The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, says his experience of working closely with the Executive arm of government as the Speaker of the State House of Assembly puts him in a vantage position to consolidate and improve on the ongoing reforms in the civil service.

Oborevwori said the Delta State House of Assembly that he is privileged to lead for about six years, worked closely with the Executive arm of government led by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to implement the administration’s policies and programmes.

The PDP governorship candidate said this at a meeting with the Head of Service and Permanent Secretaries at the Government House, Asaba, the Delta State capital, on Monday.

He said: “This experience puts me in a vantage position to consolidate and improve on the ongoing reforms in the civil service. In addition, an Oborevwori administration in Delta State will prioritize the following;

“Training and retraining of staff for leadership development across all strata of the civil service as well as capacity building for the workforce to enhance productivity and promote excellent service delivery. I have done it in the Legislature and I will replicate it in the entire public service”.

“Others include, enhanced use of digital technology in the operations of government and ensure its full implementation across the service within a time frame for greater efficiency in service delivery, attract the best brains to the civil service by ensuring that merit and professionalism are the yardsticks for elevation into top management positions, recruitment of staff, especially in some professional areas where the workforce has depleted mostly due to retirement.

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“A good example is the absence of forest guards/forestry officers which are required to check unnecessary felling of trees. Lest we forget, timber is a valuable resource with considerable revenue-generating potentials.

“Our healthcare system is also in need of more healthcare professionals. As a matter of fact, emphasis will be placed on manpower Planning in the Service, provision of low-income housing estates for workers through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and continuous regular payment of pensions to retirees,” Oborevwori stated.

He noted that the Delta State Civil Service Commission Regulations (CSCR) 2019, which was an improvement of the 1978 law, is to equip civil servants with a working knowledge of the regulations governing their work, adding that Prof. Chike Edozien Secretariat, an architectural showpiece, has made administration of the state with respect to the implementation of the policies and programmes of the State much easier and faster.

“With most agencies of government now under one roof to perform government business, it has enhanced the speed of service delivery and reduced the cost of governance.

“The Independent Power Project (IPP) in the state, which currently supplies power to all government buildings has made the work of civil servants very exciting and fulfilling. Apart from facilitating the speed of document processing and other documentations, civil servants now enjoy a very conducive environment never experienced in the state to perform their duties,” Oborevwori added.

Also speaking, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Patrick Ukah, said: “You are the engine room of the government; you translate the policies of the government on how to make it work or not to work, by attaining the post of a Permanent Secretary you are already on the other divide with us.

“You are so important because you understand our programmes and understand what we are doing. We are very grateful and this is the time we need your cooperation more; this is the time we need to work total with each other so that together we will see a very good transition that we all will be proud of. I am very sure we have done very well and look forward to working much more better as we begin to wind down.”

On his part, the Head of Service, Reginald Bayako, commended Governor Okowa and Oborevwori for putting the programme together, saying: “As it were, this is our own rally.”

The Star