Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has completed three years in office, achieving significant milestones in various sectors. The state has been ranked as the second-best governed in Nigeria by the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced Professional Studies (CIAPS) based in the UK. Oborevwori's administration has focused on infrastructure development, including road construction, flyovers, and bridges. Additionally, the state has experienced economic growth, with a reduction in debt burden from N465 billion to less than N150 billion.
The Oborevwori administration has implemented several schemes to improve the lives of citizens. The MORE Agenda has positively impacted various categories of people, including pregnant women, infants, students, youths, farmers, artisans, senior citizens, and widows. In the health sector, the state is set to have a Neuropsychiatric facility, public health laboratory, CT scans, MRI scans, and radiology lab in hospitals across the state. These facilities have been made available in hospitals in Oghara, Warri, Osubi, Agbor, and Asaba.
The health sector has seen significant investments, with over 150 primary health centers renovated and 50 more at various stages of completion. This feat earned the state a $400,000 grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The state has also overtaken other states in health insurance, providing care for over three million enrollees, including over 10,000 widows who receive N15,000 monthly stipends. Furthermore, the administration has recruited over 700 health workers to address the manpower gap in the sector.
Education is another area where the Oborevwori administration has made significant strides. The state maintains four state-owned universities, two polytechnics, two colleges of education, over 600 secondary schools, and over 1,500 primary schools. Recently, the Governor approved the massive renovation of schools running into billions of naira in anticipation of the new academic session. This investment in education demonstrates the administration's commitment to the future of the state's children.
The administration has also prioritized workforce welfare, paying over N5 billion to clear a backlog of promotion areas and approving a guarantee of N40 billion to clear outstanding payments to local government retirees. The Governor has also ordered the recruitment of over 3,000 workers into the local government system and paid N150 billion in three months as palliatives to cushion the effect of the withdrawal of subsidy by the Federal Government.
In terms of economic management, the Oborevwori administration has ensured that no contract is awarded without a cash backup. The Governor pays 40% upfront as mobilisation to ensure seamless and speedy completion of projects. This approach has led to the completion of over 300 abandoned projects, and contractors, including Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, are happy to work in Delta due to the assurance of prompt payment for work done.
The state's investment in security architecture has resulted in relative peace, leading to a significant increase in allocation from the federal government. The military high command, police, civil defense corps, and other security agencies have reciprocated the government's gesture by ensuring peace across the state. With various housing schemes, car loans, and bursary and scholarship provisions, the Oborevwori administration has demonstrated its commitment to improving the lives of citizens and workers.
Key points
- The state has reduced its debt burden from N465 billion to less than N150 billion.
- Over three million people are enrolled in the state's health insurance scheme.
- The administration has invested in education, including the renovation of schools and maintenance of over 1,500 primary schools.
