Just like the Governor Godwin Obaseki administration has focused on developing Edo State through the formulation of the Make Edo Great Again (MEGA) agenda with six thematic pillars to grow and develop the Edo economy leveraging investors, secure environment, and creating a friendly environment for businesses to thrive in the state, the Delta State counterpart, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, is borrowing a leaf with the MORE Agenda for Deltans.
The four thematic pillars encapsulated in the MORE Agenda (M-meaningful development; O-opportunity for all; R-realistic reforms; and E-enhanced peace and security) were emphasised at the one-week retreat organized for the State Executive Council led by Governor Oborevwori. The retreat was organised by Sewa Resource in collaboration with the Delta State Government.
It was an elated Governor Oborevwori who received Governor Obaseki at the Leisure Park in Asaba, venue of the retreat in Delta State. He thanked the Edo State governor for finding time to attend the retreat and for sharing his experience of over seven years in purposeful, efficient, effective and result-oriented governance with the Delta State Executive Council preparing them to hit the ground running.
Oborevwori said the MORE Agenda is designed to foster inclusive and sustainable economic growth, private sector job creation, strengthen the human capital development, build on enabling infrastructure, boost public financial management, and improve governance and accountability systems for improved service delivery.
“We are proud to have you in our midst today as the keynote speaker of this retreat. We consider it very important for you to participate and share your experience of over seven years as governor of Edo State with us in readiness to take Delta State to greater heights in terms of growth, development and welfare of our people,” Governor Oborevwori told Governor Obaseki.
“Sharing your experience and achievements with us today is a good take-home for the participants of this retreat. The collaboration between Delta and Edo as Bendel has already been established and we will partner in several areas as brothers to make both states the envy of other states in Nigeria.
“We are happy to host you; the government of Delta State is proud to have this uncommon achiever and remarkable leader in this current democratic dispensation. We thank you, Your Excellency, for considering this retreat and participating in it. We are all happy because from your discussion here today, there are lots of take-home for us from your experience and achievement in office,” he said.
Oborevwori said the retreat which began on Monday, 13th November 2023, and was billed to last for a week had recorded progress following intense workshops at the event as members of the State Executive Council, heads of inter-ministerial agencies and departments now have a firm grasp of his administration’s MORE Agenda.
He noted that the retreat through various workshop sessions would ensure that Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government align their programmes and activities with his administration’s policy in focus.
“The imperatives of the MORE Agenda have now been distilled into deliverables that can be measured, tracked and reported. These key performance indicators will enable us to measure our progress as an administration based on established timelines and benchmarks for success. This will in turn enable efficiency of government, enhance performance, hold MDAs accountable and promote utilization of resources,” Oborevwori said.
He said with the work that had gone into various workshop sessions in the first two days of the retreat, he expected the remaining days to be robust, impactful and groundbreaking as they would focus on establishing the road map of successes.
“It was evident from the presentation by the thematic groups that there was duplication of programmes across the MDAs. That is not a problem, but it is important for the retreat to proffer strategies for coordination and cooperation.
“It’s my expectation that the forum will provide the pathway for us to deliver on the promises of the MORE Agenda through physical responsibility, synergy amongst the MDAs, robust community engagement, effective public communication, creative execution of programmes and excellent service delivery.
“A key component of our policy thrust is the organisation of a credible feedback mechanisms which I harped on during the swearing-in of commissioners in August this year. For us to achieve our stated goals, MDAs must constantly monitor the progress of projects under their jurisdictions and formulate mechanisms for feedback and evaluations.
“As evident from projects so far completed and embarked upon, this administration is process-driven, result-oriented and excellence-inclined. Indeed, we are ready to advance the state into an era that will accelerate utilization of its full potential through the MORE Agenda.
“Towards this end, commissioners are expected to sign a performance bond at the end of this retreat. This is not meant to scare anybody but to serve as motivation to stay focused on the deliverables that have been established. However, the performance bond will be adjusted accordingly where the need arises, especially when there is a shortfall in resources available to any ministry. I look forward to the perspective that will be shared on the four pillars of the MORE Agenda,” the governor said.
Reminding the participants of his charge during his inaugural speech, Oborevwori said, “The issues before us are simple; they are about improving the quality of life of our people, about building bridges of social cohesion, about giving our people hope of a better tomorrow, about giving accelerated development and about good governance.”
He said the task demands tough actions from him and all those who have the privilege to serve as political appointees, elected officials and civil servants.
