ASABA/Nigeria: Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has thrown his weight behind the report of the Socio-Economic Rights And Accountability Project (SERAP). The report calls for a comprehensive review of the Niger Delta Development plan, aiming to assess its successes, failures, and areas for improvement, among other recommendations. This is a significant move towards promoting transparency and accountability in the region,
Governor Oborevwori emphasized the importance of adopting the SERAP report’s findings by not only the Niger Delta state governments but also the Federal Government and all development partners. Speaking at an interactive session and press briefing organized by SERAP in Lagos, the Governor stressed the urgency of addressing the extensive social, economic, and environmental challenges affecting the people of the Niger Delta.
Represented by his Senior Policy Adviser, Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon, Governor Oborevwori highlighted key proposals from the SERAP report, including the establishment of binding Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) guidelines for oil and gas companies and the enforcement of civil and criminal liability for those failing to fulfill their obligations or engaging in corrupt practices related to community development projects.
The report also shed light on the deficiencies in governance and feedback frameworks between regulators, companies, and communities in the Niger Delta. It revealed a lack of transparency regarding oil and gas companies’ activities and environmental audits, as well as a lack of focus on a defined structure for public participation.
Governor Oborevwori affirmed his administration’s commitment to prudent management of the state’s limited resources, acknowledging the growing needs of Delta State. He stated, “While we acknowledge the limited resources, we are also conscious of the need to ensure that what is available is efficiently deployed and used in a transparent and accountable way for the benefit of our people.”
Furthermore, the Governor advocated for a Principal-Agent format of governance in the Niger Delta, with citizens as the Principals and the Government as the Agents. He stressed that government, as an Agent, owes citizens a duty of accountability for the resources entrusted to its care.
Highlighting Delta State’s active participation in the State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability Programme for results (SFTAS) organized by the World Bank, Governor Oborevwori pointed out the recognition the state received through its enlistment in the “Open Governance Partnership” (OGP). Delta State earned four awards, with Fiscal Transparency and Accountability and Efficiency of Public Expenditures being the most prominent categories.
These awards, according to the Governor, underscore Delta State’s commitment to responsible financial management and accountability. He expressed the intention to sustain the gains of these programs to build trust in government, enhance fiscal risk monitoring, and facilitate accountability in public resource management.
Governor Oborevwori concluded by emphasizing that stronger accountability measures would reduce opportunities for corruption and misuse of public resources, ultimately fostering trust between citizens and the government in Delta State.
