Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori says the Internally Generated Revenue ,IGR, of the state has recorded impressive growth from N83 billion in 2023 to N158 billion in 2024.
Oborevwori said this while presenting the scorecard of his administration before the State House of Assembly in Asaba yesterday.
He explained that as at January 2023, the projected IGR of the State was N83 billion, but by December 2024, actual receipts had risen to approximately N158 billion, which translates to a 90.4% increase.
“For 2025, we project the figure will reach N165 billion and it is worthy of note that we achieved this growth without additional tax burdens on the people of Delta.
“In line with our pro-people governance approach, we have ensured that personal tax liabilities remain unchanged”, he said.
According to the governor, the state’s conducive business environment which is supported by our peace-building efforts and impactful infrastructure projects have boosted public confidence and tax compliance.
The governor also attributed this to the professionalism, resourcefulness, and diligence of staff of the State Internal Revenue Service in plugging leakages and improving revenue systems.
Speaking on debt servicing, Oborevwori disclosed that at the inception of his administration, the state’s debt stock stood at N465.3 billion, but as at December 31, 2024, the figure had dropped to N249.2 billion, showing a reduction by N216.1 billion or 46.4%.
The governor recalled that Delta was one of the first states to implement a new minimum wage of N77,500, surpassing the national benchmark of N70,000.
According to the governor, the state’s monthly wage bill increased from N11.5 billion to N15.3 billion due to the increase in minimum wage.
Oborevwori also disclosed that his administration organised three town hall meetings and hosted a historic dinner for senior management staff of the Civil Service as part of its engagement with Senior Management Staff.
On capacity building, he said: ”We have kept our word in this regard. Over 8,000 public servants have been trained, including 450 senior management staff who attended a comprehensive seven-weekend training programme through collaborations with the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria ,ASCON, heralding a significant shift in leadership development.
”And to promote better understanding of the MORE Agenda, the government, in collaboration with Sewa Assets Management, organised a week-long Executive Council Strategic Session and Retreat for Commissioners and Heads of inter-ministerial agencies from November 13 to 18, 2023
“Through this retreat, the strategic imperatives of the MORE agenda were distilled into deliverables that can be measured, tracked, and reported.
“The highlight of the retreat was the signing of a Performance Bond by the Commissioners with the Governor.
“This is to ensure that the commissioners stay focused on the deliverables that have been established, while aligning their programmes and activities with the policy directions of the MORE agenda”, he said.
Oborevwori further disclosed that a total of 13,497 new teaching and non-teaching support staff were recruited by his administration to address manpower gaps across the 25 local government councils in the State..
On promotion interviews, he stated that promotion interviews for more than 2,193 officers were conducted and “it underscores the administration’s commitment to career progression and recognizes the potential within the workforce”.
The Governor also disclosed that brand-new vehicles were given to Permanent Secretaries in recognition of their pivotal roles and enhancing their operational efficiency.
“These notable accomplishments in the public service affirmed the administration’s unwavering resolve to build a robust, efficient, and professional civil service.
“We remain committed to sustaining these initiatives and continuously improving the lives and careers of our civil servants”, he added.
