Delta State Government has released the total sum of N79 billion to the State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC) to enable it perform and fulfill its mandate to the people.

The State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan who announced this during the inauguration of a six man interim management Committee for the Commission in Asaba said his administration was ready to reposition the Commission for better service delivery to the people.

Dr. Uduaghan charged the newly inaugurated members to put up acceptable structures that would reposition DESOPADEC for maximum productivity saying "I believe in DESOPADEC because the Commission is expected to give hope to the people".

He specifically charged the interim committee not to sack any staff of DESOPADEC but should critically examine the staffing position and make titles and remuneration commensurate with qualification and experience. He called on them to re-appraise contracts that have been awarded and take inventory of them to ensure that funds expended correspond with the status and stage attained on the projects.

He expressed surprise that the total amount for contracts awarded far exceeded the annual N1.8 billion budget of the commission even as he explained that it was such excessive award of contract that made the Commission to owe contractors.

"I hope that in a couple of months we will put behind us the issue of contract debt in DESOPADEC, contractors whose contracts are genuinely awarded should be patient with us".

Governor Uduaghan also advised the workers of DESOPADEC to co-operate with the interim committee members in ensuring the success of the commission "I appeal to you to co-operate with the new management, it is your responsibility to fish out ghost workers among you and ensure the success of this commission".

The governor commended the previous management of DESOPADEC for their good work despite the challenges the commission was faced at the initial stage. He noted that the former management was dissolved because its tenure of 3 years has elapsed saying "As the tenure of the previous management has elapsed, I felt it better to put up a board of technocrats to manage the commission".

In a brief remark, the Chairman of the Commission Mr. Reginald Bayoko thanked the governor for finding them worthy to handle such a challenging Commission and promised that they would deliver effectively.

Mr. Bayoko explained that the assignment given to them would be seen as divinely inspired and would depend on God to succeed saying "we will perform the assignment based on the directives given us by the governor to ensure that the hope and aspirations of the people of oil producing area are met. We depend on God to achieve this challenging assignment".

Mr. Bayoko commended the former management of DESOPADEC for the noble work it did in its 3 years in office and said that the new management would always depend on it for advice.

The new management is headed by Mr. Reginald Bayoko who is Chairman of the Commission, members are Mr. Austin Oghoro, Mr. Jonathan Ochonogo, Mr. Tosan Popo and Dr. Mrs. Dorothy Odiase, all permanent Secretaries in the State Civil Service while Mr. Patrick Origho who is to serve as secretary of the Committee.