New Secretariat In Asaba, A One-Stop Shop -Sakpra
HON. Henry Sakpra, coordinated and monitored the construction of the new Central Secretariat in Asaba, Delta State capital. Below is his take on the massive project. According to him, the civil service community is in a joyful mood. “You can feel it from the facial expressions of all of them. This is a high profile secretariat, lying on 4, 5000 square metres, equivalent to two Olympic football pitches. The idea to construct the secretariat was initiated and hatched by his Excellency, Sen.(Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa, as one of the major development plans to improve service delivery among public servants. Hitherto, offices, ministries were run in rented apartments in the nooks and crannies of Delta Metropolis. Besides the huge rent accrued on yearly basis, ministries were faced with huge embarrassment and harassments by landlords. They were at the mercy of shylock landlords who threatened to throw them out. But the new secretariat was awarded to a high profile contractor, a leading Chinese company that specialises in building construction. In the year 2016, actual commencement of work was delayed, till 27th November 2017, the reason being that those who were involved were perfecting the remedial works, as well as contractual documentations. The edifice as you can see, is built with several axillary facilities that render basic fundamental services to the users. We have the clinic with 26 bed spaces to cater for the health challenges of workers. We also have the crèche that will cater to the needs of nursing mothers. We have banks and three standard cafeteria. As it is, it is accommodating about 27 ministries of government and by this, it means that all the ministries have now come together under one roof. You can say it provides a one-stop accommodation for all government ministries.”
Q: During the process of planning, from the delay in 2016 to commencement in 2017, till now which is about four years, what were the actual challenges you faced?
A: in retrospection, this period we mentioned was a critical period in the life history of Nigeria. That was when we had the COVID-19, before it was this issue of total downturn in the economic system. These, no doubt posed some financial challenges that impacted on the construction. Be that as it may, His Excellency, being a prudent manager of resources, forged ahead, determined to complete this secretariat and today, we can see it standing.
Q: What does this structure mean to the productivity of the civil service in the state?
A: I told you of high rent costs that were being incurred by government on monthly/yearly basis. Those monies ran into millions and within years, it had run into billions of Naira. So, with the establishment of this edifice, funds that were spent on rents will now be saved for other developmental purposes. I also told you that behind this, was the plans of his Excellency to enhance service delivery among civil servants. No doubt, my colleagues who are there are relaxed, they are sitting in an atmosphere that will help them be in a good state of mind to deal with their work. So, no doubt, it will enhance productivity in the delivering of government business.
Q: You said that this has made all the ministries in the state to live under one roof, don’t you think that there will probably be security threats. Is there a security plan in place?
A: An advert has been placed for a security manager and also, for facility manager, who will engage in the maintenance of this edifice. So, the process of ensuring an enduring legacy for this building is already in place.
Q: Any advice for Deltans and civil servants?
A: Our critics should have a moment of reflection and summon the courage to appreciate the wisdom of his Excellency, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa. And my plea goes to the users- the civil servants, because it’s their property. His Excellency has put this on ground, in less than two years, he will leave office. But the project is there for all Deltans. So, my advice is that they should handle it as their own property. It should not be treated as if it’s no man’s business.