Oborevwori urges whistleblowing in project monitoring

Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta has called for the introduction of whistle-blowing policy to check poor project implementation in the state.

Oborevwori made the call during an interactive session with Permanent Secretaries, Directors and Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies at the Government House, Asaba.

He thanked the civil servants for their loyalty, support, commitment and dedication to duty.

He said the meeting, which was the third since he assumed office, became necessary, following the allegation that some civil servants collude with contractors to defraud the state through poorly executed projects.

He said that two engineers were suspended for certifying uncompleted projects for payment, adding that the punishment was necessary to serve as a deterrent to others.

“All I require from you is loyalty, commitment and dedication to duty, not personal gain. For us, it is Delta first.

“In advancing Delta through our M.O.R.E. Agenda, we must give the best to the people at all times.

“In everything we are doing in Delta, we must give it the best.

“A situation where a superintending engineer will issue certificate for a project not completed and payments made is unacceptable.

“Where you are expected to use 12mm rod and you use something else is it good?

“So, when I discovered bad jobs and issuance of certificates of completion for projects not completed, on the spot I directed that those involved should be issued query,” he said.

Oborevwori said that, as a Christian, he would temper justice with mercy, saying that the punishment to be meted out on erring officials would act as a deterrent to others.

“When a contractor is blacklisted, they can go and do other things elsewhere but as civil servants, when you are involved, you will be dismissed; so, why would you destroy your career?

“Some of the contractors have other companies but you have lost your job; is it a good thing?

“So, that is the reason I am saying let us be on the same page, let’s continue to work together to build and move Delta forward’.

“I cannot succeed without you; so, save me the stress of jumping up and down from one site to another.

“If you do the right thing, I will not be going from one project to the other for inspection.

“All we are saying here in essence is transparency and accountability; zero tolerance for corruption; the need for ethical leadership, whistleblowing and resistance to corruption because there are consequences for misconduct.

“We need to encourage whistleblowing in the state; we will have some hotlines.

“If somebody is constructing your road and they are not doing it well, you can snap and send to us.

“The people have a right to complain and the information sent to us would be treated in confidence without disclosing the source,” the governor said.

Responding on behalf of others, the state Head of Service, Mr. Reginald Bayoko, thanked the governor for supporting the civil servants and repositioning them for higher productivity in line with the M.O.R.E Agenda.

Also in attendance at the meeting were Dep. Gov. Monday Onyeme, Secretary to State Government, Dr. Kingsley Emu, and Chief of Staff, Government House, Mr. Johnson Erijo.