The Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has commended the state’s workforce for their unwavering commitment and resilience, describing them as the indispensable backbone of governance and the critical bridge driving the successful execution of his administration’s M.O.R.E Agenda.
​Speaking on Tuesday at Asaba, during the Delta State Public Service Lecture organized to mark the 2026 International Public/Civil Service Week, Governor Oborevwori delivered a soul-stirring address anchored on the global theme: “Reforms, Resilience and Results.”
Represented by his Deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, Ph.D., Governor Oborevwori said, “ideas and infrastructure mean little if the workforce is not secure; I have heard, clearly and honestly, the sustained call from Labour Unions and Associations for affordable workers’ housing estates to address the housing deficit confronting the State Workforce.
‘Evidently, your request is a just call; having spent your career building Delta State for others, you deserve decent shelter for your own family.
“Housing is dignity, and dignity is part of results.
“In appreciation of the foregoing, and in the spirit of realistic reforms, my government is already engaging the Ministry of Housing, the Delta State Mortgage Trust Bank, and other credible private sector partners and Real Estate Developers to design a phased, transparent Workers’ Housing Scheme for Delta State.
“The project will prioritize serving officers and retirees, with flexible, salary-friendly payment structures; we will also endeavor to adequately fund existing Staff Welfare Schemes, including the Officers’ Housing Loan; and Vehicle Loan Committees.
“We will revamp the Workers’ Owner-Occupier Housing Scheme through a strategic Public-Private-Partnership with recognized Real Estate Developers for results and workers’ expectations; we will not make promises we cannot keep, but I assure you that the framework of our vision is very promising and advancing; as the M.O.R.E Agenda believes that ‘Opportunities for all’ must include opportunities for decent living.”
He noted that “International Public/Civil Service Day celebration. The purpose is to recognize the men and women who form the backbone of governance, and to reaffirm the core values that define public service, viz – integrity, honesty, impartiality, professionalism, and dedication to duty.
“These values are the soul of governance. Where they thrive, trust grows; and where they weaken, service fails.
“To every civil servant in Delta State, ranging from the Permanent Secretary drafting policy in Asaba, the teacher in Patani, the nurse in Oghara, the engineer executing the Ughelli-Asaba dual carriage road, the clerk in Bomadi, the firefighter on night duty in Warri, the cleaner in government offices, I stand before you with gratitude; you are the resilience of this government; you translate promises into classrooms, clinics, roads and essential services; you are the bridge between the M.O.R.E Agenda and the league of Deltans on the streets; today, we honor you all.
“This year’s theme of celebration, “Reforms, Resilience and Results”, is not just a slogan, it is a clarion call to action for structural and policy changes for modern governance; stronger public institutions; a focus on measurable outcomes and performance accountability; and a citizen-centric civil service driven by digitalization.
“It mirrors exactly what this administration stands for under the M.O.R.E Agenda of Meaningful Development, Opportunities for All, Realistic Reforms, and Enhanced Peace and Security.
‘Permit me to x-ray the theme through the lens of our vision and facts on ground: – Reforms: – “Building Institutions on Integrity and Honesty”
Reform begins when government submits itself to the same standards it demands from citizens. Under the M.O.R.E Agenda, we have pursued realistic reforms anchored on integrity and honesty. We have strengthened fiscal discipline, deepened accountability, and sanitized the public procurement processes. Public funds must serve public good, not private pockets.
“The most human face of this reform is our unwavering commitment to the regular and timely payment of salaries and pensions; we know that a worker cannot demonstrate professionalism and dedication to duty when there is anxiety over wages, do, by protecting workers take-home pay, we are protecting the dignity of labour and the integrity of government. That is reform with a human face.
“Despite economic headwinds, our civil servants have maintained impartiality in serving Deltans without ethnic, political, or sectional bias; you have upheld professionalism even when resources are stretched.
“That institutional resilience is visible in our infrastructure drive. Across the three (3) Senatorial districts, the M.O.R.E Agenda is delivering results, and this is evidenced in the Ughelli-Asaba dual carriageway, the storm water projects in Warri/Uvwie designed to end perennial flooding, rehabilitation of general hospitals and provision of strategic medical equipment across the state, upgrading of technical colleges, and expansion of rural roads to open up agricultural communities amongst many others.
“These projects are not built by contractors alone, they are conceived, supervised, inspected, and delivered by you and these efforts stand you out as co-architects of the New Delta State.
“The world of work has changed as citizens now demand speed, data, and transparency; just as a resilient institution learns, reforms itself, and rejects mediocrity.
“Results demand dedication to duty and a deliberate shift to digital, citizen-centric service delivery; under the M.O.R.E Agenda, we are accelerating e-governance across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs); we are digitizing records to end file-tracking delays; and we are deploying online platforms where Deltans can apply for approvals, verify documents, and give feedback without “knowing someone”; and above all, we are investing in continuous training and re-training to accelerate our human capital development so every officer, young or old can become tech-compliant.
“The result we seek is simple: when an individual walks into any government office or logs onto a government portal, the experience must reflect honesty, speed, and respect, that is professionalism in action; that is a civil service where impartiality means no one is favored; and dedication means no file is abandoned; that is the result of reforms plus resilience.
“As we celebrate, let us recommit to the five core values that give meaning to our work; let Integrity be your signature on every document; and let honesty be your language in every transaction; let impartiality be your standard when serving citizens, let professionalism be your habit in conduct and competence; and let dedication to duty be your lifestyle, whether anyone is watching or not.
“To our retirees, thank you for laying the foundation of integrity and dedication that we stand on today and to those in active service, thank you for holding the line with resilience.
“To our young officers, you are the digital generation that will complete this transformation.
“My dear Civil Servants, because the future of Delta State rests in your hands, I charge you to serve with pride, serve with innovation, and serve with the fear of God.
“In the spirit of the celebration, I congratulate you all as Delta State civil servants and commend your efforts in advancing the course of our dear State; may your reforms produce visible results, may your resilience earn your honor, and may your adherence to these core values secure for us, a New Delta that works for everyone.
“Under the M.O.R.E Agenda, we are not just building roads, hospitals, critical infrastructures and developing our human capital, we are building institutions, restoring trust, and creating a public service that our children will be proud to inherit; that is the vision; that is our mission and with you, it is achievable, because, with God, all things are possible.”
The Guest Lecturer at the event, Dr (Mrs) Caroline Ajuyah commended the “Delta State government for the remarkable investments made in infrastructure and technology across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, noting that these initiatives have significantly improved service delivery and operational efficiency.”
The Head of Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Mininim Oseji, also thanked Governor Sheriff Oborevwori “for creating the enabling environment for the Civil and Public Service to flourish.”
