*Exco Approves Construction Of Multiple Roads
THE Delta State Government is set to implement the N70,000 new minimum wage, as Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has directed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Kingsley Emu, and Commissioner for Finance, Chief Fidelis Tilije, to liaise with relevant stakeholders, especially the state council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), to work out the consequential adjustments within one week towards its implementation.
Commissioner for Information, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, who disclosed this on Wednesday, August 14, while briefing journalists after the State Executive Council meeting, presided over by Oborevwori at Government House, Asaba, said talks between government and the organised Labour would revolve around the consequential adjustments of the new wage.
He stated that the new minimum wage is a law and the state government was committed to paying and even doing more.
Osuoza announced that the State Exco also approved the payment of N3.55billion as counterpart funding for this year’s Universal Basic Education Programme in the state, as well as the appointment of Obi Sunday Ubaka Ogboli as Obi of Issele-Mkpitime in Aniocha North Local Council.
Also approved were the reconstruction of Ohoror-Bomadi road; Olomoro-Igbide road; Emevor-Ivrogbo-Orogun road Phase 2; Otekpo road in Ellu; Idumu-Etiti Street, with a spur to Market road in Owere-Olubor; rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of failed sections of NNPC Housing Complex road in Uvwie Local Council and Ekeye-Ovedhe close in Okumagba Layout, Warri.
In addition, the council gave the nod for the rehabilitation of General Hospital road, Oghara in Ethiope West Local Council; Old Sapele-Warri road from Amukpe Junction to Ikwuehu, with a spur to Ayemidejor Close in Sapele Local Council; Orerokpe-Okulohor-Oviri road and Osubi-Okuokoko road and environs, Phase 1.
Other include internal roads and drains in Kurutie; Obitobon-Elolo-Ajaokurogbo-Orubu road Phase 2 in Ogidigben; Kurutie internal roads Phase 2; Old Sapele road to Amukpe to Ikwewu Community, with a spur to Ayemidejor Close in Amukpe, Okeye and Iyke Oputa Street, Aboh in Ndokwa East Local Council and Issele-Azagba-Otulu road in Aniocha North and South Local Councils, respectively.
Osuoza stated that Oborevwori decried the prevalent hardship in the country and directed the commissioner for Agriculture and Chief Job Creation Officer to come up with programmes to cushion the effect of the hardship, especially on youths across the state.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Works (Rural and Riverine Roads), Mr. Charles Aniagwu, said the approvals were indicative of Oborevwori’s meaningful development plans across the state, with 23 out of 25 local councils directly impacted.
On reclamation of gully erosion site along Okpanam-Ibusa bypass road, his Highways and Urban Roads counterpart, Mr. Reuben Izeze, explained that the approval would enable the state government reclaim areas affected by gully erosion for the sustainability of the new road.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, said the approved for the purchase of two Computerised Tomography (CT) scanning machines, one each for the Central Hospital, Warri and the Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara, used for diagnosing diseases and internal injuries in the health care delivery for the benefits of all Deltans was very significant.
Onojaeme said his ministry had got approval to renovate the over 150 primary health centres (PHCs) across the state because of their importance in the health care delivery system, saying: “If primary health care facilities are properly taken care of, over 80 per cent of health challenges would have been addressed.”
