdom.”

Senate probes NDDC interim management over ‘N80 billion reckless spending’-DeltaNews247

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has said that the allegations of financial recklessness and misappropriation of funds leveled against the Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) are unacceptable hence the decision by the Senate to investigate the activities of the Commission.

Lawan stated this in a speech delivered on Thursday to declare open an investigative public hearing by the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on the Investigation of the Alleged Financial Recklessness in the Niger Delta Development Commission.

The Senate President who underscored the need for the prudent application of public funds by Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government (MDAs), emphasised that same had become imperative in view of scarce income at the disposal of the Federal Government.

“Financial recklessness is not an attribute that anyone can afford, whether rich or poor. It is even worse with the poor, or for the organisation or a country with limited resources.

“This is the reason we have always highlighted the need for prudence in the application of public resources. The time when public resources is seen as nobody’s resources is long gone. We are in trying times, when we all have to be concerned about judicious use of scarce incomes.

“The NDDC is an important statutory agency that is supposed to improve the lot of the Niger Delta community. It is therefore unacceptable to hear about inappropriate use of resources, or outright financial recklessness,” Lawan said.

According to the Senate President, the weighty allegations of misappropriation of public funds to the tune of N80 billion by the Interim Management Committee of the NDDC prompted the upper chamber to investigate the Commission.

While urging stakeholders present at the hearing to cooperate with the Ad-Hoc Committee, Lawan assured the public of the Senate’s commitment to fairness and transparency in the discharge of its constitutional responsibility.

“This Senate is a responsive Senate, and it was partly the reason we made up this all-important committee in our sitting on Tuesday, 5th May 2020 to investigate the Alleged Financial Recklessness at the NDDC.

“I am happy the ad hoc committee has made excellent progress by requesting and receiving vital information from identified stakeholders.

“This public hearing should further help the committee get more information, to enable them to come to a pleasant conclusion on the facts on ground, before reporting back to the Senate.

“I have trust in the ability of this committee to do the right thing, but I add that you all have to cooperate with them and be open-minded and frank with your submissions.

“The Senate will be fair to all. Our aim is to get all evidence, to make excellent decisions, to benefit the citizens. Your cooperation is therefore very important”, the Senate President added.

Chairman of the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee investigating financial recklessness in the NDDC, Senator Olubunmi Adetumbi (APC – Ekiti North), in his welcome address said the panel in line with its mandate, seeks “to holistically investigate all financially related allegations, mismanagement and misappropriation and the breach of the extant procurement processes as enshrined in the public procurement Act 2007.”

The lawmaker added that, “the exercise is not aimed at witch-hunting any individual, groups, persons or institutions, but to rather get at the root of the matter, that will aid in repositioning the NDDC to effectively deliver on the mandate on which it was established, to block leakages of financial mismanagement as well as promote the effective utilization of its resources for the overall development of the people of the Niger Delta region.”

Bayelsa communities inaugurate N141.65 million projects-DeltaNews247

The Dodo River Communities Development Association in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa on Friday inaugurated projects worth over N141.65 million funded by the Chevron Joint Venture.

Newsmen report that the beneficiary communities are Amatu I, Amatu II, Biabiri I, Bilabiri II and Bisangbene.

The projects include Dodo River Secretariat in Yenagoa, building and furnishing of Bilabiri I Primary School, water treatment projects, concrete roads and twin-engine speed boats.

Others include communication systems, provision of plastic chairs and tables and canopies for the communities, amongst others.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of Dodo House, a secretariat for the communities, Mr Okebia Keku, the Permanent Secretary in Bayelsa Ministry of Mineral Resources, applauded the association for the prudent use of the funds.

He said that the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) the development template which the government was overseeing, had given communities greater participation in the selection and execution of development projects.

Earlier, Mr Berry Negerese, the Chairman of the association, had explained that the projects were executed with funds provided between 2016 and 2019, adding that paucity of funds delayed the Dodo secretariat building project.

He said that the introduction of the GMoU approach by Chevron had enhanced the capacities of Niger Delta communities in development activities as they now handle projects funded by oil firms in a transparent manner.

Negerese appealed to Chevron and other development partners to assist the association with funds to furnish the secretariat to enable them put it to optimal use.

He urged the oil firm to extend community employment opportunities to Dodo River communities it its Agbami offshore oilfields.

King Joel Ibane, the Monarch of Iduwini Kingdom in Ekeremor, applauded Chevron for the gesture and appealed to the oil firm to sustain its development activities in its host communities.

Mrs Uju Obiora, the Senior Programmes Manager, Participatory Partnership for Community Development, the association’s mentoring organisation, applauded the transparent governance structure adopted.

The in-coming chairman of the association, Mr Francis Amanmogiran, urged Dodo River communities to close ranks and seek more development funds from donors to complement their sole source of funding from Chevron.