DELTA State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, will on Thursday inaugurate the newly completed Permanent Secretaries’ quarters in Asaba as part of the administration’s efforts to improve the welfare and working conditions of civil servants in the state.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Kingsley Emu, disclosed this on Tuesday while inspecting the completed residential complex ahead of the inauguration.

Emu said the Oborevwori administration considered civil servants critical partners in the implementation of government policies and programmes and had introduced several measures aimed at improving their welfare and professional development.

According to the SSG, workers in the state civil service had benefited from various interventions, including a three-day working arrangement, payment of vehicle allowances, access to loans and increased opportunities for training and capacity development.

“Today, civil servants are seen doing three working days round. That’s a lot of convenience. We have paid vehicle allowances and made provisions for loans for them. We send them on training,” he said.

Emu, who said he personally approved training-related matters, noted that the state government had committed substantial resources to strengthening the capacity of its workforce.

He described civil servants as indispensable partners in governance, stressing that Governor Oborevwori regarded their welfare as a priority.

“Civil servants are friends to the government. The government loves them. Our Permanent Secretaries are driving brand new vehicles,” he said.

The SSG explained that the new quarters formed part of a broader package of welfare interventions designed to improve the living and working conditions of civil servants.

He added that the administration had also taken steps to accommodate retired and former civil servants, with some being reintegrated into government programmes.

Emu said the government’s focus on civil servants was informed by their critical role as the implementing arm of government.

“Governor Oborevwori is not just for the people. He’s even so much so for the civil servants because he believes that they lay the golden eggs,” he stated.

On the newly completed Permanent Secretaries’ quarters, the SSG described the project as a befitting residential facility for the apex administrative officers in the state civil service.

He disclosed that the complex comprises 12 four-bedroom units equipped with modern facilities, including air-conditioning, round-the-clock power supply, paved roads and enhanced security.

“The entire PS complex are for civil servants. The Permanent Secretaries are the apex of the civil service. We have these new, elegant edifices. We have 12 of them, four bedrooms each, with all air-conditioned and then with all the facilities that you can think of. There’s going to be unlimited power here, 24-7. The roads are well paved and they are well secured,” Emu said.

The SSG, however, clarified that the administration’s housing initiatives were not restricted to Permanent Secretaries.

He said the government was also developing alternative housing schemes for other categories of civil servants through partnerships with private developers and the Federal Mortgage Bank.

Emu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding welfare programmes and creating a more conducive environment for civil servants to effectively discharge their responsibilities.