The Delta State House of Assembly Committee on Works and Special Projects has promised regular interface with Ministries, Departments and Agencies under it oversight in the state.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon Kenneth Oboro Preyor, gave the assurance at the maiden meeting of members of the Committee with top functionaries of the Ministry of Works, (Highways and Urban Roads) and (Rural and Riverine Roads), led by the Commissioners, Comrade Reuben Izeze and Mr Charles Aniagwu.
Hon Preyor explained that the decision to regularly interface with the MDAs was aimed at achieving more meaningful development in road infrastructural as envisioned in in the MORE agenda of the State Governor, Hon Sheriff Oborevrwori.
Addressing the Commissioners and officials of the Works Ministry, Hon Preyor, who represents Bomadi Constituency in the House, said the oversights included policies and projects under the supervision of the MDAs.
He noted that as the technical arm of the state government, the Ministry of Works was expected to perform optimally, stressing that the functions and activities of the Ministry were key to assessing the performance of government.
The Lawmaker emphasized that good and accessible roads across the state were needed to facilitate the evacuation of goods, especially farm produce, and acknowledged the milestones of the immediate past administration in the state in road development.
Preyor, on behalf of the Assembly Committee on Works, congratulated and commended Governor Sheriff Oborevrwori for bringing Julius Berger to the state to handle some critical road projects.
He said with the enviable track record of the construction giant, Delta State was in for accelerated development in road infrastructure and charged the management team of the Ministry of Works to brace up for the task ahead.
Two members of the Committee, James Augoye and Ferguson Onwo, challenged the Ministry to push for excellence at all times as good road infrastructure was key to all round development of the state.
The Commissioners, Reuben Izeze and Charles Aniagwu, together with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Engr Fred Edafiiogor, while briefing the Committee, highlighted the prospects and challenges of the Ministry and assured the Lawmakers of the commitment of management and staff to delivering on the mandate of the Ministry.
In a related development, the Delta State House of Assembly Committee on Works and Special Projects has called for the upgrade of the Office of the State Commissioner for Special Projects to a Directorate or full fledged Ministry.
Chairman and nembers of the Committee who spoke during their maiden meeting with the Commissioner in charge of Special Projects, Barr Funyei Manager at the State House of Assembly Complex in Asaba, said by so doing the office would be accorded all the nomenclatures of a Directorate or a Ministry.
The Lawmakers explained that the Commissioner needed four major departments, including Administration, Finance, Inspectorate, as well as Planning, Research and Statistics, DPRS, with a Permanent Secretary to function effectively.
The Committee, said the office which was expected to handle some legacy projects of the MORE administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevrwori, required all the support from critical stakeholders to succeed.
It charged the Commissioner to introduce innovations that would stand the test of time and support government’s drive in fast tracking development in the state.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon Oboro Preyor, had, in his opening remarks, assured the Commissioner of necessary support from the State Legislature, saying that the 8th Delta Assembly led by the Speaker, Emomotimi Guwor, was committed to fostering sound synergy with other arms of government, particularly the executive, to ensure peace and good governance in the state.
Preyor, who stressed that there should be a defined budget line for the Special Projects Office, charged the Commissioner to always ensure that standards were maintained in any project under his watch.
He assured the Commissioner of every necessary legislative support of the Committee.
The Commissioner, Barr Funyei Manager, had appealed for effective collaboration with the Lawmakers in his desire to achieve the vision of the Governor in the development of the state.
Other members of the Committee at the meeting were Collins Egbetamah, Emmanuel Sinebe and Bridget Anyafulu.
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