DELTA STATE: THE QUESTIONS, THE WORRIES AND THE ANSWERS. Ikem Smart. There appears to be worries across board in Delta State over what many term “Slow pace of Development, return of fees to schools which also includes WAEC fees, H.E. Aides ambiguousity, Salary related issues, Unemployment, amongst many others”. Let me first begin by saying that in the wake of His Excellency’s assumption of office, H.E. Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa made it very clear that the first two years of this administration wasn’t going to be easy especially accruing from the enormous debt that the previous administration left behind; and also owing to the highly dwindled Oil price that we as a State and Nation solely relies on. It will be informing to know that this administration, apart from the high debt profile inherited, also met almost a near zero state of infrastructural development on ground. Rather than going into further borrowing as was the norm of the previous administrations, H.E. felt like there was no point going in for such, reason being that we have not been able to off-set even half of what the previous administration left on ground, as doing such may end up plunging the State into further economic mess than we are today. Now straight to the bothering issues as have been so widely circulated and debated on the Social Media. 1. Slow pace of Development in the State: As have been so widely circulated and debated upon especially on the pace of infrastructural development in the State, may I humbly posit here that H.E. Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa within the confines of the limited and available resources has really done well in the development of the State, knowing that development of a State such as this that was so previously neglected infrastructure wise cannot just come aboard over-night. Know that before now, the price of crude oil was at its highest ebb of $120 and above per barrel, before it catastrophically dropped under this administration to as low as $28 per barrel. Also note that the activities of the militants that had earlier been nipped in the bud have since resurfaced owing to poor managerial activities from the center. As it stands today, response to tax payment is low, while diversification of the economy is yet to start yielding results. It should be worthy of note that even in the midst of this scarce and very limited resources, H.E. within one year of his administration has been able to commission numerous roads project, Hospitals, Markets, Schools, etc all spread across the State, while many are still Work In Progress (WIP). It should also be noted that while many are still ongoing, a lot has also been awarded and are meant to kick-off with contractors of other projects back to site as soon as the rains subsides. Today, numerous MOU’s have been signed with foreign investors to help improve on our power sector especially through Solar Energy and the Integrated Power Projects. No sooner than later, commissioning of such projects which cuts across different segments of the State shall begin. Our Agricultural sector has also received a boost as one of the State’s major area of diversification that will help boost our economy. 2. Return of fees to Schools: It’s no longer news that fees are returning to schools; but may I kindly state here that government cannot continue to pretend to sustain some unsustainable policies even when they cannot, owing to poor state of resources accruing to the State. Note that this scenario of poor allocation is not only peculiar to our State (Delta) as the economy of the nation is poor for now. As it stands today, monthly allocation to the State has greatly dwindled to far below N6b as compared to the previous of over N25b. Tell me, what much can the State do with so low an allocation that can hardly pay salaries of her workforce Today, 50% of the State 13% Oil derivation goes to DESOPADEC, while the whole State is left to leverage on the left 50% as passed into Law in 2007. More so, some fraudulent sharp practices seem to have also overtaken the process; and as such may have the government go back to its drawing board before such policy can be reintroduced again when the economy improves. 3. Salary Related Issues: The issue of salaries as many have complained not to be coming as at when due especially when compared to that of the previous administration is what I’ll term a huge misleading notion. First, it will be recalled that no State in Nigeria (only with exception of those that have high IGR and low workforce) can boast of paying salaries without Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) crediting their respective States Accounts. Today, it will be recalled that Delta State with the highest workforce in the Country of over 65,000 has constantly paid her workers’ salaries of over N6b monthly even when there is a delay in FAAC. On several occasions, Federal Allocation to States for the preceding month comes almost towards the end of the next succeeding month of say between 18th and 24th, unlike the previous administrations where it comes earlier; and where it fails to come then, the State will have to go borrowing, thereby leaving the State with enormous Bank interest to pay. Our IGR today is low as many have failed to come to terms with the reality of having to pay their Taxes. The Irony of FAAC today is that what comes to the State is not even enough to pay our workers salaries; and as such may leave the State with the sole option of driving its IGR since it won’t serve us any better borrowing. NB: Oil firms earlier within the State that have been of immense contribution towards the State’s IGR, seemed to have either pulled out of the State or now with very low production output due to the activities of the Militants; and as such cannot meet up with such payments as before. On the issue of Local Governments, their allocation from the Federal has turned near zero as the ones earlier getting between N80-85m monthly, are now getting a paltry sum of between N5-10m. The LGA’s have also on their own failed to rise up to their own responsibilities as taxes and levies collected by them only ends up in their private pockets. 4. His Excellency’s Aides ambiguousity: First, we should know that any appointments of such done (in-respect of aides appointments) are always done within the ambient of the Law. The question I will ask the critics here are; i. how many are these so-called bogus appointees? ii. Are they more than the former? iii. Are they Deltans? iv. Were they previously employed? v. For those of us who have been crying out for employment ,don't we also see this as means of taking some persons off the Street vi. How much are they paid compared to the former? vii. Do they have any responsibilities? viii. Did these offices previously exist or a mere deviation from the former? In a bid to cutting cost, for those who cares to know, the annual basic salary of a Special Assistant in this government is N860,000, which when divided by 12 gives us N71,667.00 monthly excluding some minor allowances that gives it a little leap. As I write today, about 89.5% of these appointees don't have official cars while monthly imprest has been dropped by 40%. So, tell me how this government has been extravagant? More so, don't forget that contract mark-up prices that were once over bloated in the past with 100% and 200% mark-ups; and even awarded more than once or twice have also been checked by this government as mark-up prices now runs between 35%-40%. His Excellency-Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa as it stands today has ripped himself of so many allowances that are due him by law, likewise his Commissioners and many others. I think we all owe this government a sincere and heartfelt appreciation on all of these, rather than crucifixion. 5. Unemployment: First and foremost, it should be worthy of note that unemployment is a National scourge that needs to be fought on all sides. Unemployment today in Delta State is characterized with the following challenges; i. Over-aged workers – a situation where those due for retirement are constantly changing their respective ages ii. State workforce in diaspora- a scenario where a chunk of those on government payroll reside abroad and collecting salaries for doing nothing iii. Non Indigenes on government payroll iv. Ghost workers, etc. Inasmuch as government is working round the clock to get the State workforce rid of the aforementioned so as to create room to have the unemployed accommodated, the State is also plagued with low allocation and IGR. But we can be rest assured that once the above listed are addressed, no sooner than later, the issue of unemployment within the State will be addressed. More so, drastic efforts are also been made through Public Private Partnership (PPP) to ensuring that over eighteen (18) moribund State owned Companies are brought back to life. This, when done, will create more than enough employment opportunities for the unemployed class of the State. I can confidently say here that the State and her Citizens are sure in for better days only if we can be a bit patient with; and supportive of this administration. God bless Delta State, the Government and her People.