The Chairman of the Verification Committee and Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr. Odinigwe Odigie, has urged political appointees of the Delta State Government not to feel offended by the ongoing verification exercise, describing it as a necessary and timely administrative process.
Dr. Odigie made the appeal on Wednesday during his opening remarks at the commencement of the verification of political appointees, held at the Press Centre, Government House, Asaba.
He explained that the exercise aligns with the state government’s ongoing administrative reforms and called on appointees to support the vision and policies of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
“We are party people and politicians, and it is important that we support what our Governor is doing,” he said.
The committee chairman assured participants that the exercise would be seamless and peaceful, urging them to cooperate fully by presenting their appointment letters, state-issued identification cards, voters’ cards and any other documents required by the verification committee.
Also speaking, the State Director of Protocol and member of the verification committee, Chief Sunday Onoriode, said the exercise was aimed at sanitising the list of political appointees in the state.
According to him, some individuals appointed at the beginning of the administration are no longer in office, but their exit was not properly communicated to the relevant authorities.
“Unfortunately, proper communication was not made to the appropriate quarters to remove such persons from the payment structure. We cannot continue to pay salaries into bank accounts that are no longer accessible,” he said.
Chief Onoriode added that the screening was also necessary to ascertain the political status of appointees, noting that political appointments are primarily anchored on party membership. He explained that the exercise would help identify and confirm members of the administration’s political family, while strengthening accountability and proper record-keeping.
Speaking to journalists shortly after her verification, a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Political Matters, Comrade Nneka Orah, expressed satisfaction with the exercise and commended the governor for the initiative.
She said the verification would help determine appointees who are genuinely available and committed to service.
“Some political appointees are not even in the country to do the work, yet they still draw salaries from the state government,” she added.
The verification exercise commenced with political appointees from Oshimili North and Oshimili South Local Government Areas.
