Okowa is cutting down recurrent expenditure despite appointments-Aide

Senior Special Assistant, SSA on Youths Development to Governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, Comrade Hope George has declared that despite the appointment of several politicians into boards and other positions in the State, Dr. Okowa was mindful of the current economic downturn and as such cutting down considerably on recurrent expenditure.

Comrade George one-time Secretary to Transition Committee in Warri South Local Government and current Chairman, Delta State Youth Council stated that payment for 28 days hotel accommodation and reduction of monthly imprest are among areas where the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has already prune down the cost of governance.

The Governor’s Aide who spoke to Fresh Angle International in an exclusive interview weekend, averred the PDP in Delta State is not threatened with the disquiet among its fold, particularly in the Warri area, stressing that the party in the area is one family and those reportedly defecting to rival political parties “will not find it easy where they are going”.

While noting that the Delta State Governor is working hard to shore up its Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, Comrade George opined that Governor Okowa’s appointments were not over and called on members of the PDP who feel left out to be patient, just as he noted that people of Warri area have so far gotten more appointments compared to previous administration.

He explained that the State PDP has set up a reconciliation Committee headed by former Deputy Governor of the State, Sir Benjamin Elue, with Hon. Funkekeme Solomon as Secretary with a view to assuage aggrieved members and ensure that the party remains one big family.

On efforts tackle to the growing unemployment in the country, especially Delta State, the Governor’s Aide who berated the APC led Federal Government for “having nothing to show in eight months”, declared that through Governor Okowa’s SMART agenda which is targeted at strategic wealth provision of jobs for all Deltans, 3,000 youths recently concluded training in the YAGEP and STEP Programmes.

He explained that the successful participants have been given Starter Packs with the necessary take-off equipment and provision for payment for shop accommodation for a year, noting that the second batch of the training programmes for both programmes will likely take off April 2016.

Comrade George disclosed that graduands of the programmes who successfully take up their ventures will be given soft loan by the State Small and Medium Scale Entrepreneurship Scheme aside the three-month upfront monthly stipends given to successful participants.

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