Delta State monarchs ask government to declare state of emergency on federal roads

Retirees advocate civil service college in state to reposition labour
Traditional rulers in Delta State have urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on federal roads traversing the three senatorial districts of the state, describing the roads as death-traps.

The monarchs, in their resolution after a meeting in Asaba yesterday, the state capital, made specific reference to the Benin-Asaba highway, insisting that federal roads in the state are in dire need of repairs before more lives are lost.

Also, while expressing concern over the worsening state of insecurity in the country, the monarchs implored the Federal Government to “conclude action on the establishment of state police as a necessary measure to advance security in all parts of Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, the Obi of Abavo in Ika South Local Council of the state, Uche Irenuma II, has raised the alarm over alleged plots by some unnamed politicians in Ika to divert monthly funds meant for youths’ empowerment.

Obi Irenuma, in a letter to the state Chairman of the Traditional Rulers’ Council, Obi (Dr.) Emmanuel Efeizomor, expressed fears that the funds, released by Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC) to oil-bearing ethnic nationalities to assist youths improve their businesses, might not get to the end-users as intended by DESOPADEC.

He appealed to Efeizomor, who is the Obi of Owa Kingdom, to wade in and stop the alleged planned diversion of the funds.

However, the Delta monarchs have condemned, in strong terms, the killings of Nigerians and other foreign nationals in South Africa and urged the Federal Government to take urgent steps to stop the attacks.

In another development, the Association of Retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries (ASORHOPS), Delta State Chapter, has advocated the establishment of a civil service college in the state to revitalise and reposition Delta State workforce for better service delivery.

The retirees backed the periodic staff audit aimed at cleaning up the payroll and removing dead woods from the service.

Chairman of the association in the state, Mr. Okey Ofili, some of the recommendations would require passage of laws to introduce best practices in the processes and procedures of the state civil service.

Okowa thanked them for their concern on the repositioning of the service, and urged them to support the mentoring of civil servants for effective delivery, saying: “It is necessary for the senior citizens to be involved in mentoring of persons still in service because they would not like to see the collapse of civil service in the state.

“No one leaves a place and watches it collapse. If these classes of people are involved in training and mentorship, we will have a better system. It is my prayer that this partnership that has been started will continue to grow.”