As Nigerians await the implementation of the Supreme Court judgement on local government financial autonomy, the Commissioner for Information in Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Osuoza, has said the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwiri is not losing sleep over the matter.
He spoke on the issue as the stakeholders anticipate the report of the presidential committee set up by the Federal Government on the implementation of the judgement of the apex court.
In a short conversation with the Nigerian Tribune in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Monday, Dr Osuoza said the Delta government has not only allowed the local governments in the state to run seamlessly but had also come to their aid where necessary, including funding.
Osuoza, who emphasised that Governor Oborevwiri has kept faith with the people based on his campaign promises, said the LGs have unfettered access to their funds as spelt out under the law and without interference from the state government.
“We are not losing anything with the local government autonomy. We are augmenting the money for the local governments. We are giving them so many subventions, that is, to augment what comes to them, for example, from the federal account. So, the Delta State government has not dipped its hands into the local government account. Instead, we are giving them subventions from our own coffers,” the commissioner explained.
He cited other instances where the administration of Governor Oborevwiri had to bail out the local councils over pension matters based on the commitment of the governor to the welfare and wellbeing of the residents of the state.
He said: “At a time, they could not even pay some entitlements of workers. The state government had to intervene by giving them subvention and even their payment of pension, we were the one that guaranteed it for the local government.”
On the N70,000 national minimum wage, the commissioner said the committee constituted by the government on the issue has concluded its assignment.
Asked if Delta has the capacity to pay the new wage, he said: “We have the capacity to pay the N70,000 because when it was increased to N30,000, Delta was one of the first states that implemented the N30,000 agreement. This time around, I don’t think that we will be the one that will fall by the wayside. Delta State will try as much as possible to pay N70,000.
“We are getting close to the matter of minimum wage. We had a committee and it has submitted its report to the governor and sooner than later, the governor could make a pronouncement regarding the minimum wage.”
The commissioner added that Oborevwori is “quietly but steadily keeping his promise to Deltans, delivering important infrastructure and meaningful development projects at critical places, where they will impact positively on the lives of our people and bring smiles and a sense of belonging to these communities.
“As Governor Sheriff Oborevwori said: “I am here to serve the people. I want to do what I will be remembered for, we are building a more resilient Delta, one that is prepared to overcome challenges and seize opportunities.”
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