Oborevwori reaffirms Delta’s commitment to pension payments

Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to the prompt and sustainable payment of pensions and employee entitlements.

Addressing top state officials at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba, on Thursday, Oborevwori highlighted the N14.5 billion his government has paid to fulfill various pension obligations, a clear indication of his commitment to workers’ welfare.

During the interactive meeting with Permanent Secretaries, Directors, and Heads of Parastatals, Departments, and Agencies, the governor stressed the importance of strong collaboration between the civil service and his administration to deliver on his MORE Agenda, aimed at boosting development across the state.

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Oborevwori also touched on the pending implementation of the new minimum wage, stating that his administration is awaiting the necessary framework before activation.

“I want everyone to be happy as we are working to move the state forward,” he said. Since taking office, the governor has consistently prioritized workers’ welfare, ensuring salaries are paid before the end of the month and addressing long-standing issues such as promotion arrears.

According to him, his government has paid N5.5 billion across four tranches to settle arrears, a matter that had previously caused unrest among civil servants.

The governor also emphasized his efforts to improve working conditions by ensuring that permanent secretaries were provided with official vehicles.

In response to the economic challenges caused by the removal of the fuel subsidy, he approved an additional N10,000 for workers’ salaries over a three-month period, along with the introduction of shift work to reduce the burden on employees.

However, Oborevwori voiced serious concerns over inefficiency and corruption within the state bureaucracy.

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He cautioned top officials against colluding with contractors to compromise the quality of projects.

“You connive with contractors to do bad jobs and even want to handle parts of the contracts yourselves. This is unacceptable,” he warned, highlighting the dangers of poor oversight when officials attempt to act as both regulators and beneficiaries.

He also criticized the approval of projects that did not align with the needs of local communities, specifically questioning why four blocks of six classrooms were built for a village with fewer than 100 residents.

“We need to ensure that resources are allocated efficiently and that projects are placed where they will have the most impact,” he said. The governor’s remarks underscored his commitment to both improving public service and delivering on his broader development goals.

Oborevwori’s administration, which has overseen a workforce of approximately 55,000 employees, faces one of the largest wage bills in Nigeria, alongside Lagos State.

Despite these challenges, the governor is resolute in ensuring that Delta’s workforce remains motivated and that public funds are used effectively for the state’s overall growth.