The Board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) has moved to amend its 2024 budget to align with appropriation laws and the state’s development agenda.
The board in an emergency meeting held on Friday at the corporate headquarters in Warri, and presided over by the Chairman, Mr. John Nani maintained its commitment to implementing the budget strictly within its approved allocations, preventing any ethnic nationality from exceeding its designated share.
“Our objective is to ensure that no ethnic nationality exceeds the allocations specified in the budget. It would be illegal to present a budget that lacks adequate funding, as this could result in projects being left unfinished. This board strongly opposes any projects that remain abandoned,” Nani stated.
As part of its oversight function, the Board directed that certificates for all completed projects be compiled and presented at the next meeting. Nani further revealed that DESOPADEC has scheduled a series of project commissioning activities starting in March 2025.
Speaking on the financial obligations of the commission, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Festus Ochonoghor, affirmed that the primary focus of the meeting was to ensure the 2024 budget aligns with the MORE Agenda of the state government.
He also disclosed that Governor Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has intervened in the long-standing issue of unpaid contractors, approving payments for those owed by the previous administration.
“We thank the contractors for their perseverance. Those who benefitted from the 2023 budget will have their projects inspected and paid,” Ochonoghor stated.
The Board also addressed concerns surrounding staff promotions, particularly irregularities in the previous promotion exercise. An eight-member committee set up by the Board is currently reviewing these anomalies and is committed to resolving them.
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“The well-being of our employees is of utmost importance; however, we will not compromise on regulatory standards. We aim to prevent any situation in which employees promote themselves without following the proper procedures. Our goal is to maintain discipline while simultaneously supporting their welfare,” Ochonoghor explained.
Additionally, the commission has begun structuring its workforce by establishing divisional and deputy heads of departments. Plans are underway to appoint assistant heads of departments, though the priority remains the completion of the ongoing promotion review before proceeding with new appointments.
With these measures, DESOPADEC reaffirms its commitment to transparent governance, effective project execution, and the welfare of its workforce, ensuring that development in Delta State’s oil-producing areas remains sustainable and impactful.
