DELTA STATE OF NIGERIA

PRESS BULLETIN

FOR

FIRST WEEK OF FEBRUARY, 2008

NO. DTS 0014 OF 1/02/08 DELTA GOVERNOR RESTATES COMMITMENT TO ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY

The Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has inaugurated the State Working Committee of the African Peer Review Mechanism with a pledge that his administration will continue to promote the principles of accountability and transparency.

Dr. Uduaghan who disclosed this when he inaugurated the Committee in Asaba stated that the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) was constituted to create a platform for mutually assessing the progress, success or failure of member countries to enhance good governance.

He explained that APRM is an assessment system voluntarily adopted by member states of the African Union (AU) for assessing their performance in the agreed political, economic and corporate governance values, codes and standard contained in the declaration on democracy.

Governor Uduaghan reiterated that his administration decided to inaugurate the committee because the principle of Accountability and transparency which were the core values of APRM were also embodied in the fiscal responsibility and procurement bill the State was routing for.

He said that the responsibility of the Committee was to sensitise and publicise the activities of APRM in the State, so that every Deltan would know what it stands for and participate when the Country's Review Team (CRT) visits the State.

Dr. Uduaghan said his government was putting the Committee in place to create an extensive process of consultation so that Deltans would interact openly and make their contributions.

Meanwhile the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has announced that the Country Review Team (CRT) would visit Nigeria soon to interact with APRM stakeholders, in the 36 States of the Federation. Dr. Okowa said the meeting would hold in 16 centres in the country.

Responding the Chairman of the newly inaugurated Committee, Professor Abadenego Ekoko thanked the State government for carefully selecting them for the assignment.

Professor Ekoko promised that they would perform their duties effectively to achieve the set goals. He also said they would exhibit integrity, honesty and hard work. Present at the ceremony were members of the State Executive Council.

Delta State government has taken over the payment of West African Examination Council (WEAC) and National Examination Council (NECO) Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) registration fees for students of the State origin in secondary schools in the State.

The State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, who announced this when a labour leader and foremost unionist, Chief Frank Kokori paid him a courtesy call in Asaba said the decision was taken to relieve parents of the burden of the examination fees.

Dr. Uduaghan observed most parents take loan to pay the WEAC and NECO registration fees, even as he said that most of them could not raise even one thousand naira for such examination fees.

Explaining further, the Governor averred "a lot of people cannot raise Nl,000.00 It is difficult for some parents to raise such an amount and many people would respond positively to any such kind gesture from government".

Dr. Uduaghan who promised to always ensure prudent financial management in the State, announced that he had directed the State Ministry of Justice to draft what he called "the Fiscal Responsibility and procurement bill".

He said when the bill was ready and passed by the State House of Assembly, it would become an instrument for the protection of the treasury and for prudent management of resources.

According to him "I have directed the State Ministry of Justice to draft the Fiscal Responsibility and Procurement Bill and when it is ready it will take responsibility for the financial management of State funds".

The Governor also revealed that the bill would come up as soon as possible because he had sworn not only to protect the interest of the people but also the treasury.

Commenting on what the State was doing to improve the energy sector and increase employment opportunities in the State, Dr. Uduaghan said his administration had initiated the micro credit scheme to reduce unemployment and promised to align with the electricity programme of the Federal government to improve energy supply in the State.

He called on the National Assembly to amend the Constitution so that the derivation issue would be promptly solved. The Governor noted that the issue of derivation was a serious one and urged the National Assembly to urgently tackle it. Speaking earlier, Chief Frank Kokori told the Governor to work hard to leave a lasting positive legacy.

Chief Kokori said bad leaders always found it difficult to be in the mainstream after leaving office and expressed happiness that the Governor was not only working hard but reaching out.

He called on the Governor to address the issues of unemployment, W AEC and NECO registration fee for candidates who are indigenes of the state, electricity as well as the review of the 13 per cent derivation.

The labour leader who berated past authorities of local government councils in the state for non-performance called on the third tier administration to brace up to its constitutional roles of providing amenities that have direct bearing on the lives of the people at the grassroots.

The Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, has approved the constitution of the state working group of the Africa Peer Review Mechanism (AFRM- SWG).

A government statement issued in Asaba by the Director of Information, Mr. Austin Mowah, said that the body will be chaired by Professor A.E. Ekoko while the ( Director of Planning/Head, of NEPAD unit will serve as the secretary.

Other members are Professor G.G. Darah, State chairman, HURDON, State chairman Nigeria Bar Association, State Chairman Nigeria Labour Congress, State Chairman Trade Union Congress, State Chairman Nigeria Youth Council, State Chairman All Farmers Council of Nigeria and State Chairman Nigeria Union of Journalists.

Also, named to serve in the body are the state chairman Nigeria Medical Association, State Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria, State Chairman Traditional Council of Chiefs, State Chairman Manufactures Association of Nigeria, State Chairman Conference of Political Parties, State President, National Council of Women Societies, State President Student Union Government of DELSU, Abraka and Head of Department of Political Science, Delta State University, Abraka.

The Group equally consists of president Niger-Delta Women forum, Director, Niger-Delta Community Action Network, Director Rural Economic Empowerment And Development, State NCP AD Co-coordinator and state coordinator NEP AD.

Other members are the State Commissioner for Information Mr. Oma Djebah, Commissioner Women Affair, Community and Social Development, Queen Victoria Ikenchukwu, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Special Adviser to the Governor on Inter-party Matters, Dr. Emmanuel Mafiana. The inaugural meeting of members of the of the body was held on Thursday, January 31, 2008 at the Press Centre, Government House Asaba at 11 am.

The World Bank has promised to partner with the Niger Delta region to tackle what it described as the developmental challenges facing the region. The Vice President of the Bank, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili announced this in Abuja when she led a delegation of the bank to the country to hold interactive session with Governors of the region.

Dr. Ezekwesili said the region lacked the capacity to utilize its enormous resources and the world bank would provide the expertise since it has the repository of knowledge to turn things around. She therefore urged governments of the States in the region to harness areas of comparative strength to enable the world bank ascertain areas it could render assistance.

The world bank Vice President who enjoined the region to map out strategies on how to prudently utilize funds at its disposal also said the interactive session was designed as part of the programme of her visit so that she could exchange views, and ideas with Niger Delta Governors. Responding, on behalf of others Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State said the greatest problem facing the region was that of insecurity and inadequate development.

Dr. Uduaghan however gave assurance that governors from the region would improve on the modest achievements of their predecessors. While congratulating Dr. Oby Ezekwesili on her appointment as a Vice President of the World Bank, the Governor averred that a major concern for governments of the f i region was how to manage funds that was accruing to the region.

Citing a resolution of a recent security meeting of the Gulf of Guinea States at the Hague, Dr. Uduaghan said the World Bank should assist the Niger Delta States in the area of capacity building to evolve better ways of managing funds. He said the bank could also partner with the States in other areas to bring sustainable development, guarantee peace and attract foreign investors.

On their parts, Governors Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State and Timipriye Sylva of Bayelsa State, echoed Governor Uduaghan's view that funds accruing to their respective States were not enough to meet developmental challenges. Both governors who said they were excited at meeting the World Bank officials and developmental partners, cited the "peculiar circumstances" and topography of the area as reasons for the astronomical cost of executing projects in the region.

Both governors agreed that the essence of the meeting was to forge closer ties with the World Bank, and said they require assistance in upgrading their health and educational facilities. Rivers State Governor, Dr. Chibuike Amechi was absent at the meeting as he was said to be away on a crucial State assignment.

The Chief of Staff, Government House, Asaba, Hon. Solomon Areyenka and the Economic Adviser to the Delta State Governor, Chief Clement Ofuani, were present at the meeting.

The Delta State Commissioner for Information Mr. Oma Djebah has restated the state government's determination to reposition the state own media outfits for efficient and effective service delivery.

Commissioner Djebah stated this in Asaba recently, while receiving the report of the committee constituted by the Ministry of Information to look into the operations of the three state own media organizations and recommend measures to revamp, revitalize and improve their operations.

He averred that the state is blessed with many talented persons who are making their mark in the media industry across the nation, stressing that the government will always tap from the wealth of knowledge of these persons to enhance the professional efficiency of its own media outfits.

While expressing gratitude to the members of the committee for carrying out the assignment creditably, Mr. Djebah gave an assurance, that the government will study the report carefully and implement the recommendations therein for the benefit of the generality of Deltans who crave for excellent services from the media organs.

Submitting the report earlier, the chairman of the committee, Mr. Peter Igho, Executive Director Marketing, of the Nigerian Television Authority, (NT A) Abuja, commended the effort of the Information Commissioner for being able to assemble such talented personalities from the state serving in the various media across the country for the assignment.

He expressed the hope that the state government will implement the committee's recommendation in order to make the state government own media outfits the "first and the best". It is recalled that the Information Commissioner, had in November 20,2007, constituted, a 14 man committee to suggest modalities for revitalizing the operations of the three state owned media establishments viz:: Delta Printing and Publishing Company, Publishers of the Pointer titles, the Delta Broadcasting Service, Asaba, and Delta Broadcasting Service Warri, in line with f Ii the vision of the Ministry to revamp, re-engineer and reposition them for better service delivery.

The members of the committee were drawn from a cross section of the media, consultancy services and the Ministry of Information.

NO. DTS 00190F 1/02/08 COMPUTER LITERACY WILL PROMOTE WORKERS' EFFICIENCY - COS

A two day seminar in Computer Literacy and Optimisation opened yesterday in Asaba for public officers and civil servants in Government House Asaba. Declaring the seminar open, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Hon. Solomon Areyinka said the seminar was organized to up-date the knowledge of officers in computer literacy and achieve capacity building which is one of the cardinal programmes of the state government.

He said the programme would not only improve knowledge but enhance efficiency especially in modem challenges in the industry. The facilitator of the training, Mr. Kingston Kagbare of Professional Placement Limited (PPL) explained that the training programme would assist the participants in acquiring knowledge in computer and internet networking.

The seminar was intended to help update the workers knowledge in computer appreciation and facilitate job performance through information technology. Programmes outlined in the seminar include general introduction on computer, precise writing, Microsoft word, Microsoft power-point and the use of internet.

The Delta State Government has reiterated its commitment to the training and retraining of its workforce in order to enhance efficiency and better service delivery.

The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Oma Djebah restated this during the closing ceremony of a two-week training programme organized for staff of Delta Printing and Publishing Company Limited (DPPCL), the publishers of The POINTER titles.

The Commissioner who was represented by the Director of Information, Mr. Austin Mowah observed that the capacity building programme was one in a series of workshops and trainings designed for the staff of DPPCL in line with the three points agenda of Governor Uduaghan's administration, especially in the area of human capital development.

He urged participants to put into practice, the skills and techniques acquired at the workshop which are aimed at revamping and re-engineering the media outfit. In a communique, the participants appreciated the efforts of government in carrying out the training programme as it was the first major steps to train the staff of The Pointer since its establishment in 1994.

They further appealed that The POINTER be adequately re-positioned to meet modem challenges of media coverage of government business. Lamenting on the inadequate working conditions they pleaded that government should facilitate action on the creation of good and friendly working environment through the construction of a standard corporate headquarters at the permanent site.

The Delta State Civil Service Commission is organizing a refresher course and Promotion Examination for officers on salary Grade Levels 05 to 10 whose promotion matured from Monday January 1 to Sunday July 1, 2007 respectively in the various ministries.

To realize this, the Commission has concluded arrangements with the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (AS CON) to conduct the refresher course for all eligible officers. A statement issued by the Acting Chairman Civil Service Commission Dr. Emmanuel Tetsola, indicated that officers on salary Grade Levels 09 and 10 will be trained on Saturday February 2, 2008 while officers on salary Grade Levels 07 and 08 will take their turn on Saturday February 9,2008 at 9 am.

Also the refresher course for those on salary Grade Levels 05 to 06 will hold on Saturday, February 16, 2008. The statement further requested participants to come along with their letters of first appointment, letters of present appointment or last promotion and staff identity card to the venue, at lbori Hall (NLC Secretariat) Labour House, off Okpanam Road, Asaba between the hours of 8 and 9am.