Delta Considers Whistleblower Policy to Check Poor Projects’ Execution 

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has said that the adoption of whistle-blowing would make poor project execution in the state a thing of the past. 

Oborevwori made the assertion at an interactive meeting with Permanent Secretaries, Directors and Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) yesterday at the Government House Asaba.

He expressed appreciation for the loyalty, support, commitment and dedication to duty by civil servants in the state.

He said that the meeting, which was the third in the series since his assumption of office, was necessitated by reports of some civil servants colluding with contractors to defraud the state through poorly executed projects. 

Two engineers have been suspended for certifying uncompleted projects for payment, he revealed, adding that the decision would serve as a deterrent. 

Oborevwori said: “All I require from you is loyalty, commitment and dedication to duty, not personal gain; for us it is Delta State first. In advancing Delta through our M.O.R.E Agenda. We must give the best to Deltans at all times. 

“In everything we are doing in Delta State, we must give it the best shot. A situation where a superintending engineer will issue a certificate for a project not completed and payments made is unacceptable. 

“Where you are expected to use a 12mm iron rod but you go ahead to use something else…. Is it good? So, when I discovered bad jobs and issuance of certificates of completion for projects not completed, I directed on the spot that those involved should be issued a query.

“When a contractor is blacklisted, they can go and do other things elsewhere but as civil servants, when you are involved, you will be dismissed. Why would you destroy your career? Some of the contractors have other companies but you would have lost your job. Is it a good thing? So, that is the reason I am saying ‘let us be on the same page, let’s continue to work together to build Delta State and to move Delta State forward’. 

“I cannot succeed without you; so, save me the stress of jumping up and down from one site to another because if you do the right thing, I will not be going from one project to the other for inspection,” he added.

He also called for transparency and accountability; zero tolerance for corruption; the need for ethical leadership, whistle-blowing and resistance to corruption because there are consequences for misconduct. 

“We need to encourage whistleblowing in the state; we will have some hotlines. If somebody is constructing your road and they are not doing it well, you can snap and send it to us. The people have a right to complain and the information sent to us would be treated in confidence without disclosing the source,” he added.