Poor Projects: Oborevwori Gives Hotlines To Whistle-blowers

Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has encouraged people to report any contractor doing a lousy job in their area by photograph or video.

The governor, who made the call during an interactive meeting with Permanent Secretaries, Directors and Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) at Government House, Asaba, said information sent to the hotlines would be treated in confidence without disclosing the source.

While calling for the introduction of whistle-blowing to check poor project delivery in the state, he said the meeting, which was the third in the series since his assumption of office, became necessary following reports of some civil servants colluding with contractors to defraud the state through poorly executed projects.
The governor said two engineers had been suspended for certifying uncompleted projects for payment, adding that the decision was necessary to serve as a deterrent to others.

“All we are saying here is 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 must encourage whistle-blowing 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.

“All I require from you is loyalty, commitment, and dedication to duty, not personal gain. For us, Delta state is first. In advancing Delta through our MORE Agenda, we must always give the best to Deltans.

“We must give our best to everything we do in Delta State. A situation in which a superintending engineer issues a certificate for a project that has not been completed, and payments have not been made is unacceptable.

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