Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta says the state government has paid over N14.5 billion to settle pensions and other emoluments to employees since he assumed office.

The governor disclosed this at an interactive meeting with permanent secretaries, directors and heads of parastatals, departments and agencies on Thursday in Asaba, the state capital.

Mr Oborevwori restated his administration’s commitment to prompt and sustainable payment of pensions and other emoluments to its employees.

He called on the top bureaucrats to work closely with his administration to seamlessly deliver on his M.O.R.E Agenda for the benefit of the people.

On the new minimum wage, Mr Oborevwori reiterated that he awaited the chart before activating its implementation.

“When I came in, I called the head of service, and we made sure that the cry about promotion arrears had ended. We paid about N5.5 billion in four tranches to settle the issue of promotion arrears,” he said.

The governor said he discussed with the state’s accountant-general to ensure workers received their salaries on the 26th of every month.

“Since I came, I have never paid workers salaries in the following month; I pay before the end of every month,” he said.

The governor, however, recalled that when he assumed office, he found that permanent secretaries had no vehicles and provided them with them.

He also recounted approving an extra N10,000 for each worker after fuel subsidy removal and a shift in workers’ schedules.

“Delta State has a very high wage bill. I think Lagos and Delta are the highest in the entire country. We have about 55,000 workers,” he said.

The governor cautioned top bureaucrats against working at cross purposes for the state’s overall development.

“You connive with contractors to do bad jobs. You promise contractors that you will review their contracts for them; do you have the power to do reviews? You also want to be a contractor.

“Another thing I also see that is bad is you people approve projects that are bigger than some small villages.

“How do you approve four blocks of six classrooms each for a village with less than one hundred people? Why not take the project to where it can be fully utilised?

“When I go for inspections and see bad jobs, I talk unlike you. Almost 80 per cent of the jobs are given to indigenous contractors,” Mr Oborevwori said.

(NAN)