*Gov Unveils Workers’ Housing Scheme, Reaffirms Commitment To Civil Service Welfare

DELTA State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has congratulated Team Delta athletes for their outstanding performances at the recent Commonwealth Games National Trials in Lagos, particularly Favour Ashe, who emerged as Nigeria’s fastest man.

    Ashe clocked a personal best of 9.93 seconds to win the men’s 100 metres title and emerge as the fastest Nigerian ever to win the national championship and the fastest athlete to run the event on Nigerian soil.

    The Delta-born sprinter, who was among the foreign-based athletes sponsored by the state government to participate in the championships, had earlier vowed to top the event, running 9.98 seconds in the semifinals and 9.93 seconds in the final, thereby breaking the 10-second mark on both occasions he won the national title, having previously recorded 9.99 seconds to claim his first championship in 2022 in Benin City.

    Oborevwori, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Festus Ahon, commended Ashe for making Delta and Nigeria proud through the feat, which he said was a testament to the state’s continued investment in sports development and athlete support.

    He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting athletes and creating opportunities for them to excel at national and international competitions, confident that Team Delta would continue to produce champions capable of bringing glory to the state and the country.

    The governor also praised other Team Delta athletes who distinguished themselves during the championships.

    In the women’s 400 metres, quarter-miler, Patience Okon-George reaffirmed her status as one of Nigeria’s finest athletes, winning the national title in 51.87 seconds, her fifth national crown and first since 2021.

    Kudoro Taiwo finished second.

    The men’s 400 metres title went to Johnson Tyler, who recently switched allegiance from the United States (US) to Nigeria, winning in 45.75 seconds, ahead of Achakpoekiri Victory, in 45.91 seconds, and Emmanuel Ojeli with a time of 45.94 seconds.

     In the women’s shot put event, Divine Oladipo successfully defended her national title with a throw of 16.90 metres, thereby maintaining her unbeaten record at the championship.

    In another development, Oborevwori has announced plans to establish a Workers’ Housing Scheme to provide affordable housing for serving and retired civil servants in the state.

    Represented by his Deputy, Monday Onyeme, at the Delta State Public Service Lecture held as part of activities marking this year’s International Public/Civil Service Week celebration, the governor said the initiative was in response to the longstanding demand by labour unions and workers’ associations for affordable housing to address the accommodation challenges facing them.

    Oborevwori said the state government was already engaging the Ministry of Housing, the Delta State Mortgage Trust Bank and private sector partners to develop a phased and transparent housing scheme that will cater for the needs of workers, especially serving officers and retirees, with flexible and salary-friendly payment arrangements.

    The governor disclosed that the scheme would be revitalised through strategic partnerships with reputable real estate developers to ensure that workers have access to decent and affordable homes, adding that his administration would also strengthen existing staff welfare programmes, including housing and vehicle loan schemes.

    Speaking on the theme of the celebration, ‘Reforms, Resilience and Results,’ Oborevwori described civil servants as the backbone of governance and driving force behind the successful implementation of his administration’s M.O.R.E Agenda.

    He commended public servants across the state for their dedication, professionalism and commitment to service delivery, saying they remain the critical link between government policies and the people, pledging to continue to pursue reforms to strengthen public institutions, promote accountability, enhance transparency and improve service delivery across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    Earlier, the Guest Lecturer, Caroline Ajuyah, commended the state government for its investments in infrastructure and technology across MDAs, saying the initiatives have enhanced operational efficiency and service delivery.

    In her remarks, the Head of Service, Mininim Oseji, expressed appreciation to Oborevwori for creating an enabling environment for the civil and public service to thrive, while also acknowledging the administration’s continued support for workers’ welfare and professional development.