Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has commended workers in the state for their commitment and resilience, describing them as the driving force of the successful execution of his administration’s M.O.R.E. Agenda.

Mr Oborevwori said this on Tuesday during the state public service lecture organised to mark the 2026 International Public/Civil Service Week titled:  “Reforms, Resilience and Results.”

Represented by his deputy, Monday Onyeme, the governor said, “Ideas and infrastructure mean little if the workforce is not secure.’’

According to him, the government is aware of  the sustained calls from labour unions and associations for affordable workers’ housing estates to address the  deficit confronting the state workforce.

“Evidently, your request is a just call; having spent your career building Delta  for others, you deserve decent shelter for your own family. Housing is dignity, and dignity is part of results. My government is already engaging the Ministry of Housing, the Delta State Mortgage Trust Bank, and other private sector partners and real estate developers to design a phased, transparent workers’ housing scheme for the state.

“The project will prioritise serving officers and retirees, with flexible, salary-friendly payment structures; we will also adequately fund existing Staff Welfare Schemes, including the officers’ housing loan and vehicle loan committees. We will revamp the Workers’ Owner-Occupier Housing Scheme through a strategic Public-Private-Partnership with recognised Real Estate Developers for results and workers’ expectations.

“We will not make promises we cannot keep, but I assure you the framework of our vision is very promising and advancing, as the M.O.R.E Agenda believes that opportunities for all must include opportunities for decent living.”

He said the purpose of the “International Public/Civil Service Day celebration” is to recognise the people who formed the backbone of governance.

He stated, “It is to also reaffirm the core values that define public service, viz., integrity, honesty, impartiality, professionalism, and dedication to duty. These values are the soul of governance. Where they thrive, trust grows; and where they weaken, service fails. To every civil servant in the state, ranging from the Permanent Secretary drafting policy in Asaba, the teacher in Patani, the nurse in Oghara, and the engineer executing the Ughelli-Asaba dual carriageway. The clerk in Bomadi, the firefighter on night duty in Warri, the cleaner in government offices – I stand before you with gratitude; you are the resilience of this government.

“You translate promises into classrooms, clinics, roads and essential services; you are the bridge between the M.O.R.E. Agenda and the league of  residents on the streets; today, we honour you all. This year’s theme of celebration, Reforms, Resilience and Result is not just a slogan; it is a clarion call to action for structural and policy changes for modern governance.

“Stronger public institutions; a focus on measurable outcomes and performance accountability; and a citizen-centric civil service driven by digitalisation. It mirrors exactly what this administration stands for under the M.O.R.E Agenda of Meaningful Development, Opportunities for All, Realistic Reforms, and Enhanced Peace and Security. Permit me to x-ray the theme through the lens of our vision and facts on ground: – Reforms: – “Building Institutions on Integrity and Honesty.”

He said that reform begins when government submits itself to the same standards it demanded from citizens.

He added that under the M.O.R.E Agenda, the state has pursued realistic reforms anchored on integrity and honesty.

“We have strengthened fiscal discipline, deepened accountability, and sanitised the public procurement processes. Public funds must serve the public good, not private pockets.

“The most human face of this reform is our unwavering commitment to the regular and timely payment of salaries and pensions. We know that a worker cannot demonstrate professionalism and dedication to duty when there is anxiety over wages by protecting workers’ take-home pay.

“We are protecting the dignity of labour and the integrity of government. In spite of economic headwinds, our civil servants have maintained impartiality in serving the state  without ethnic, political, or sectional bias; you have upheld professionalism even when resources are stretched,” he said.

Mr Oborevwori said that across the three senatorial districts, the M.O.R.E. Agenda is delivering results, adding that the evidence is in the Ughelli-Asaba dual carriageway.

“The stormwater projects in Warri/Uvwie are designed to end perennial flooding, rehabilitation of general hospitals and provision of strategic medical equipment across the state.

“Upgrading of technical colleges and expansion of rural roads to open up agricultural communities, amongst many others. The world of work has changed as citizens now demand speed, data, and transparency, just as a resilient institution learns, reforms itself, and rejects mediocrity.

“We are digitising records to end file-tracking delays, and we are deploying online platforms where the people of Delta can apply for approvals, verify documents, and give feedback without “knowing someone.” That is professionalism in action; that is a civil service where impartiality means no one is favoured; and dedication means no file is abandoned; that is the result of reforms plus resilience,” he added.

He urged them to recommit to the five core values that give meaning to our work.

“Let Integrity be your signature on every document, and let honesty be your language in every transaction.

“Let impartiality be your standard when serving citizens, let professionalism be your habit in conduct and competence, and let dedication to duty be your lifestyle, whether anyone is watching or not,” the governor said.

The guest lecturer, Caroline Ajuyah, commended the state government for the remarkable investments made in infrastructure and technology across ministries, departments, and agencies.

She said that the initiatives had significantly improved service delivery and operational efficiency.

The Head of Service, Mininim Oseji, also thanked Mr Oborevwori “for creating the enabling environment for the civil and public service to flourish.”

(NAN)