Reforms driving Delta’s economic recovery – Govt

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The Delta State Government has said its ongoing economic reforms and empowerment programmes are aimed at increasing residents’ purchasing power, stimulating grassroots economic activities and speeding up the state’s recovery from prevailing economic challenges.

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The Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, disclosed this on Friday at a press briefing in Asaba.

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Aniagwu said the state government had directed councillors to empower 200 residents in each ward, a move designed to benefit at least 100,000 people across the state’s 500 wards.

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He explained that the intervention was intended to help operators of nano and small businesses remain viable, expand their operations and contribute more to the local economy.

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The commissioner noted that political and community leaders had supplemented the government’s efforts through additional empowerment initiatives.

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“Ika North-East leaders contributed at least N5m in each federal ward, resulting in an additional N70m being injected into the local economy,” he said.

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Aniagwu said increasing residents’ purchasing power was essential to attracting investments, arguing that investors were more likely to establish businesses in communities where people had the financial capacity to patronise goods and services.

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He added that the state had recorded improvements in its finances following economic reforms, noting that the government could now mobilise contractors with up to 40 per cent advance payments while paying workers’ salaries and allowances between the 22nd and 25th of every month.

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According to him, pensioners no longer have to queue at the Government House to receive their payments, while academic activities in state-owned universities have remained stable.

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Aniagwu attributed the developments to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration and reforms focused on improving Delta’s financial position and ensuring prudent management of public resources.

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