DELTA STATE OF NIGERIA

SERVICE COMPACT WITH ALL DELTANS

 

We, the Governor, Deputy Governor, Commissioners, Secretary to the State Government, Head of Service, Special Advisers, and Permanent Secretaries of the Government of Delta State of Nigeria,

 Having participated in the Special Executive Retreat On Service Delivery in Delta State, at the Nelrose Hotel, Asaba, 30 July, 2008;And having discussed and considered the contents and recommendations of the special report  titled: ‘Delivering Service in Nigeria:  A Roadmap’;

 Reaffirming our commitment to the Millennium Development Goals, the Seven Point Agenda and the Vision 20:20:20 through which we subscribe to the notion that “Delta Means Business” and are thereby determined to build a politically united, stable, economically prosperous, socially organized, truly great and democratic Delta State, with equal opportunity for all, and responsibility from all;

 Recalling the Code of Ethics for Commissioners, Special Advisers, and Permanent Secretaries to which we have committed ourselves;

 Mindful of the needs and the rights of all Deltans to enjoy social and economic advancement, to have access to education and to health services, and to live in conditions of peace, tolerance and respect for human dignity;

 Convinced that an informed citizenry, aware of its rights and asserting them confidently, is a vital underpinning to national unity, stability and integrity;

HEREBY ENTER INTO THE FOLLOWING SOLEMN COMPACT

WITH ALL DELTANS:

 We dedicate ourselves to providing the basic services to which each citizen is entitled in a timely, fair, honest, effective and transparent manner.

 [1.00]    To this end, our Ministries, Parastatals and Agencies will prepare and publish, not later than the FIRST DAY OF …… 2008, SERVICOM Charters which will:

(a) Set out the entitlements of citizens clearly and in ways they can readily understand

(b) List fees payable  (if any) and prohibit the asking for and making of any additional payments;

(c) Commit to the provision of services within realistic timelines;

(d) Provide and publish details of agencies and government officials to whom complaints about service failure should be addressed;

(e)Periodically conduct and publish surveys of citizens to determine levels of customer satisfaction and the extent to which particular Ministries and Agencies are seen as honoring the SERVICOM commitments; and

(f) From time to time, to review the commitments contained in their SERVICOM Charters and to revise them in the light of experience and further developments.

 [1.01]    To ensure that these commitments to the people of Delta State are faithfully performed, a Service Delivery (SERVICOM) Office will be established within the Governor’s Office. This Office will:

(a)Co-ordinate the efforts to formulate and operationalise SERVICOM Charters;

(b)Regularly monitor and report to His Excellency, the State Governor, on the progress made by each of the Ministries and Agencies in performing their obligations under this Charter;

(c)Carry out independent surveys of the services provided to citizens by the Ministries and Agencies, their adequacy and their timeliness and of customers’ satisfaction, and will widely publicise the results to keep citizens fully informed.

 [1.02]    For their part, Commissioners will:

(a)Ensure that policies and resource proposals presented for approval to the State Executive Council:

i.are based on evidence of the needs of the population;

ii.demonstrate evidence of the involvement of stakeholders in development of policy and feedback of performance.

(b)Maintain effective liaison with relevant agencies of all tiers of government concerned with service delivery so that SERVICOM Principles are upheld throughout the State;

(c)Establish SERVICOM units within Ministries with the responsibility of operationalising SERVICOM Principles;

(d)Ensure that all those for whom they are responsible willfully co-operate with the Service Delivery (SERVICOM) Office.

 [2.00]    This Compact, together with Vision and Mission Statement of all Ministries, will be published widely         and displayed in all government offices to which members of the public have access. Members of the public will be invited to inform the Service Delivery (SERVICOM) Office of any observed failures to provide timely services.

 [3.00]    CITIZENS’ OBLIGATIONS: The success of this Compact is predicated upon the observance of their civic duties by our citizens. Accordingly, we call upon each and every citizen to play his or her own part by honouring Constitutional and social obligations, respect the rights and legitimate interests of others, assist Government in appropriate ways and contribute to the well-being and progress of their respective communities by imbibing the enduring values and virtues of African tradition.

 [4.00]    We further assert our belief that Delta State can only realize its full potential when citizens start to receive prompt and efficient service from the State and this we are determined to achieve.

Unanimously adopted by the Governor, the Deputy Governor Hon. Speaker, Commissioners, Secretary to the State Government, Head of service, Special Advisers and Permanent Secretaries of Delta of State of Nigeria.

 Signed at Asaba this 30^th Day of July 2008.