By Sunday Apah
Delta State Governor Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori on Thursday formally commissioned 12 four-bedroom duplexes together with newly built internal roads and drainage systems at the Permanent Secretaries’ Quarters in Asaba.
The projects form part of deliberate measures aimed at elevating the welfare, operational efficiency and overall productivity of the state’s public servants.
The governor simultaneously handed over 12 brand-new official vehicles to Permanent Secretaries, characterising the dual interventions as a further landmark in his administration’s determined drive to create an enabling environment that allows senior civil servants to perform their duties with maximum effectiveness.
Addressing the gathering, Oborevwori stressed that the development reflected his government’s unwavering resolve to ensure that meritorious public officers receive the support commensurate with the weighty demands and responsibilities of their positions.
“Today’s ceremony marks yet another decisive milestone in our continuous pursuit of heightened public-sector efficiency. From the very inception of this administration on 29 May 2023, we have consistently ensured that deserving public servants are properly and adequately equipped in alignment with the functional requirements of their offices,” he declared.
He reminded the audience that the same administration had earlier completed eight additional duplexes at the Commissioners’ Quarters, observing that numerous finished projects across the state still await formal commissioning solely because of the sheer volume of works executed under his watch.
The governor noted that the extra accommodation would permit a greater number of Permanent Secretaries to reside in official residences that properly reflect their status and the gravity of their responsibilities.
Permanent Secretaries, he emphasised, serve as the administrative apex of Ministries, Departments and Agencies. They supervise day-to-day operations, enforce adherence to civil-service rules and regulations, and furnish professional counsel to commissioners on the practical implementation of government policies.
“It is therefore imperative that Permanent Secretaries are furnished with an enabling environment that empowers them to discharge their duties both effectively and efficiently,” he stated.
Oborevwori further disclosed that the internal roads and drainage networks within the quarters had been fully completed, describing the works as a decisive intervention that has finally confronted the protracted problems of erosion and flooding that had long plagued the area.
He pointed out that the roads, drainage and building projects were executed within a remarkably short timeframe, the duplexes having been awarded only in October 2025.
Expressing satisfaction with both the quality and the rapidity of execution, the governor observed that the intervention had converted the quarters from a zone previously ravaged by severe erosion and flooding into a markedly more attractive and habitable environment.
“The roads and drainage systems in the quarters were previously in a total state of collapse. They were deeply eroded and chronically vulnerable to heavy flooding. With the completion of these works, residents now enjoy lasting relief, while the overall aesthetics of the quarters have been substantially enhanced,” he said.
The projects, he added, further underscore his administration’s steadfast commitment to the welfare and dignity of civil servants.
Since assuming office, the government has rolled out multiple initiatives designed to improve both the working and living conditions of public officers.
He revealed that seven Permanent Secretaries had earlier received official vehicles, while the 12 newly appointed Permanent Secretaries were being presented with brand-new vehicles on the occasion.
In addition, 302 public servants have already benefited from the Public Officers’ Vehicle Loan Scheme, and a further 119 have accessed the Public Officers’ Housing Loan Scheme.
The governor also announced that farming support had been extended to civil servants interested in agriculture, an initiative intended to generate supplementary income streams for beneficiaries while simultaneously bolstering food security.
On capacity development, Oborevwori reaffirmed his administration’s sustained investment in the training and retraining of public servants, especially those at senior levels.
He disclosed that 450 senior management staff had been sponsored to undertake a comprehensive seven-week training programme aimed at reinforcing leadership capacity and preparing officers for elevated responsibilities.
He highlighted the administration’s firm adherence to merit-based appointments and career progression within the civil service, noting that all 25 local government areas in the state now have Permanent Secretaries following the recent appointment and swearing-in of 12 new ones.
Reiterating his commitment to workers’ welfare, the governor recalled that Delta State ranked among the first states to implement the new national minimum wage in full.
He therefore called on civil servants to reciprocate the government’s welfare measures with heightened dedication, professionalism, integrity, transparency and accountability.
Beneficiaries of the new residences and vehicles were specifically urged to ensure the proper maintenance, security and cleanliness of the facilities entrusted to them.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Godknows Angele, explained that the project consists of 12 units of four-bedroom duplexes fully equipped with solar power and water facilities. He praised Governor Oborevwori for prioritising the welfare of civil servants and for providing the Ministry of Housing with the necessary backing to deliver the project successfully.
In her welcome address, the State Head of Service, Dr. Minnie Oseji, described the new residential accommodation as compelling evidence of the purposeful leadership of the Oborevwori administration and a clear symbol of its dedication to the welfare, dignity and productivity of senior public servants.
She characterised the commissioning of the 12 duplexes and the presentation of official vehicles as a significant transformation in the welfare narrative of Permanent Secretaries, adding that the provision of official vehicles would appreciably enhance the mobility and operational efficiency of the recipients.
The Head of Service expressed profound appreciation to the governor for his consistent commitment to good governance, citing recent interventions in training programmes, the digitalisation of government processes and the funding of Public Service Week activities.
