Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state has sworn-in two new
commissioners for the Ministry of Economic Planning and Ministry of
Lands, Survey and Urban Planning.
Speaking shortly after the swearing-in ceremony at government House,
Owerri, Gov. Okorocha advised them to be dedicated in discharging
their duties and shun self- aggrandizement.
Gov. Okorocha enjoined them to imbibe the spirit of team work,
stressing that his administration would not hesitate to remove any
commissioner who performs below expectation or involve in corrupt
practices.
Okorocha said there would be appraisal of scorecards of all
commissioners in the state as his government approaches its one year
in the office pointing out that the Rescue Mission administration
cannot afford to fail.
In a vote of thanks, the Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Urban Planning, Mr. Uche Nwosu on behalf of his counterpart in the Ministry of Economic Planning, Mr. Nick Oparandudu, described their new offices
as one that call for service and hard work.
Hon. Nwosu pledged to implement the four cardinal points of rescue
mission administration in the area of sacrifice, political will,
decentralization and culture.
He assured that government will not fail to give compensation for land
acquire by the government promising that land registration data would
be harmonized while access roads will be created for government
approved layout.
He however, thanked Governor Okorocha for giving them opportunity to
serve the people of the state in higher capacity.
Of all the governors elected via the platform Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Osun state governor, Rauf Aregbesola has some positive peculiarities that should never go unnoticed when analyzing his utterances and deeds. He is the only governor that went into office with a clear and pure political background as a political activist, coherent and consistent AC then ACN member, with an experience of governance as an executive member of government: He was an important commissioner (for works and infrastructure) in Lagos state before going to contest in Osun. As many will remember, his long difficult battle into office went beyond just elections and was shared by many including Wole Soyinka.
Even I argued some years ago in London before an international audience that Rauf Aregbesola will definitely make some important and positive impact on the dynamics of Nigerian politics because of his personal character and political exposure. I listed him amongst nine other Nigerian public figures that will make strategic contributions to the trajectory of the country in the next ten years; that was five years ago.
To whom much is given, much is expected. The latest declaration by Governor Aregbesola, in which he called for the creation of a ministry of northern affairs is a lot below such expectations and that is to put it mildly. By the way, we are referring to him as Governor Aregbesola here, let us hope he doesn’t take offence because they tell me he is generally addressed as Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, with his consent, even when the speaker then proceeds to speak in English. “Ogbeni” means “Mr.” in Yoruba language; don’t ask me why.
Aregbesola made the call for the establishment of a northern ministry whilst delivering a speech at a symposium on ‘Islam and Peaceful Co-existence in Contemporary Multi-Religious State’ in Abuja. In the governor’s intention, such ministry will have the task of dealing with the problems of unemployment, poverty and women affairs in the north. Let us assume that he made such call out of his concerns for what is going in the northern parts of Nigerian and that he had good intentions for them. In that case we have to remind him that his suggestion seems patronizing and condescending of northerners, it lacks consideration for other parts of Nigerian and it shows that the governor is not fully aware of the federalist deficit we have in governance in Nigeria.
The federal government of Nigeria already has ministries in charge of almost everything one can think of in this world, these ministries are there to plan, execute and monitor activities that will bring development and generate employment in every part of the country including the north. The questions to be asked are what are these ministries doing and where are they doing them. Is there a case of conspiracy against the north? If so, by whom and for what? If the federal government has neglected the north to the point of needing a ministry of northern affairs, why should the same federal government be called upon to rescue the north? This is like calling an arsonist to out put fire.
From the day they were formed, each state in Nigeria, including those in the north has its own ministries for everything Governor Aregbesola is asking for. It has local governments areas and they have leaders and public office holders there too. The questions to be asked are what are they doing and what have they been doing to the point of them needing a ministry of northern affairs? What has happened to all the money allocated and generated for development over the years? Who are those that have managed them both at state or federal levels?
Let us be clear, these questions are applicable to not only those in charge of affairs at the federal level or in the northern states of the country, it is to be directed also to those at other levels and other parts of the country. Nowhere in Nigeria, Lagos and Abuja included is at the level of full employment and with no problem of poverty etc. should we establish ministries of the eastern and western affairs too?
The idea of establishing special bodies for structural problems is one of the many bad ideas that Nigerians have inherited from years of military rule and it is time we free ourselves from it. In democratic countries, the quest is for normality, good governance and transparency and it is brought about by everyone doing their own work judiciously. They do it because they care about their people and they do it because they know they have to give account to the press, the judiciary and to voters. The few instances, (like in case of special funds for southern Italy) where structural problems have been treated with extraordinary remedies have generated corruption, mismanagement and disappointment.
If Governor Rauf Aregbesola really wants to help the North and indeed any part of Nigeria for that matter, let him advocate for accountability, good governance and transparency, but better still, let him not advocate for anything. Let him like other governors just mind their business in their own states. Let them all focus on fixing roads, schools, hospitals and keeping their states clean and secure. Their deeds in office will then be used as example to inspire other states.
The Nigerian Federal Government is reportedly already getting the United States of America to assist our law enforcement agencies to investigate ways to properly tackle terrorism and the American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the agency that is assistingthe Nigerian authorities.
If there is any other time to get assistance from the FBI this is the time.
Unlike the Nigerian insurgency problem that is complexly marked with cultural, linguistic, religious, ethnic and political challenges; issues that could affect a non-African law enforcement agency like the FBI, the current oil subsidy case with all of its forensic accounting and economic complexes is a perfect fit for the FBI.
Now that the Honorable Farouk Lawan-led House of Representatives panel on the subsidy probe has handed their findings to the executive arm of the Nigerian government the FBI investigators should immediately be called in as a matter of urgency to begin a collaborative work with the Nigerian government’slaw enforcement agencies and crime squads.
President Jonathan who is known for his fight against criminality as in terrorismhas continuously called for help from international powers to fight insurgency.
In this regard, he should make FBI’s participation in the subsidy investigation an urgent matter and give quick authorization to this call as this sort of approach will give the Nigerian people full blown confidence in regards to President Jonathan, dealing with this huge financial case meritoriously.
The President should also see that the Minister of Justice Bello Adoke known for his promise to help the nation uphold the rule of lawleave the police and the FBI to work on this case with independently, with no political interference.
Also, during the prosecution face of this case an independent prosecutor with high ethical spirit and professional conduct should be appointed on the case.
There is already a warning from civil society organizations for Nigerians to be on the watch out in order to see how this ultra-case isbeing handled by the presidency and the entire Nigerian political leadership.
There is no doubt that from the nature of this case as presented by the Farouk Lawan-led House of Representatives panel that the matter assets the risk of anger among every reasonable and patriotic Nigerian.
The warnings from the civil society groups are arriving at a time when the people are alreadydisillusioned over the conditions of poverty, poor infrastructure and national insecurity.
The subsidy matter is the latest blast with all of its string of economic, commercial, and monetary excesses which could further highlight the people’s pain and anger.
This rising economic tension in the country plus the already religious tension could further exacerbate more problems collectively, across our multi-ethnic and multi-religious society, especially if a host of things are not done properly along the lines of justice and the rule of law.
Recently the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) DahiruMusdapher described Nigeria as possibly incurably corrupt and viewed the judiciary that will be handling the subsidy offenders as part of the long standing corrupt atmosphere, therefore assisting in undermining true justice in our nation.
The Chief Justice concern about unethical and corrupt practices among some judicial officers is of particular interest as the subsidy cases will reach the courts, and unless the assigned judges show depth of professionalism, public confidence on the subsidy casecould fall low, and make the citizens slump further to a level of hopelessness and anger.
In the future, the assigned Justices on the subsidy matter must ensure that the judicial system remain economically, tribally and socially neutralso as to safeguard our already fragile democracy.
Safeguarding the justice system is so essential at this time, especially when the chief judge has already sounded that representationally a corrupt judge could be more dangerous to the society than a man who runs amok with a dagger in a jam-packed street.
This is the time when the government with the possible help of the FBI should painstakingly carry out a line of criminal investigations,and build afull case that will stand the test of strenuous prosecution against those found defective in terms of law abiding behaviors.
In this regard, a thorough investigation need to be anchored on a set of sophisticatedfinancial investigations and this is where the FBI will provide their forensic accounting tools to help address a very complex case like the subsidy fraud matter.
The FBI along with the Nigerian detectives using all the necessary tools used in financial crimes investigations could help uncover this mass financial fraud and huge case of public corruption.
This matter which occurred in President Jonathan’s time is not only to be placed on a scale of national priority within the context of other principal issues facing the nation but it maybecome a case that from all angles cut across all forms of public corruption, corporate irregularities, financial crimes and human rights violations.
The Farouk Lawan-led committee has shown that the mass theft by some powerful Nigerian officials and various oil firms has cost the country over N1 trillion, therefore, it is essential that feeling of politicking and acts of partisanship are not brought into this matter as such games will not work at this critical time.
This present financial mismanagement and swindling is more of a moral, psychic, physical and societal matter that could cause incalculable pain not just to Nigerians of today but to generations to come.
Therefore the call for collaboration between the FBI and the Nigerian law enforcement agencies’is a psychological test that the government should pass or in the absence of this common sense approach, it could face a bitter test from the people and that could include acts of mass outcry against what they may perceive as an unjust systemof government in the nation.
John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D., is an Abuja-based Forensic/Clinical Psychologist. Jos5930458@aol.com 08126909839
Information available to 247ureports.com through a credible source within the leadership ranks of the dreaded terrorist Islamic group, Boko Haram indicate that the group may have gone into overdrive following the public utterance by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebelemi Jonathan that the Islamic group will be out of existence by the month of June 2012. The statement which came while Mr. President visited South Korea in April 2012, has led to the Islamic group to spread its support tentacles across the African continent in a manner that has not been witnessed before.
The members of the Islamic group who responded to the President in the negative took the President’s public announcement as clear challenge to the group’s resilience and seriousness. The field commanders of the Islamic group mounted a ‘face-saving’ insurgence that resulted to the failed assassination attempt on the Inspector General of Police [IGP], Abubakar, killing of Bayero University Kano Church goers, slaughter at the Potiskum Cattle Market and other like attacks. The Joint Task Force [JTF], on their part, in an attempt to suppress the mounting insurgency uncovered identities of the leadership ranks in Kano to include a Yoruba man and a Cameroonian woman.
It is on this strength that the source within Boko Haram revealed that the leadership of the Islamic group to comprise of persons from diversified tribal groups of Nigeria and of Chad Republic. In particular, he pointed to the field commander/leader of the Gombe/Jos/Bauchi regiment/division to be of Igbo parentage [Anambra State]. According to the source, the Igbo man is aged in his early 30s – was born and raised in Borno State – and had been indoctrinated into the Islamic way of life – long before the recent insurgence of the Boko Haram. He added that the Gombe/Jos/Bauchi division to be the most active and battle ready among the divisions presently on ground in Nigeria. “The Kanuri people and the comrades from Chad are the same. Their language and customs are similar. We have lots of them in our regimen” said the source.
Concerning recent publication that the Boko Haram has received financial help from a North African country, Algeria, the high ranking source, added that Boko Haram has been receiving financial and other-like resources from international communities that stretch to Libya, Mauritania, Somalia, Iran, Pakistan and other country where their parent organization [the Al Qeada] has significant sympathizers. In particular, it was revealed that the deposed leader of Mauritania, former President Sidi Mohamed Sheik Abdullahi has been a “close” financial friend of the Islamic group who had made available millions of dollars to the group to facilitate for training at the Al Shabaab training camps in Southern Mogadishu, Somalia – and to carry out operations in Nigeria. “We now have enough resources and trained men to see us through June” stated the Boko Haram source.
Adding that the former President of Mauritania, Sidi Mohamed Sheik Abdullahi provided additional logistical assistance to the group for the training of snipers – estimated to be 341 in number – of which 119 have allegedly arrived northern Nigeria, he exclaimed that the remainders “are on their way” to enable the shift in tactics. [Sidi Mohamed Sheik Abdullahi is said to be residing in Algeria and France.]
Sidi Mohamed Sheik Abdullahi
The Boko Haram source recalled that the Nigerian military’s assistance to the United States forces in Southern Mogadishu in a coordinated attack against the commanders and men of Al Shabaab near the Sahafi Hotel – where Al Shabaab snipers were staged. He lamented that Nigeria sent forces to the African Union Mission in Somalia [AMISOM] to kill their men and comrades.
Also, a wealthy merchant from Chad [name not given] is revealed to aid the leadership of Boko Haram in weapon acquisition and transport into Africa and into northern Nigeria. The Chadian is said to have been assisting the group – based more on an economic interest than religious. “He is a very wealthy man with unlimited access to weapons.” 247ureports.com understands the Chadian’s objective is primarily to aid the Boko Haram achieve “confusion in Nigeria” – and to subsequently reap the economic benefits that may result. The Chadian merchant is resident in the central region of Chad.
Godswill Akpabio Exposed! Watch how he paid INEC officials to help him rig the 2011 Gubernatorial Election
Godswill Akpabio says he wants to silent his critics in America by going to court. We (his critics in America) are ready to follow him, not only to the court of justice, but also to the court of public opinion.
Beginning with this accompanying video, we are ready to expose Akpabio to the world to confirm what we have been saying all along that the man is a pathological liar, a thief, a swindler, a kidnapper, and a killer. More of this type of video will be posted once we finish putting them together. Meanwhile, enjoy this first part. Remain blessed!
The Rivers State Chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN says the rate at which the local government council chairmen in the State are misappropriating the council funds under the pretext of security votes calls for caution and legislative regulation.
The publicity secretary of the ACN, Jerry Needam in a statement in Port Harcourt described as criminal and wicked the arbitrary allocation to themselves huge sums of money running into tens of millions of naira monthly as security votes and hiding under same to squander the hard earned tax payers’ money with careless abandon.
The ACN spokesman argued that bulk of the security votes could be conveniently used on development projects to give the council areas a face-lift.
In exercising their oversight functions, the ACN opined that the State House of Assembly should as a matter of urgent public interest, come up with a law specifying a reasonable amount of money that should be approved for council chairmen as security votes, arguing that by so doing, the reckless and irresponsible life styles of most council chairmen will be checkmated.
Commenting on the allegation of misplacement of priority by the police against some council chairmen, the ACN said not using the security votes to address the security of their respective areas is criminal and tantamount to direct looting of government treasury.
“If prudently and judiciously managed and channeled by those in charge, there is no way the security situation in the state would not be better than what it is”, the ACN reasoned.
Information reaching 247ureports.com indicate that one person has been killed at a peaceful rally at the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] today as the citizens of Edo State marched to the INEC office to protest alleged illegalities over the voter’s registration exercise against the upcoming gubernatorial elections.
The identity of the killed person is not yet known to our correspondent but the leadership of the State has identified the body – and has pledged to investigate the cause of the death to logical conclusion. Information also has it that one other person sustained injury.
Today’s death marks the 5th death since the campaign of the gubernatorial election began between the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] and the Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN].
martin ikechekwu with the coolers and creamy cocaine on display
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded the first seizure of creamy cocaine in the country. The 9.500kg cocaine which looks like ice cream was being smuggled into the country in four big coolers by an unrepentant suspected drug trafficker who is currently facing trial over unlawful importation of a kilogramme of cocaine from Brazil in 2010. The re-arrest of the 50 year old at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos has generated mixed reactions on the adequacy of the legal framework and justice dispensation in drug control.
The suspect, Martin Ikechukwu was caught with 9.500kg of creamy substance that tested positive for cocaine on his way from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Operatives of the NDLEA detected the drug following suspicion on the four giant size water coolers. Further examination revealed the parcels of drugs after it was cut open. Four (4) parcels each of creamy cocaine were found to have been industrially strapped round the body of the four coolers. In all a total of 16 parcels weighing 9.500kg with an estimated street value of over 90 million naira were recovered during search at the arrival hall of the airport.
NDLEA Airport Commander, Hamza Umar who confirmed the arrest explained that the command has been grappling with the problem of re-arrest of suspected drug traffickers who are released on bail. “The re-arrest of persons undergoing trial for drug related charges is one of our numerous challenges. This suspect was first arrested on 23rdof February 2010 for ingesting one kilogramme of cocaine and there are several cases like this” Hamza noted.
Commenting on the arrest and drug seizure, Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade said that the arrest shows the extent to which drug barons can go in attempt to prevent drugs from being detected. According to the NDLEA boss, “while this arrest reflects the level of desperation by drug barons, it has also raised questions on the issue of bail for drug traffickers. Certainly, the accused is unrepentant and has shown no remorse because he was first caught with 1kg and went back to smuggle 9.500kg of cocaine even when the first case is ongoing. We shall pursue this case to a logical conclusion and use it as deterrent to others”.
The Agency is also investigating the circumstances under which the suspect acquired new travel documents as well as his accomplices. Fresh facts have been uncovered by the investigating team. Meanwhile, efforts are ongoing to bring all culprits to justice.
Martin Ikechukwu hails from Enugu State. He attended Army Children Primary School, Ibadan, Oyo State and Government Technical College Awka where he graduated in 1980. He said that he wanted to raise some money to enable him settle down with his family.
“I travelled to Brazil in 2009 and was managing a restaurant to earn a living. Unfortunately, I was arrested when I came home in 2010. When I was granted bail, there was nobody to help me. I had no option than to smuggle drugs again because they promised to pay me the sum of 3 million naira. My intention was to settle down with my family because I am not getting younger” Martin stated.
His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR
At the Inauguration of the Agricultural Transformation Implementation Council
Abuja. Monday, 14th May 2012
PROTOCOL
It is my pleasure to welcome you all to the inauguration of theAgricultural Transformation Implementation Council.
It is an established fact that agriculture, which is the most important sector of Nigeria’s economy in terms of contribution to the GDP (44%) and employment (70%), has performed poorly over the years due to the neglect of the sector since the discovery of oil.
In the 1960s, Nigeria was the largest producer and exporter of groundnut and palm oil; the second largest exporter of cocoa;
and the largest exporter of cotton in West Africa. The neglect of the agricultural sector has led to Nigeria losing market shares in these commodities to other countries.
Whereas the country has huge agricultural potential, with 84 million hectares (ha) of arable land, Nigeria today is one of the largest importers of food in the world, spending over $10 billion annually importing wheat, rice, sugar and fish. This poses several challenges for us as a nation.
First, we are dependent on food supply from other countries, which makes us vulnerable. As we learnt from the global food crisis, volatility in global food supply and prices can negatively affect consumers in importing countries. Nigeria will have its food security undermined unless it becomes self-sufficient in food production.
We must unlock the huge potential of the sector and strive to regain our lost glory in agriculture.
Second, we need to diversify the economy away from sole reliance on oil. This will secure our economy and reduce foreign exchange volatility. By focusing on agriculture, Nigeria will be able to diversify its economy, reduce foreign exchange spent on food imports, and instead, earn valuable foreign exchange from exports of agricultural produce.
Our Administration’s Agricultural Agenda sets a target of adding an additional 20 million metric tons of food into the domestic food supply by 2015. It also plans to create 3.5 million jobs, both farm and non-farm, over the next five years. Our goal is very clear: to turn Nigeria away from being a net food importing country to become a self-sufficient and food exporting country.
To achieve this and transform the sector, we have stopped taking agriculture as a development program. Agriculture is now being treated as a business. State governments are working closely with the Federal Government to take advantage of the agricultural transformation agenda. Every State has comparative advantage in the agricultural sector which it can leverage on, and engage thousands of our youth to create a new generation of agricultural entrepreneurs for Nigeria.
Several reforms have been implemented in the agricultural sector in the past few months. These include:
· Reform of the fertilizer sector to make it more transparent and targeted at farmers. The Federal Government is no longer in the business of buying and distributing fertilizers and seeds; we no longer award fertilizer and seed contracts. These are all being done now by the private sector.
· Government has launched the electronic wallet system to use mobile phones to reach farmers with subsidized inputs.
· We are putting in place new marketing institutions to coordinate agricultural markets to assure good prices and secured markets for our farmers.
· We have also changed the way we finance agriculture, with the launch of the Nigerian Incentive-Based Risk Sharing for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) facility by the Central Bank, working with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. NIRSAL will leverage 450 Billion Naira of new financing from banks into the agriculture sector.
· The Federal Government is already implementing nation-wide activities with State Governments to improve the value chains for our crops, especially rice, cassava, maize, soybeans, sorghum, cotton, cocoa, oil-palm, fisheries and livestock.
· We are also investing in completing several dams and irrigation infrastructure to allow farmers to take advantage of double cropping and diversification into high value horticultural crops.
But all of these initiatives will not be enough to transform the sector, unless we expand investment in road infrastructure and power to reduce the cost of doing business; expand markets for agricultural produce; and enhance competitiveness of our agriculture.
Government is determined to end the era of food imports. We must eat what we produce, and add value to production, to create markets for our farmers. To underscore this, last month I launched bread and confectionaries made with 20-30% cassava flour with the ultimate goal of increasing it to 40%.
It is in order to facilitate the actualization of our vision for the agricultural sector, that I have set up the Agricultural Transformation Implementation Council. The Council, which I will personally Chair, will provide oversight for the overall agricultural transformation agenda of our Administration. It will consist of the following sub-groups:
· Agricultural Value Chains Group: this will focus on increasing the productivity, value addition and linkage to markets for all priority agricultural commodities.
· Agricultural Infrastructure Group: this will include the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Water Resources, Works, Aviation, Power and Transport working together to stimulate private sector investments through increased provision of public goods for strategic value chains.
· Agricultural Finance and Investment Group: this will focus on developing conducive environments to stimulate private sector investments along strategic commodity value chains. It will also focus on leveraging commercial bank financing into agriculture at affordable rates.
These groups will each be tasked with the development and implementation of coordinated interventions to rapidly grow the agricultural sector and turn Nigeria away from being a food- import-dependent economy, to a self-sufficient and food-export-economy.
I am hearing unpleasant stories of some companies working to frustrate our agricultural transformation agenda. Let me state in very clear terms that the Federal Government will deal decisively in such situations.
Nigerian agriculture is heading in the right direction. There is still much to do, hence the need for all stakeholders to come together and engender the needed synergy to unlock and unleash the huge potential of the sector. I thank all the members of the Council for accepting to serve our nation in this onerous capacity.
Your Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, it is now my pleasure to formally inaugurate the Agricultural Transformation Implementation Council.
To provide training, best services in public administration and management, the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan led a delegation of government and top civil servants to Singapore for intensive training and interactive session with the World Bank officials.
The session which held at the Civil Service College in Singapore featured lectures, trainings, technical session, team sessions, briefings, as well as questions and answer sessions.
By sharing the Singapore public sector reforms, initiative and management practices, Dr Uduaghan said that Deltans at the driving seat of government policies and programmes will be repositioned to fast track development, attract more investors and create employment.
He said the training will help to look at the state from a larger picture, enhance collaboration with development partners like the World Bank which will lead to human and infrastructure development.
The Governor who used the opportunity to highlight the achievements and challenges of his administration since 2007, called on the World Bank to above all things help the state with technical assistance that will equip government officials with technical capacity to cope with global challenges.
He also charged the participants to articulate, plan, time and strategize to achieve the overall objectives of job creation.
The two major facilitators of the training sessions, the program manager, investment climate advisory services, World Bank group, Mr. Gokhan Akinci, and the senior vice president, planning and business development, Mr. Lawrence Wip, spoke on building capacity, adapting, shaping, integrating, communication and setting of pace.
They stressed the needt o sequence initiative and the need for honest professional assessment by discarding initiatives that are not working.
They called for planning, training, strategizing and the identification of key performance indicators.
The facilitators, however, expressed optimism that with shared vision and team work, sub-national success is not only possible but necessary.
The participants were also presented with certificates at the end of the programme.
Meanwhile, Governor Uduaghan says he will initialize change and sustain transformation within the public service through training and development.
Dr. Uduaghan stated this at the end of the training and interactive session between the World Bank team and the state delegation, at the civil service college in Singapore.
The governor noted that the vibrant civil service in Singapore and Rwanda has been the catalyst ofthe accelerated development of the two countries.
As a co-driver of government policy and programs, Dr. Uduaghan said he will not only ensure the institutionalization of the public sector values, but will ensure that they have the prerequisite knowledge to function effectively.
The governor said hewill request the Head of Service to organize a training programme for key DeltaState civil servants, in Singapore.
Also, to ensure that the Singapore experience is immediately put into practice, Governor Uduaghan has set up an inter ministerial committee to implement the lessons of Singapore.
He said the committee made up of some members of his delegation will focus on transportation, public work, environment and commerce to bring about noticeable changes within the various sectors.
He urged the Commissioner for Economic Planning to set the pace by making it possible for budget to be presented by September.
In his remarks, the commissioner for economic planning, Mr. Kenneth Okpara, said the presence of the state delegation led by the governor, have sent a strong message to the World Bank that Delta State government means business.
Mr. Okpara said, with the knowledge gained from the training, the team would help to drive government’s vision, which ultimate aim is to create jobs.
