…. As Group Embarks on Monitoring Of All Projects DTSG, , Kick-Starts With Delta State Ministry of Works on Road Projects.
………Partners With Office Of The SSA Civic Engagement and Civil Society.
By Victor Bieni, Asaba
As part of efforts to promote best global practices on accountability and transparency in the execution of Government projects since the inception of this administration, Delta State Civil Society Community has said that the group will commence on Government Projects Monitoring and Evaluation in the 25 LGAs of the state, starting from Delta State Ministry for works.
The Community led by Deacon Okezi Odugala alongside other members of the Monitoring Committee held a press briefing with Journalists at the DE LANICE HOTEL, Asaba, Delta State Capital.
Presenting his Speech at the briefing, the Coordinator Deacon Okezi Odugala stated that the exercise is geared towards the good of all Citizens and Government as it cannot be business as usual. He said: ” To those who do their work well you are our friend but to those whose trademark is to do shoddy and substandard execution of projects, we advise you to change quickly as the days of judgment is too near, for it is always better and cheaper to do the right thing”.
Speaking further he called on citizens to join hands with the Civil Society to ensure that this monitoring and evaluation exercise works for the good of the citizens who often suffers most when Government projects and programs fails. He called on them to provide every necessary information that will help this exercise succeed.
He informed that they will be monitoring and evaluating all projects of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Delta State Government starting from 2015 till date.
Speaking at the Press Conference Activist Rex Anighoro, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Delta State on Civic Engagement and Civil Society called on the Delta State Civil Society Community to help Government serve Delta Citizens better by engaging Government on all issues affecting Citizens greater good. He noted that the Office of the Citizen remains supreme and therefore Citizens must be the greatest beneficiaries of Governance as anything short of that is not acceptable. He further stated that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa deserve commendation for partnering with the Civil Society at a time many Governments are doing everything to keep them at arms length, he noted that the administration’s acceptance to subject itself to scrutiny, opening itself to have all its projects and programs starting from 2015 till date to be monitored and evaluated by the Civil Society is a great initiative worthy of emulation by other State Governments and even the Federal Government.
He called on the Delta State Civil Society Community to investigate if the ‘Roadmaster’ nickname of the Governor and the ‘RoadMaker of the RoadMaster’ nickname of the Commissioner for Works Hon. James Augoye were worthy nicknames.
He called on the Civil Society Community to be very objective and do their job independently but devoid of blackmail, mischief and needless propaganda, he called on them to engage other activists, citizens, community leaders, Social influencers, members of the opposition, the Ministry of Works, Contractors and every stakeholder needed to make this exercise a Success.
Activist Rex Anighoro stated that he was hopeful that this exercise which is in the best interest of Government will give more credibility to this administration when completed and strengthen good governance in line with Goal 17 of the UN SDGs”.
As a way of promoting gender balancing during the press briefing, the Amb.(Dr.) Eris Jewo Ibi noted that it is very imperative to use this medium to call on Delta State Government to step its jobs on the construction of the Okpanam -Akukuigbo link road to Amachai and other nearby communities before the raining season as deep-seated pit, gully erosion and other natural hazards are endangering lives and other unpleasant risks are bound to occur there soon.
The Ten days (10) monitoring and evaluation exercise begins from Tuesday 9th of February, 2021.