Niger Delta
Delta Demands Work Plans From MDAs
The Delta Government, has directed its ministries, agencies and departments to submit their comprehensive work plans for the 2012 fiscal year.
The Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr Kenneth Okpara, gave the directive last Tuesday in Asaba at a meeting with Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries and heads of agencies and departments in the state.
Okpara directed that the budgetary work plans should be divided into the four quarters of the year, adding that the state’s 2012 budget would be derived from the work plans.
He announced that beginning from January 2012, the MDAs would be required to give quarterly reports of physical progress of projects and other activities and financial report on each project.
The commissioner said that the method would enable the government to keep track of it projects and activities and be able to assess their performances.
Okpara advised the MDAs to make budgetary provisions for yearly maintenance and operations of infrastructure and projects requiring periodic maintenance.
He said that the procedures for the execution and monitoring of approved expenditure should also be clearly specified by each ministry or department.
The commissioner directed the ministries and the agencies to forward to his ministry, list of all uncompleted and ongoing projects, indicating their cost and current status.
“Heads of the ministries, agencies and departments should include budget performance of their projects and programmes from January to September, in the report they will send to us.” he said.
The commissioner advised the MDAs to ensure that they complied with the directive, and warned that their budget proposals for 2012 would not be considered if the requirements were not met.
In another development, USAID Community Support for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) is partnering with Nigeria Aids Counselling Organisation (NACO) to map out modalities to provide effective basic education for the children.
A statement by USAID Community Support for OVC project last Friday in Asaba, said that both organisations would hold a stakeholders workshop to explore the educational needs of the children.
It said that the workshop, which would be supported by the Delta Ministry of Women Affairs, would seek ways of providing holistic support for the children.
This it said, would be done through looking for ways to fund the education of OVC and to ensure that the children were successful in basic education.
It said that the workshop with the theme: “Developing Sustainable Education Strategies for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in Delta’’, would enable stakeholders to disseminate findings from the recent baseline research conducted in the state.
It said that the workshop would also review useful models and brainstorm on various strategies for education of OVC that would best suit the state.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Rt Hon Evans Bipi, has eulogised Gen Gabriel Asabuja over his recent birthday celebration in Port Harcourt.
Bipi said Asabuja is worth celebrating following his numerous contributions and support to the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
He described Asabuja as a strong pillar of governance in Rivers State, adding that the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning is happy working with him.
He noted that Asabuja’s position as a team leader of the Ministry’s taskforce has been amazing, saying the Ministry is proud associating with him.
The former lawmaker hinted that since Asabuja assumed office as leader of the taskforce, the Ministry has witnessed tremendous improvement.
Bipi said the Ministry will always stand by him to ensure that the dreams of the Governor Fubara-led government are achieved.
On his part, the celebrant, Gen Gabriel Asabuja expressed gratitude to God and the Commissioner for the honour done him.
Gen Asabuja also commended Governor Fubara for his tremendous and good leadership in the State, saying his group will continue to give the Governor maximum support in order to achieve more for Rivers people.
Gen Asabuja described Rt Hon Evans Bipi as one of the best brains working with the Governor, saying under Bipi, the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning has shown capacity to leverage on the Governor’s mantra of Rivers First.
He said both the personnel of the Ministry, the Directors and adhoc staff are happy with his style of leadership.
The Joint Provincial Council, East of the Niger, Anglican Communion, held its 2025 Annual General Meeting at St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery, Diocese of Evo from Saturday 15th — Sunday 16th February, 2025.
The meeting which had the theme, “Kept By His Mercies”, with text from Lamentations 3:22-23, had the Archbishops, Bishops, their wives, Chancellors, Financial Secretaries and Synod Clerical Secretaries of the 58 Dioceses as delegates.
At the opening ceremony on Saturday, the Dean of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and Chairman of the Council, Most Rev Blessing Enyindah, charged delegates to stay focused and committed to the matters for discussion and implement decisions reached for the growth of the Church in the region and the advancement of the business of God’s Kingdom.
Most Rev Enyindah, who is also the Archbishop of the Niger Delta Province and Bishop of the Diocese of Ikwerre, lauded the Diocese of Evo for the giant strides recorded in just 15 years of existence while tasking the leadership not to rest on its oars but to strive further to complete the work of the Kingdom in their hands.
Addressing the council in his welcome address, the Bishop of the Diocese of Evo and host of the Joint Council, The Rt Rev Innocent Ordu, welcomed the delegates, and reminded them that the theme is apt and fit as it reminds the Church of God’s inexplicable and instructible mercy towards mankind, which supersedes His righteous judgements.
Bishop Ordu further lamented the many challenges bedeviling the country, such as skyrocketing cost of living, ravaging sicknesses and ailments, proliferation of harmful drugs, natural disasters, high level corruption in public offices, inept political leadership, amongst others, which he said could not consume mankind because of God’s mercies.
In their separate speeches, delegates saluted the Diocese of Evo for willingly accepting to host the council and the comfort they enjoyed during their stay.
Earlier, the council appointed the Synod’s Clerical Secretary of the Diocese of Evo, Rev (Canon) (Dr) Ebenezer Owhor as the Assistant Secretary of the Joint Council.
Also, before the commencement of plenary, the women of St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery thrilled delegates to good traditional tunes and dance steps while His Royal Highness Eze( Sir) Raymond Chinda led the chiefs and elders of Rumuomasi community in Oropotoma Kingdom, to appreciate the council for choosing the community to host the meeting.
They solicited for prayers of peace, unity and development from the council.
The meeting ended on Sunday evening while the Archbishops and Bishops worshipped in various churches in the Diocese of Evo.