SATURDAY OCTOBER 4TH, 2008

email: dbs@deltastate.gov.ng

AUTOMATED PAYROLL: Steering Committee directs return of completed forms not later next Wednesday

The Steering Committee on the Development and Management of Integrated and Automated Payroll and Personnel System Using Biometrics for the State has directed that all completed Data Capture forms should be submitted by various Heads of Department to the office of the Head of Service not later than next Wednesday.

A circular letter signed by the Secretary of the Steering Committee and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Planning, Mr. Paul Evuarherhe, stated that the Actual Data Capture exercise would commence on Monday October 13 and end on Saturday November 29 2008.

Heads of Departments, Permanent Secretaries and all who signed the Data Capture forms on behalf of their establishments are to submit their Specimen Signatures in sealed envelopes to reach the office of the Head of Service not later than next Wednesday.

Employees who did not participate in the exercise will not be reflected on the payroll of the State at the end of the exercise.

Team Delta have reassures Deltans of Number One Position during National Sports Festival

Members of Team Delta have reassured citizens of the State of their preparedness to retain their number one position at this years National Sports Festival to be hosted by Kaduna State.

Some athletes and Coaches who spoke to sportswriters who accompanied the Director of Public Relations in the Delta State Sports Commission, Mr. Sunny Edoge on a tour to Onicha-Olona camp said they are committed to emerging tops at the games tagged KADA 2008.

The athletes who will be participating in Rugby, Taekwando, Kungfu, Ayo, Abula and Kokawa said the State stands a better chance of clearing the gold medals in these events as they have the athletes who can achieve such feat. They however urged the Sports Commission to hasten the supply of some of the facilities needed to help them prepare adequately as that is the only way they can fulfill their promise of finishing top of the medak table at the games.

The Director of Public Relations, Mr. Sunny Edoge however assured them that the facilities will be provided before the end of this week as the various sporting equipments have already been received and ready for dispatch to the ten venues spread within and outside the State.

In another development, the Okpe Sports festival has been shifted to the seventh through the eleventh of this month from the initial 30th of September to 4th of October date.

A statement signed by the Organizing Secretary of the Delta State Sports Commission Okpe Area Council Office, Mr. Alfred Umukoro, says the shift in date was due to the public holidays while regretting the inconvenience the shift in the date may have caused the athletes and the general public. The sports festival will however hold at the Orerokpe Baptist High School, Orerokpe.

Source of River Ethiope begs for attention.

The source of River Ethiope at Umuaja in Ukwani Local Government Area is now begging for attention. A visit to the River Source revealed that some structures built by the State

Government as part of its Tourism effort are about to cave in as a result of the erosion ravaging the area. The erosion had equally washed away the access road to the centre and blocked most of the outlets channelling flood water.

In an interview with a voice of Delta reporter, the Onochieze of Akoku, Chief Pius Olisemenogor commended the efforts of the state Government in building the Tourist centre. Chief Olisemenogor appealed to the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism to urgently find solution to the deplorable condition of the centre to enable the people of the area and state Government fully 'utilize the natural resource.

He said that the Centre could become a source of income to the State if well developed. Meanwhile, the delapidated Umuaja Mixed secondary school destroyed by storm about a year ago is still unattended to.

Chief Olisemenogor observed that several letters written by Umuaja Community to the Ministry of Education were yet to yield any result.

He therefore appealed to the Education Commissioner Mrs. Elizabath Uvoh Gardner to come to the aid of Umuaja community.

The Onochieze of Akoku explained that it had been difficult for proper teaching and learning to take place to the school since the destruction of the roof of classrooms in the institution.

INDEPENDENCE FESTIVAL: Bayelsa State government held a Niger Delta Choral Festival in Yenagoa.

As part of the activities that marked the Nation's Forty eight years of independence the Bayelsa State government held a Niger Delta Choral Festival in Yenagoa.

The Choral Festival had in attendance the governors of the six South South States including Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.

It featured cultural performances by the Bayelsa State Council for Arts and culture, African Choral performances by the six States, children groups as well as special rendition from the governors. The occasion also marked the twelfth anniversary of the creation of Bayelsa State.

The State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan who was represented by the Special Adviser on Religious Affairs, Reverend Godspower Agbuduta commended the Bayelsa State government for organizing the Festival saying that it will harness the potentials of youths in the region and help redirect their energies towards productive ventures.

He called on youths to listen to their elders stressing that development is coming to the region as government at all are levels committed to the development of the Niger Delta.

The Bayelsa State Governor Chief Timipire Sylva expressed happiness at the Choral Festival saying it is the maiden edition and expressed hope that it would be improved upon in subsequent editions.

He said that the Niger Delta had a lot of talents that have not be explored and advised youths in the creeks to shun militancy, criminality and be useful to the area.

Delta State troupe put up a beautiful performance at the festival with unique renditions in Urhobo and Itsekiri languages.

Uduaghan gives assurance on the on-going renovation work in the Warri township Stadium

 Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has given an assurance that the on-going renovation work in the Warri township Stadium will be completed on schedule and the stadium equipped with modem facilities as the State strives to be one of the six centers for the hosting of Federation of International Football FIFA under seventeen football competition.

Speaking to journalists after inspecting renovation work in the stadium. Dr. Uduaghan said the State government was concerned with meeting all FIFA requirements and expressed satisfaction with the quality of work, expected to cost about six hundred million Naira.

He charged the contractor to execute the project according to specification. The governor who was accompanied on the inspection by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Honourable Martin Okonta was conducted round the stadium by officials of the State Sports Commission led by its chairman, Mr. Amaju Pinnick.

The State Government has said that it will beautify a section of the road leading to the Effurun round-about, in Uvwie Local Government area.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan while inspecting the project, stated that the scope included creating a parking lot, relaxation spots and a green vegetation where flowers would add to the beauty of the area as well as constructing an access road to the Mammy Market.

Dr. Uduaghan said that work on the access road to the Mammy Market would commence as soon as the rains are over.

The Governor was accompanied on the inspection by some top officials of the State government including the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and Director-General of the Direct Labour Agency, Honourable Festus Agas.

Commerce embarks on registration and renewal of business premises

Registration and renewal of business premises is currently being carried out by officials of the state Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Owners of businesses operating in the state have therefore been advised to show their treasury receipt to the Inspecting .officials to confirm payment for registration or renewal.

Those who have not registered or are yet to pay their renewal fees for the past three years are asked to do so immediately to avoid sanctions under the enabling Edict.

A statement by the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Chinwe Monu-Olarewaju says payment should be made into designated banks only.