BY EUNICE EMEYAZIA
The Delta State Government has announced a fresh set of measures aimed at improving the purchasing power of residents, strengthening local economic activity and ensuring that government investments translate into tangible benefits for citizens.
Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, disclosed this during a press briefing in Asaba, where he outlined the state government’s plans to take the benefits of ongoing economic reforms beyond the macroeconomic level and down to individual households.
Aniagwu said the briefing was intended to intimate the media and the public about the government’s renewed efforts to roll out programmes capable of improving the economic wellbeing of Deltans.
According to him, while several reforms have been introduced at the federal level to address economic challenges, the state government is focused on ensuring that the impact of such reforms is felt directly by residents.
He explained that despite the capital-intensive projects being undertaken across the state, the government was working to ensure that resources injected into the economy would stimulate economic activities without unnecessarily fuelling inflation.
Government to Renovate Schools
The Commissioner announced that the state government would soon commence a massive renovation of public schools across Delta State as part of efforts to provide a more conducive learning environment while simultaneously stimulating the local economy.
He noted that the government had, over time, intervened in school infrastructure across the 25 local government areas, but stressed that the new intervention would be more comprehensive.
Delta State currently has about 1,300 primary schools and more than 430 secondary schools, he said.
Aniagwu disclosed that the government was also conducting an audit of teachers across the state to determine their numbers, locations and deployment.
The exercise, he explained, would help government establish the student-teacher ratio, teacher-subject ratio, student-classroom ratio and other relevant indicators required for effective planning of the education sector.
He said the government was also addressing the persistent migration of teachers from rural to urban areas by tightening transfer procedures and introducing incentives for teachers willing to serve in rural communities.
State Promotes Public-Private Partnerships
The Commissioner said the Oborevwori administration was also encouraging greater participation of the private sector through public-private partnerships, which he described as a more effective and efficient approach to delivering certain projects and services.
He said government was therefore creating an enabling environment for credible private investors and businesses to partner with the state in driving development.
Aniagwu also disclosed that the state government had already proposed the payment of a 13th-month salary to its workers, describing the initiative as part of the administration’s efforts to improve the financial wellbeing of residents.
Empowerment Programmes to Build Skills
According to him, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has directed government agencies and departments responsible for empowerment programmes to commence the process of identifying and enrolling beneficiaries.
He said the programmes would focus increasingly on skills acquisition and capacity development, enabling beneficiaries to acquire skills relevant to the demands of the modern economy.
The Commissioner said the ultimate objective was to increase the purchasing power of residents and make them financially independent based on their productivity and services rendered, rather than dependence on government handouts.
DSEIS Investments Taking Shape
Aniagwu said some of the investment opportunities identified during the Delta State Economic and Investment Summit were already beginning to take shape.
He disclosed that government officials had visited large farms and engaged farmers to determine areas of possible collaboration and investment, with particular attention to poultry production.
He said the administration was determined to look inward and leverage the funds, solvency and liquidity available to the state to stimulate economic growth and improve living conditions.
The Commissioner said the government would continue to invest in infrastructure, including road construction, because Governor Oborevwori believes in governance that directly touches the lives of the people.
More Infrastructure for Health Workers
Aniagwu also announced plans to construct additional residential quarters for Permanent Secretaries and mini-quarters for doctors.
He said the doctors’ accommodation was designed to provide better living conditions for medical personnel and ensure that they remain readily available for prompt treatment of patients.
According to him, the initiative would also help reduce brain drain in the health sector by improving working and living conditions, retaining skilled professionals and ultimately strengthening the quality of healthcare delivery in the state.
The Commissioner reiterated that the administration’s interventions across education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, empowerment and other sectors were part of a broader strategy to make Deltans more financially buoyant and improve their quality of life.
He assured that the state government would continue to pursue policies and projects that translate public resources into measurable economic and social benefits for residents.
