By Joan Obi
Delta State Government says it has not borrowed any money from any financial institution within and outside the country since the commencement of the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
Briefing newsmen in Asaba, Delta State Commissioner for Finance, Chief Fidelis Tilije said the present administration maintained a clean financial records devoid of borrowing.
He insisted that Delta State with a strong financial base could survive without statutory allocations for the next two to three years.
“I say so with every emphasis because I know the finances of the state, and I know the balances as I speak to you today. I know the efforts that are being made by this administration.
“We have paid so much in terms of construction, we have made sure that all debts are being paid down as seriously as we can.
“We have also improved in terms of contractual relationship with our contractors. Before now, it is difficult for us to give our contractors advanced payments.
“But as I speak, virtually all of the major contracts we have now, we have actually offered between 30% to 40% in terms of advanced payment.
“Indeed, the last discussion I had with the Governor, we are even thinking that for this particular dry season, we are going to be paying up to 70% advance payment,” Tilije asserted.
On his part, the State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu described Governor Sheriff Oborevwori as a man of impeccable integrity who has demonstrated a lot of transparency in the running of the affairs of the state.
“We have read out a number of projects that we have embarked upon in the last 19 and half months, and that all those projects are being funded by the funds that are at the disposal of the state, and that at no time in the last 19 and a half months has the state made any move to ask anybody to give us money in form of loan”, Aniagwu stated.
