By Okiemute Okpomor Oil-rich Delta state can no longer pay salaries of its worker as result of dwindling oil revenue occasioned by resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta region in the country which has resulted to low federal allocation from Abuja..
Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, disclosed this at a stakeholders meeting in Warri with a theme, “Creating A Peaceful Atmosphere for the Development of Delta State and the Niger Delta
Region,” he lamented that Delta state was now receiving a little more than 3 billion naira as against 20 billion naira it was getting before from the federal allocation monthly.
Okowa blamed the present economic crisis that the country was passing through to lack of government’s ability to increase oil production as a result of renewed attacks on oil facilities by the
Niger Delta Avengers saying the wage bill of the state hovers between N6.5 to N7billion monthly, he added that in spite of the fact that government has embarked on biometrics capture of its workers, the wage bill is still up there, “the situation is almost getting out of hand, we have to work together. This is just salaries, we have not talked of infrastructural development.”
The governor said that the state has to rise above the current economic crisis by ensuring that crude oil production level is increased through maintaining peace in the oil bearing communities, adding that to achieve peace and increase oil production in the region government has to be proactive and develop the oil bearing communities in the Niger Delta region.
Senator Okowa expressed worries that the state has been in the news for the bad reasons saying that government would want that situation to change for the good of all, he pointed out that though he was committed to serving Delta State, he can do less when funds are not available, adding, “I am committed to serve Delta State to the best of my abilities. But I cannot manufacture money to do what I want to do.”
The governor then appealed to Deltans to collaborate with security agencies to ensure that peace reigns in the state.
He promised to ensure that riverside communities in the state must be developed and have state and federal presence.
He pleaded with the oil bearing communities to ensure that they collaborate with the Ministry of Justice before, during and after signing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with oil companies with a view to enable the ministry to drive the force of implementation for their overall benefit.
